Aug. 25, 2006
Box Score
LA JOLLA, Calif. - Western Washington University split a pair of matches Friday with two nationally ranked opponents, being swept by No.6 Cal State L.A., 30-19, 31-29, 30-25, after defeating No.14 Cal Poly Pomona, 30-27, 23-30, 30-22, 30-14, at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational Volleyball Tournament being held at the RIMAC Arena.
"Today, we reset the bar as to how well we can play," said Western coach Diane Flick, whose team has split four matches at the season-opening tourney - three of them against nationally ranked opponents. "Now, it's just a matter of playing to that level every single day and not having any letdowns."
Libero Courtney Schneider (Jr., Snohomish) had a match-high 25 digs as she moved into fourth place among Western's career leaders with 1,267. That is just seven short of third.
Outside hitter Jaime Anderson (Jr., SeaTac/Mount Rainier) continued her outstanding play for the Vikings with 13 kills and 11 digs in the Cal State L.A. match. Middle blockers Angie Alvord (So., Lynden/Meridian) and Tiana Roma (So., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) each had 10 kills.
Cal State L.A., which remained unbeaten at 4-0, was led by Mary Laupepa with a match-high 14 kills and 15 digs.
"They applied a lot of pressure by digging and transitioning quickly," said Flick. "They are much more experienced and kept their composure longer than we could keep ours."
In the victory over Cal Poly Pomona, the Vikings had 14 blocks, matching their best total since early in the 2003 season. Alvord led the way with a match-high nine blocks, two of them solos.
Alvord and Roma each had 10 kills. Roma also had five block assists.
Anderson had a team-high 13 kills, three blocks and three service aces for Western; and Marissa Hill (So., North Bend/Mount Si) added seven kills, 11 digs and five blocks.
Cal Poly Pomona was led by Anne-Marie Hofmans with a match-high 14 kills, 14 digs and four service aces.
Western had a .212 attack percentage to .078 for Cal Poly Pomona. Schneider had 17 digs and three aces for the Vikings.
Flick, who is in her seventh season, now has 133 victories, tying the school career record. She entered the campaign averaging nearly 22 wins a year.
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 close out the tourney Saturday (10 a.m.) against No.12 Cal State San Bernardino.
