Nov. 13, 2014

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Middle blocker Kayla Erickson (Sr., Gig Harbor/Peninsula) had a match-high 12 kills and became the 12th player in school history to reach the 1,000 mark for a career and the Vikings achieved 20 wins for the third straight season as Western Washington University swept University of Alaska Fairbanks, 25-14, 25-9, 25-18, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match on Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Patty Center on the UAF campus.

It was the third consecutive three-set win for the Vikings, rated No.15 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll, who improved to 20-6 overall and 13-4 in GNAC play.

UAF fell to 3-22 overall and 3-14 in conference action. The Nanooks were led by Sam Harthun with 10 kills and 10 digs.

Erickson had just one error in 19 attempts for a 57.9 attack percentage. Her career kill total now stands at 1,003 and ranks 11th among WWU leaders.

Erickson entered the match ranked second all-time in both WWU and GNAC history in career attack percentage at .342.

"I just can't be more proud of Kayla," said WWU head coach Diane Flick. "She's a self-made player and her hard work has obviously paid off."

Outside hitter Rachel Roeder (Jr., Sammamish/Issaquah) had 11 kills for the Vikings, Kelsey Moore (Sr., Bellevue/Newport) added nine, and libero Samantha Hutchinson (Sr., University Place/Curtis), the NCAA II national leader in digs per set, contributed a match-high 18 digs.

WWU, which never trailed in the match, had respective leads of 14-3, 15-3 and 14-7 in the three sets.

"We were very consistent tonight and that was the most important part of our game," Flick said. "We've been playing very steady lately with no highs or lows."

The 20-win season is the 10th for the Vikings in 15 seasons with Flick (316-84) directing the program.

The win was the 12th straight for WWU in its series with the Nanooks. The Vikings have won 38 of 44 meetings with UAF.

WWU ends its regular-season at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, Nov. 15 (7:30 p.m.) in a GNAC counter.