Nov. 16, 2002
Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University outside hitter Shannon Rowland (Sr., Bellingham/Meridian) had a team-high 13 kills, moving into second place in school history in career kills as the nationally ranked Vikings defeated Seattle Pacific University, 30-13, 30-21, 30-17, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match Saturday before a crowd of 750 at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
Western, ranked No.7 in the latest AVCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 and No.1 in the Pacific Region, ended its regular season at 23-2 with its 18th consecutive victory, the second-longest streak in school history. The Vikings, who had already clinched their second straight outright GNAC title, finished 18-0 in league play. They have now won 41 consecutive league matches, the seventh longest streak in NCAA II history, and are undefeated in 36 GNAC matches since the league was founded in 2001.
"It ends up being a result of all the hard work put in during the winter and spring," Western coach Diane Flick said of the GNAC title. "It's a great reward for great champions."
Western, which also got 12 kills and three blocks from middle blocker Meghan Evoy (So., Olympia/Capital) and a match-high 28 digs from libero Nicola Parker (Jr., Auburn), now must await word on if it will be seeded No.1 and host the Pacific Regional. It is possible that despite the Viking victory, Cal State San Bernardino, which improved to 28-2 with a victory over Cal State L.A. on Saturday, could move up into the No.1 spot and earn the right to host.
"There's nothing more we can do about it," said Flick. "We've done our part, everything we could control we've taken care of. Now it's up to the committee."
Seattle Pacific ended its season 9-16 overall and 8-10 league. The Falcons were led by the match-high 14 kills of outside hitter Monica Herrera.
Western never trailed in the first and third games, jumping to a 5-1 lead in the opening game and a 6-0 margin in the finale. The second game was the tightest of the match, with the score tied at 12-12 before the Vikings took the lead for good, and Western didn't pull away until scoring seven of the last eight points.
Rowland, playing in her final regular-season home match took her career total in kills to 1,190. Gretchen Haakenson (1990-93) is Western's all-time leader with 1,228.
CCAA CHAMPION COYOTES BEAT CAL STATE L.A., 3-0
SAN BERNARDINO -- In one of its most dominating performances of the season, two-time California Collegiate Athletic Association champion Cal State San Bernardino swept past third-place Cal State L.A. Saturday night,3-0, before 485 cheering fans in Coussoulis Arena.
The Coyotes, 28-2 on the season, finished CCAA play with a 20-2 record,the same as it achieved in winning the title in 2001.
CSUSB, ranked No. 2 in the Pacific Region, will now await the decision of the NCAA Championships Committee as to whether they will be hosting the Pacific Regional on Nov. 21-23 for the second year in a row or that nod will go to Western Washington University, currently No. 1 by the slimmest of margins in the seeding criteria. The announcement will be made Sunday evening.
The Coyotes not only hit effectively (.306) but blocked with impunity. All-American middle blocker Kim Morohunfola (11 blocks - two solo) and All-Region middle blocker Kristen Soliz (6 blocks - 1 solo) helped the Coyotes record 31 blocks to just 13 for the Golden Eagles, 19-10 overall and 15-7 in the CCAA.
All-American Kim Ford had 12 kills and eight digs and five block assists in a typical all-around performance. Junior Bridget Harris had nine kills, five assists, five digs and two blocks. Libero Erika Williams had a match-high 11 digs for the Coyotes. Cristen Trent had 32 assists, six digs, two kills and three blocks.
San Bernardino trailed 19-16 in game one but out scored the Golden Eagles 14-4 to take game one 30-23 and won game two with another run, scoring the last six points for a 30-23 win in game two.
Game three was a clinic. The Coyotes hit .538 on 15 kills in 26 attempts with one error as they bolted to a 20-7 advantage and won convincingly 30-17.
Te'Ara Epps had eight kills for L.A. followed by Tricia Schary, Leslie Smith and Dana Coffey with six each. Kristy Sain had 29 assists from the setter position.
Cal State L.A., leading the CCAA in hitting percentage at .247, committed 30 attack errors in 117 attacks with 37 kills for a disappointing .060 hitting night.
The Golden Eagles are ranked No. 5 in the current Pacific Region poll and will await the committee's decision to see if they earn another post-season berth.
L.A. beat the Coyotes 3-0 in Los Angeles in October to end the Coyotes 17-match unbeaten streak and knock them from their perch as the No. 1 team in the nation. CSUSB is currently No. 4 and L.A. is 25th.
