Box Score

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - A balanced attack gave nationally ranked Western Washington University a win over Fresno Pacific University, 25-15, 16-25, 25-18, 25-16, to close out opening-day action Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference/Pacific West Conference Crossover Tournament being held at Nicholson Pavilion on the campus of host Central Washington University.

The Vikings, ranked No.19 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, improved to 4-2 with their fourth straight victory. They play No.21 BYU Hawaii on Friday, Sept. 11 (11:15 a.m.), and No.20 Point Loma Nazarene on Saturday, Sept. 12 (9:30 a.m.).

The loss was the third in as many matches for Fresno Pacific, which only mustered a .096 attack percentage.

Abby Phelps (R-Fr., Manson/Chelan) paced WWU with 15 kills and a .341 hitting percentage, and Jennica McPherson (Sr., Seattle/Kennedy) added eight kills, 19 digs and two service aces. Rachel Roeder (Sr., Sammamish/Issaquah) had 11 kills and seven digs, and Joellee Buckner (So., Colville) contributed 10 kills, 13 digs and two aces.

"We knew coming into this year that we had to have a balanced attack and get an effort from everybody in every match," said WWU head coach Diane Flick (16th year, 321-87). "We weren't going to have a star. But then you don't need a star when you have a galaxy."

The Vikings scored seven straight points to break open the first set as they went on a 16-6 run after being tied 9-9. WWU never led in the second set, giving up six of the first seven points.

With the third set tied at 17-all, the Vikings scored eight of the last nine points; and they scored 12 of the last 14 points in the match-ending fourth set. Phelps had six of her kills in the third set.

"We struggled a little bit offensively, but we did a great job of fighting back," Flick said. "It took a lot of great individual play -- Abby's (Phelps) 15 kills were huge and Jennica (McPherson) did a good job when our offense sputtered and then she helped make their offense sputter by digging balls ... Again we served tough, so we continue to put on pressure from the service line."

Earlier in the day, WWU swept Dixie State.