Box Score | Post-Match News Conference

TAMPA, Fla. - The Western Washington University Vikings ended their season with a 3-0 loss to Wheeling Jesuit (20-25, 19-25, 25-27) in the NCAA Division II Volleyball Championship Semifinal Friday evening at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center on the University of Tampa campus. The hard-fought match featured 30 tie scores and 14 lead changes.

Sophomore opposite Joellee Buckner (Colville, WA) tallied a double-double with a match-high 16 kills and added 12 digs. Senior opposite Jennica McPherson (Seattle, WA/Kennedy) also had a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Abby Phelps (Manson, WA/Chelan) finished with a team-high 17 digs.

"We just needed that extra something today and could not quite find it," said 16th-year head coach Diane Flick. "I wish we were firing on all cylinders so that we could have put up a better fight. What else can I say about this season? I have to keep it in perspective of what we have accomplished. We are a Final Four team, and that is something to be very, very proud of."

The Vikings completed their season with a 27-6 record, the 5th-most wins in program history. This was Western's second appearance in the Final Four, joining the 2007 squad that finished runner-up. Coincidentally, WWU also opened its season with a 3-0 loss vs. Wheeling Jesuit in the same gym at the Tampa Classic.

Wheeling Jesuit (38-4) advances to National Championship match tomorrow at 5 pm ET against Palm Beach Atlantic. This is the fifth consecutive season the Cardinals have advanced as far as the Elite 8, and the first time to play in the National Championship Match. WJU entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 10 in the nation in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll.

The Cardinals out-hit the Vikings .280-.188 in the match, and were led by double-doubles from Kayce Krucki (10 kills, 12 digs) and Emma Schleucher (14 kills, 13 digs). Libero Jessica Thobe recorded a match-high 24 digs.

Wheeling jumped out to the early 1-0 lead with a 25-20 win, pulling away midway through the first set with an 11-6 run after being tied 14-14. Buckner led the Vikings with 5 kills on a .417 hitting percentage. WWU made 7 hitting errors and was held to a .105 hitting percentage compared to Wheeling's .234 mark. Schleucher recorded 4 kills and Haley Kindall had 4 blocks for the Cardinals. The set featured seven ties and three lead changes.

WJU took the 2-0 lead with a 25-19 second-set victory. WWU held an early lead, but the Cardinals pulled away with a 5-1 run to go up 10-7 and never looked back. McPherson led the Vikings with 4 kills and a pair of block assists. Sydney Obringer recorded 4 kills and 2 block assists to lead the Cardinals.

The final set featured 19 tie scores and 8 lead changes before Wheeling prevailed 27-25. The Vikings fought off a pair of match points at to tie the set at 24-24 and 25-25, but back-to-back kills by Kindall ended the match sending the Cardinals to the national final. Buckner tallied 9 of her team-high 16 kills in the third set.

Match Notes: WWU finished with 27 wins, 5th-most in program history...9th trip to the NCAA Tournament and second to the Final 4 (also 2007)...Rachel Roeder completed her career with 900 kills, 15th-most in program history...Jennica McPherson recorded 1,167 digs (9th) and 127 service aces (13th) to etch her name in the WWU record books...Kayleigh Harper finished with 171 total blocks, 5th-most in WWU single-season history...the Vikings active roster of 13 players consisted of 10 redshirt freshman and sophomores.

2015 NCAA Division II Volleyball National Championship
Tampa, Fla. // Bob Martinez Athletics Center
Hosted by the University of Tampa and Tampa Bay Sports Commission
All times listed as EST (3 hours ahead of PST)

Thursday, Dec. 10 - Quarterfinals
Wheeling Jesuit 3, Arkansas-Fort Smith 1
Western Washington 3, vs. Rockhurst 1
Wayne State (Neb) 3, Carson-Newman 1
Palm Beach Atlantic 3, NYIT 0

Friday, Dec. 11 - Semifinals
Wheeling Jesuit 3, Western Washington 0
Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Wayne State (Neb.) 0

Saturday, Dec. 12 - Championship
5:00 pm: Wheeling Jesuit vs. Palm Beach Atlantic