Box Score

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The No. 3 seed Western Washington University volleyball team opened the NCAA Division II West Regional with a 3-0 sweep over No. 6 seed California Baptist Thursday afternoon at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Vikings improved to 1-0 in the regional and 22-7 overall on the season with the 25-23, 25-11, 31-29 victory over the Lancers. CBU ends its season with a 20-9 record. WWU heads to the West Regional semifinals where they will play Cal State San Bernardino at 5 pm AKT/6 pm PT in Anchorage. CSUSB, the No. 2 seed, defeated No. 7 seed Central Washington on Thursday, 3-1.

"I thought we really settled down late in the first game and let the nerves wear off," said head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "We carried our momentum from the end of the first game into the second game and got a lot more aggressive, especially from the service line."

Sophomore outside hitter Abby Phelps (Manson, WA/Chelan) led the Vikings with 14 kills on a .324 hitting percentage, and recorded her 17th double-double with 13 digs. The All-GNAC First Team and AVCA All-West Region selection added a service ace and 3 blocks for a team-high 16.5 points.

Sophomore middle blockers Michaela Hall (Centralia, WA) and Kayleigh Harper (Oak Harbor, WA) were key contributors with Hall providing 8 kills and 3 blocks and Harper 6 kills and 6 blocks.

Sisters Joellee Buckner (Jr., Colville, WA) and Aubrey Buckner (So., Colville, WA) each recorded a match-high 16 digs.

Sophomore setter Brette Boesel (Brewster, WA) ran the offense with 29 assists, and added a pair of service aces and 8 digs.

"Abby and our middles did a nice job today," added Flick-Williams. "But our unsung hero was Joellee Buckner. She is so steady with her serve-receive, her digs and her blocking. It might not show up all the way in the box score, but it would sure be noticed if she wasn't there."

The Lancers (20-9) got 15 digs, 10 digs and 4 blocks from All-Pacific West Conference outside hitter Lauren Hackett in their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Jenna Perry added a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs.

The Vikings trailed much of the first set, but went on a ferocious 10-3 run to end the set with a 25-23 win. WWU trailed 20-15, but tied things up with a 5-0 run, and then broke away from a 22-22 tie to go up 1-0. Hall led the Vikings with 4 kills and 3 blocks in the opening frame, including a pair of blocks for the clinching 24th and 25th points.

Western continued its momentum in a dominating 25-11 win in the second set to go up 2-0. The Vikings opened the set on a 9-0 run behind Boesel's serving and led at one point 13-1.

The Lancers and Vikings were neck-in-neck throughout the third set in a game that featured 18 tie scores and 7 lead changes. The Vikings fought off five set points to push the game to 28-28, before taking a 29-28 lead. CBU then overcame a pair of match points, before WWU prevailed 31-29. Tied 29-29, Phelps used an off-speed kill to earn match point, and Joelle Buckner finished it by notching her fourth kill off a set from Boesel. Phelps was the driving force in the match-clinching victory with 6 kills and an ace.

"We are excited to move on to the semifinals and see what comes our way," said Flick-Williams. "At this point all the matches will be tough, we just have to play game and come out ready to play."

Game Notes: The Vikings have now won 17 of their last 18 matches...the win improved WWU to 13-9 all-time in the NCAA Tournament...Western is a perfect 7-0 at the Alaska Airlines Center (3-0 vs. UAA, 4-0 in NCAA Tournament)...WWU is now 16-3 in three-set matches...WWU is making its 10th NCAA II Tournament appearance and 5th consecutive...won at least one match in 6 of the 10 West Regional appearances.