Box Score

LACEY, Wash. - The 20th-ranked Western Washington University volleyball team extended its winning streak to six consecutive matches in a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-14, 25-11) over Saint Martin's Thursday night in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

With the victory Western improved to 11-6 overall and moved into sole possession of second place in the GNAC with a 7-2 mark. Saint Martin's falls to 7-7 overall and 2-7 in GNAC play. The Vikings out-hit the Saints .313 to .050 for the match.

"I felt like we did a good job of making adjustments early in each game and figuring out the timing of their hitters," said 17th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "

Sophomore Michaela Hall (Centralia, WA) led the Vikings with 11 kills on a .421 hitting percentage. Junior Arielle Turner (OH, Leavenworth, WA/Cascade) added 9 kills and sophomore Kayleigh Harper (MB, Oak Harbor, WA) contributed 7 kills and 4 blocks. Junior Joellee Buckner (OPP, Colville, WA) turned in an all-around effort with 7 kills, 9 digs and a pair of blocks. The Vikings again played without the GNAC co-leader in double-doubles Abby Phelps (So., OH, Manson, WA/Chelan) who was out for the second straight match with an undisclosed injury.

Sophomore setter Brette Boesel (Brewster, WA) ran the offense with 30 assists and added 10 digs.

"I felt like we had another balance match and all the credit goes to our setter," said Flick-Williams. "Brette did a really nice job spreading things out and putting out hitters in the best position to be successful."

Trailed 10-11, but went on a 10-4 run to take a 20-15 lead and control of the opening frame with a 25-16 victory. Buckner paced the Vikings with 3 kills and 2 blocks, while Turner also contributed 3 kills. WWU hit .370 (12-2-27) in the first set, compared to SMU's .079 mark.

The Vikings again used an extended run to put together a 25-14 victory in the second set. Western went on a dominating 11-0 run to turn a 10-7 deficit into an 18-10 lead. They continued to go on an 18-4 run to end the set and go up 2-0.

There was no comeback needed in the final set as the Vikings dominated from the start. WWU jumped out to a 7-2 lead and never looked back in clinching the victory with an 25-11 victory.

The Vikings (11-6 overall, 7-2 GNAC) continue GNAC play on Saturday with a 7 pm match at Seattle Pacific (8-9, 4-5 GNAC). You can follow all the action via Live Stats and Webcast at WWUVikings.com/Live.

Game Notes: The Vikings extended their winning streak to 6 consecutive matches...WWU improved to 56-5 all-time vs. Saint Martin's and extended its winning streak over the Saints to 35 consecutive matches...12 of last 13 wins vs. SMU have come in straight sets...both Central Washington (3-0 vs. Alaska Anchorage) and Simon Fraser (3-0 at Seattle Pacific) entered the day tied with WWU for second in the GNAC, but both lost matches tonight.