Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Western Washington University volleyball team came back from an 0-2 deficit, but could not complete the comeback in a 3-2 loss against No. 17 Northern State (23-25, 20-25, 27-25, 25-21, 9-15) Friday morning in the Concordia-St. Paul Tournament.

The Vikings dropped to 0-2 on the season after losing in straight sets last night vs. top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul.

Junior Arielle Turner (Leavenworth, WA/Cascade) recorded a career-high 24 kills on a .404 hitting percentage (3 errors, 52 attacks) to lead four Vikings in double-figures in kills. Turner also added 4 aces and 4 blocks assists for 29.0 total points.

Sophomore outside hitter Abby Phelps (Manson, WA/Chelan) contributed a double-double with 19 kills and 16 digs and sophomore middle blocker Kayleigh Harper (Oak Harbor, WA) added 13 kills (.444 pct.) and 7 blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Michaela Hall (Centralia, WA) turned in a career-high 12 kills.

Sophomore setter Brette Boesel (Brewster, WA) paced the WWU offense with a career-high 41 assists.

The Vikings were down 2-0 after dropping sets 25-23 and 25-20. Phelps led Western with 5 kills and 4 digs in the opening set, while Turner notched 5 kills and a service ace in the second set.

WWU started the comeback with a thrilling 27-25 win in the third set fueled by 5 kills each from Phelps and Turner, and 6 digs from junior Joellee Buckner (Colville, WA). The Vikings trailed 24-22, but staved off a pair of match points and continued the match with a 27-25 victory. The set featured four lead changes and nine tie scores.

Western controlled the fourth set with a 25-21 win to force the deciding fifth game. Turner led all players with 6 kills and the Vikings hit .318 for the set.

Having not lost a five-game match since 2014 (won seven consecutive 5-game matches), the Vikings fell short of the comeback with a 15-9 loss in the deciding set. Northern State pulled away early and built a 10-5 lead before closing out the match. Turner was again the leading Viking with 5 kills in the set.

Holly Vancura (15 kills, 24 digs), Tori Biach (10 kills, 8 blocks) and Kellie Schmit (12 kills, 3 blocks) led the Wolves in their season opener.

The Vikings return to play this afternoon against No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul at 2:30 pm PT/4:30 pm CT and close out play in St. Paul tomorrow morning vs. Truman State (8 am PT/10 am CT).