Oct. 14, 2006

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Outside hitter Jaime Anderson (Jr., Kent/Kentwood) had a match-high 14 kills as Western Washington University defeated Seattle University, 30-22, 30-19, 30-27, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match Saturday on Haggen Court at Carver Gym.

It was the sixth straight triumph for the Vikings, who improved to 13-5 overall and remained in second place in the GNAC at 9-1. They have won 11 of their last 12 matches.

Seattle fell to 13-8 overall and 4-6 in the GNAC. Outside hitter Libby Graff led the Redhawks with 12 kills.

Middle blocker Tiana Roma (So., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) had 12 kills for Western, and outside hitter Emily Castro (Jr., Bellingham/Meridian) added 11. Libero Courtney Schneider (Jr., Snohomish) had 27 digs, extending her school record for career digs to 1,618.

The Vikings led wire-to-wire in the first game, and in the second game used an 8-1 run, capped by three consecutive service aces by middle blocker Angie Alvord (So., Laurel/Meridian) to take control at 23-12. Alvord finished with match highs of four aces and five blocks.

In the third game, Seattle led much of the frame. Western trailed 18-16 before having a 10-2 charge to take a 26-20 lead. The Vikings held a 29-22 lead, but the Redhawks did hold off five straight match points before Western closed out the contest.

"We were very balanced," said Western coach Diane Flick. "Our middles had 21 kills and only two errors, both our outsides were in double digits in kills. I just think we played a very complete match."

Western is 5-0 at Carver Gym this season and 61-4 at home since 2000. It was the Vikings' eighth sweep this season, all of them coming in their last 11 matches.

Western goes on the road to meet University of Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday (8 p.m. PT) and University of Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (8 p.m. PT).