Oct. 2, 2008
Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Middle blocker Angie Alvord (Sr., Laurel/Meridian) had match highs of 22 kills and seven blocks as nationally ranked Western Washington University overcame losing the first set and defeated Seattle Pacific University, 21-25, 25-21-25-21, 25-22, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match Thursday on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
The Vikings, rated No.4 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, continued unbeaten at 12-0, the best start in school history, and 4-0 in league action. It was the 20th consecutive GNAC victory for Western, the defending conference champion, and the 12th straight win on its home court.
Seattle Pacific fell to 3-11 overall and 1-4 in league play with its 11th loss in the last 13 matches. Outside hitters Nikki Finley and Lindsey Wodrich each had 18 kills for the Falcons.
Seattle Pacific used a run of five straight points to pull away from an 18-18 tie in winning the opening set. The Falcons then had a 13-10 lead in the second frame, but the Vikings responded with nine straight points behind the serving of outside hitter Megan Amundson (So., Stanwood) to take control and even the match.
Seattle Pacific again led for much of the early portion of the third set, being up by as much as four and being up as late as 17-16. Western then used a 6-2 run to pull in front and closed the set out on a kill by Alvord, who had six in the set.
The final set was tied at 17-17, but the Vikings took the lead for good and Alvord took over at the end, getting two kills and a block for Western's final three points of the match.
Amundson added nine kills for Western, which also got 31 digs from libero Alison Gotz (So., Bothell/Archbishop Murphy), who entered the match ranked second nationally in NCAA II in digs at 6.30 a set.
Western, which was the NCAA II national runner-up last year, has won 33 of its last 34 matches. The lone loss was 3-1 to Concordia-St. Paul in the NCAA II championship match.
The Vikings take to the road for GNAC matches against Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, Oct. 9 (7 p.m.) and Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Oct. 11 (7 p.m.).
