Nov. 13, 2010
Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Middle blocker Emily Jepsen (Jr., Kennewick/Kamiakin) had 15 kills, four service aces and three blocks as nationally ranked Western Washington University completed its regular season by sweeping Northwest Nazarene University, 25-11, 25-21, 25-19, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match Saturday at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.
The Vikings, ranked No.15 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll and No.3 in the West Region, improved to 19-3 overall and tied for first place in the GNAC with Seattle Pacific at 16-2.
They await word Sunday (7 p.m.) of their seed and opponent in the West Regional of NCAA Division II National Tournament on Nov. 18-20.
Northwest Nazarene finished 7-17 overall and 7-11 in conference play. Haley Abbott led the Crusaders with 15 kills, and Reisa Fessler added 12.
The Vikings trailed by at least three points early in all three sets, but used big runs to come back each time.
"Our theme right now is `Death by 1,000 paper cuts'," said Western coach Diane Flick (11th year, 232-63). "We don't want to make things bigger than they are. If we're behind early, we just want to be patient, make the adjustments and work through it."
Northwest Nazarene jumped to a 4-1 lead in the opening set, but Western asserted control by scoring 17 of the next 18 points to take an 18-5 lead. Megan Amundson (Sr., Stanwood) served eight of the points, and Jepsen served seven, including four aces.
The Crusaders led as late as 11-10 in the second set, but the Vikings ran off five straight points to take a 15-11 advantage and never led by less than two points after that.
In the final frame, Northwest Nazarene went in front early again, taking a 10-5 lead. Western rallied with six straight points, but the set was still tied at 15-15 before the Vikings took control with an 8-0 run that included three aces by Haleigh Adkins (Jr., Puyallup/Rogers).
Western, which swept all nine of its home matches this season, honored five seniors in pre-match ceremonies. They were Amundson, outside hitter Jordyn Bailey (Wenatchee), libero Allison Gotz (Bothell/Archbishop Murphy), opposite-side hitter Kathryn Mertens (Olympia) and setter Kari Rice (Toppenish/Eisenhower).
Rice had 40 assists Saturday, and Gotz had a team-high 14 digs.
The victory snapped a two-match losing streak at home to Northwest Nazarene. The Vikings lead the series, 26-5.
Western has just missed the national tournament the last two years after winning the regional title in 2007 and advancing to the national championship match. With their current No.3 regional ranking, a berth is assured for the Vikings this year.
"It's nice to know we can make plans," said Flick. "We'll all get together and watch the selection show so that we know what's going on."
