Jan. 5, 2018
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2017 Volleyball Season IN REVIEW
27-4 OVERALL, 19-1 GNAC
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Head Coach: Diane Flick-Williams (18th season, 394-103)
Final AVCA Ranking: #7
SEASON IN REVIEW...the Vikings finished the season 27-4 overall and advanced to the NCAA II West Region Championship for the third consecutive season...Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions with a 19-1 league record, winning the eighth GNAC title in program history...tied GNAC record for conference wins in a season (UAA in 2016)...14th time in the 17 seasons of the GNAC to finish either No. 1 (8 times) or No. 2 (6 times) in the conference standings...27 wins tied for 5th-most in program history...made sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships (12th overall)...ranked No. 7 in the AVCA/Division II Coaches Poll for the third-highest end of season ranking in program history (No. 2 in 2007, No. 6 in 2015)...has been ranked in 80 consecutive national polls...recorded sixth consecutive 20-win season, going 145-33 (.815) during this stretch...returned to Carver Gym after two years playing at Whatcom Community College, posting a 10-0 home record (went 10-1 away, 7-3 neutral)...recorded a 20-match winning streak Sept. 19-Dec. 1, tied for the 3rd-longest winning streak in program history (dropped only 7 sets during winning streak)...went 16-3 in 3-set matches, 8-1 in 4-set matches and 3-0 when going the distance in 5 sets...averaged 694 fans in 10 home matches (6,940 total attendance), ranking 6th among Division II programs...drew program record 1,289 fans for the home opener Sept. 19 vs. Simon Fraser...had the 4th-toughest schedule in the nation with an opponents' combined winning percentage of .646 (330-181).
FROM THE HEAD COACH..."It was a truly great season where we accomplished a lot as a program, both on and off the court. I am proud of my team for their commitment to getting better with each day of the season, and as we look back at the 2017 season, I feel like we did that. While the ending wasn't what we had wanted, the story of the journey is one to be remembered. We are looking to build on that foundation heading into 2018." - Diane Flick-Williams
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING...averaged 2.75 blocks per set to rank 3rd in NCAA II, 5th-best in program history and the best during the rally-scoring era (since 2001)...also ranked among the top 20 in the nation in digs per set (20.39/4th), kills per set (14.25/14th), assists per set (13.39/17th) and hitting percentage (.249/18th)...20.39 digs per set entered WWU record book as 4th-most in program history...Abby Phelps set WWU single-season record averaging 4.31 kills per set, leading the GNAC and ranking 14th in NCAA II...Joslyn Bopray finished with 1.45 blocks per set, 2nd in NCAA II, and set a WWU rally-scoring single-season record...Brette Boesel averaged 11.72 assists/set, 11th-best in WWU history.
POSTSEASON PLAY...advanced to the postseason for the sixth consecutive season and played in 12th NCAA Division II West Regional...No. 2 seed in the West Regional hosted by California Baptist in Riverside, Calif...advanced to the regional championship game for the third year in a row, falling in straight sets to No. 4-seed Cal State San Bernardino.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR...Abby Phelps was named the GNAC Player of the Year to become the ninth WWU selection (8th player), and first since Kayla Erickson in 2013...Phelps is also the seventh player in program and 17th in GNAC history to become a three-time First Team All-GNAC selection...averaged a WWU single-season record 4.31 kills per set (466 kills) and led the GNAC with 25 double-doubles (kills/digs)...became the fourth player in WWU and 14th in GNAC history to join the 1,000-kill, 1,000-dig club for a career (1155 kills, 1378 digs).
AVCA ALL-AMERICANS...Abby Phelps was named a First Team AVCA All-American, the seventh WWU player to earn honors from the AVCA in the 20-year history of the Vikings competing at the NCAA II level...became the second WWU outside hitter to be named a First Team All-American, joining Marlayna Geary in 2012...Brette Boesel and Joellee Buckner were named Honorable Mention AVCA All-Americans.
AVCA Division II All-America:
AVCA All-West Region:
D2CCA All-West Region:
D2CCA All-America:
NCAA II West Regional All-Tournament:
GNAC All-Conference:
GNAC Weekly Awards:
GNAC All-Academic:
D2 West Region Showcase All-Tournament:
