Washington is bopping to Morrison's hit parade

She is her team's Big Bopper, a mad hopper with skills so fine she's a regular chart-topper.

"Other teams may try to top her, but they're never going to stop her," chimes in Courtney Thompson, teammate, roommate and best friend of the 2006 Pac-10 Player of the Year, Christal Morrison.

Morrison, the biggest gun in the four-square arsenal of powerful outside hitters on the Washington volleyball team, happily lives a life filled with rhyme and reason.

Tonight, sixth-seeded Washington (27-4) takes on 11th-seeded Ohio State (25-7) in an NCAA Sweet 16 showdown at Edmundson Pavilion at 7:30. Morrison will be all about mental focus and emotional connectedness to the task at hand — helping UW advance to its third straight volleyball Final Four and defend its 2005 national championship.

Weeks or months from now, her more playful instincts will likely kick in. Morrison might be somewhere trying a few tricks on her snowboard, but nothing too radical. She has had three knee surgeries, after all, including one procedure earlier this year.

Or she might be soaking up the sun on some beach, or in the water, as she was in the summer of 2004 when she fell while freeboarding and broke two fingers. She says she wants to give hang-gliding a try some day. Maybe take part in television's "The Amazing Race."

Perhaps Morrison's freeboarding experience caused her sound-reasoning gear to engage this summer when she and Thompson were in Spain to watch Thompson's brother take part in Pamplona's running of the bulls. For a time, the two considered joining him in the streets.

"That was a tough decision," the competitive Thompson says. "We could do it, but then just never tell anyone because it was such a risk. Or if we got hurt, we'd have to tell everyone right away. So we just watched."

After a few days of almost-sleepless celebration in Pamplona, they drove to a Spanish beach, lounged in the sun all day and ate popsicles.

"I like my rest, and that was the best day of the whole trip," says Morrison.

The 6-foot-2 junior has had lots of great days as an outside hitter with the Huskies.

The Puyallup High School grad was named a second-team All-American as a freshman in 2004, a third-team All-American last year and, after hammering down 15 kills against top-ranked Nebraska last year in the NCAA championship game in San Antonio, was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

This year she ranks 21st nationally in kills per game (4.74) on a team ranked third in kills per game (17.19).

Those stats, she says, are the byproduct of having Thompson, the nation's top setter, teeing up kills, and the support of three other high-powered arms — Stevie Mussie, Janine Sandell and Jill Collymore.

Morrison's coach, Jim McLaughlin, often refers to her as one of the nation's best players, sometimes the best player.

"She doesn't know yet how good she's going to be," he says.

Morrison envisions herself someday playing on the U.S. national team, or internationally or on the pro beach circuit.

"I'd like to travel for maybe a year," says Morrison, who on a whim in France this summer cut her hair to half its length and briefly went blond. "I like Puerto Rico. Lots of beaches. Or become a ski bum."

Regional glance


Edmundson Pavilion

Tonight

No. 3 Penn State (31-2) vs. No. 14 Purdue (23-10), 5 p.m.

No. 6 Washington (27-4) vs. No. 11 Ohio State (25-7), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Winners meet in regional final, 6 p.m.

Morrison, a Christian, takes the floor after each timeout with her right index finger extended above her head.

"It's just to remind myself of my faith," she says.

She says she and Thompson have been dating brothers for the past six months. Morrison connected with UW soccer player Brett Hite. His brother, Ryan, is the team trainer.

"Brett and I were hanging out one time and Brett tells Courtney, 'You should meet my brother,' " says Morrison. "It's been a great time for all of us."

What would really be great is to win both matches this weekend at home, blast a few dozen kills and help her pal Courtney back to another Final Four, and maybe another title, in her senior year.

"That would be the topper," Morrison said.

A real show-stopper.