Aug. 25, 2006
Box Score
LA JOLLA, Calif. - Western Washington University head coach Diane Flick tied the school record for career wins as the Vikings upset nationally ranked Cal Poly Pomona, 30-27, 23-30, 30-22, 30-14, to open second-day action Friday at the Triton Invitational Volleyball Tournament being held at the RIMAC Arena.
"Quite frankly, our block was what made the difference, and we're not normally known as a blocking team," said seventh-year head coach Diane Flick, who now has 133 victories after entering the campaign averaging nearly 22 per season.
The Vikings, who improved to 2-1, had 14 blocks, matching their best total since early in the 2003 season. Middle blocker Angie Alvord (So., Lynden/Meridian) led the way with a match-high nine blocks, two of them solos.
Alvord and Tiana Roma (So., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) each had 10 kills. Roma also had five block assists.
Jaime Anderson (Jr., SeaTac/Mount Rainier) had a team-high 13 kills for Western, three blocks and three service aces; and Marissa Hill (So., North Bend/Mount Si) added seven kills, 11 digs and five blocks.
Cal Poly Pomona, ranked No.14 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Top 25, fell to 1-2. The Broncos were led by Anne-Marie Hofmans with a match-high 14 kills, 14 digs and four service aces.
With the first game tied at 27-27, Alvord put Western in front with a kill and served the last two points, one an ace. Cal Poly Pomona bounced back in game two, getting out to a 9-3 lead and scoring six straight points to take a 22-13 lead.
The Vikings rebounded by scoring 10 of the first 13 points in game three and scored the last five points. They also got off to a fast start in the fourth game, opening up a 12-5 lead, finishing off the match with six straight points, the last four on Alvord's serve.
Western had a .212 attack percentage to .078 for Cal Poly Pomona. Libero Courtney Schneider (Jr., Snohomish) had 17 digs and three aces for the Vikings.
Western split a pair of matches in opening-day action Thursday, defeating Cal State Dominguez Hills, 3-2, and losing to host and No.19-ranked UC San Diego, 3-1.
The Vikings play No.6 Cal State L.A. at 4 p.m., and close out the tourney Saturday (10 a.m.) against No.12 Cal State San Bernardino.
