Oct. 27, 2015
Box Score
BURNABY, B.C. - Redshirt freshman outside hitter Abby Phelps recorded 16 kills with a career-high 25 digs to lead the No. 16 Western Washington University Vikings to a 3-1 victory (29-31, 25-20, 25-11, 25-21) over Simon Fraser Tuesday evening in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match.
The Vikings (17-4, 11-2 GNAC) snapped a two-match losing streak to regain sole possession of the GNAC lead with an 11-2 conference mark. Simon Fraser dropped to 9-12 overall, 5-8 in conference play.
Phelps (RS Fr., Manson, WA/Chelan) continues to carry the hot hand for the Vikings, recording her third consecutive match with 15+ kills and her fourth double-double of the season. Over her last five matches Phelps is averaging 3.68 kills per set (70 kills) on a .299 hitting percentage.
Senior opposite Jennica McPherson (Seattle, WA/Kennedy) also totaled a double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs and sophomore opposite Joellee Buckner (Colville, WA) recorded her fifth double-double with 10 kills and 17 digs. Middle blocker Kayleigh Harper (RS Fr., Oak Harbor, WA) led the Vikings with 5 blocks (1 solo, 4 block assists) and setter Brette Boesel (RS Fr., Brewster, WA) directed the Vikings attack with a match-high 34 assists.
The Vikings recorded 89 digs in the four sets, the third-most by a GNAC team in a 4-set match this season.
Western dropped the first set 29-31, but bounced back with a 25-20 win in the second set and 25-11 domination in the third set. SFU looked like they were going to push the match to a deciding fifth set building a 15-8 lead, but the Vikings went on a 17-6 run put away The Clan for the set and the match 25-21. McPherson tallied 5 of her match-total 12 kills in the final set.
Up Next: The Vikings return to action Saturday with a home match vs. Montana State Billings (Saturday, 10/31, 7 pm) at Whatcom Community College.
Western Washington def. Simon Fraser 29-31,25-20,25-11,25-21
Western Washington (17-4, 11-2 GNAC) Kills-aces-blocks - Phelps 16-0-3; McPherson 12-0-4; Buckner 10-0-2; Roeder 9-0-3; Harper 9-0-5; Hall 2-0-4; Turner 0-2-0; Boesel 0-1-0; Totals 58-3-13.0. Assists - Boesel 34; Tribley 18. Dig leaders - Phelps 25; Buckner 17; McPherson 14; Boesel 13; Tribley 10; Turner 10
Simon Fraser (9-12, 5-8 GNAC) Kills-aces-blocks - May 13-0-1; Howlett 12-0-5; Power 10-0-2; May 9-0-5; Jennings 8-0-0; Vanstone 2-0-2; Totals 55-0-8.0. Assists - Nipp 32; Curtis 17. Dig leaders - McKay,Alison 31; May,Devon 17; Curtis,Danielle 9; Bratsberg,Jayme 9
Site: Burnaby, BC (West Gym) Date: Oct 27, 2015 Attend: 100 Time: 2:01
