BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team clinched the outright 2018 Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship with a 3-0 sweep over Western Oregon Thursday night in Carver Gym.
 
The No. 2 nationally-ranked Vikings extended their winning streak to 22 consecutive matches to improve to 22-3 overall. WWU defeated the Wolves by scores of 25-7, 25-15, 25-8 to improve to 17-0 in GNAC play. Western Oregon dropped to 6-18 overall and 3-14 in league play.
 
"It was really great to see the team hoist that trophy and all the smiles on their face after a great performance tonight," said head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "The trophy is a symbol of a lot of hard work, and I am really happy for our five seniors to experience this again and have this memory."
 
Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps (Manson, WA/Chelan) led the Vikings with a 13-kill, 11-dig double-double, and also had 2 blocks for a team-high 16.0 points. Phelps moved into 2^nd place all-time in GNAC history increasing her career kills total to 1,499, now just 15 kills from breaking the career record of 1,513 held by Sam Harthun of Alaska Fairbanks (2012-15).
 
"Abby was just herself tonight, didn't try to do too much, and played within herself…and that's when she is at her best," said Flick-Williams on her All-American outside hitter. "She is a great team leader and really contributing all over the court."
 
Middle hitters Kayleigh Harper (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA) and Michaela Hall (Sr., Centralia, WA) combined for 16 kills and 8 blocks. Redshirt freshman Gabby Gunterman (Lake Stevens, WA) also had 9 kills on a .538 hitting percentage.
 
"Our middles continue to not give teams a break," added Flick-Williams. "They are amazingly consistent, both on offense and defense and are really playing well right now."
 
Senior setter Brette Boesel (Brewster, WA) recorded a match-high 37 assists and senior libero Aubrey Stephens (Colville, WA) recorded 15 digs to lead all players.
 
WWU hit a season-high .390 in the match and matched a season high with 8 service aces. Junior defensive specialist Mae Thungc (Kent, WA/Kentridge) had 3 aces, with Boesel and Phelps each contributing 2 aces.
 
The Vikings (22-3, 17-0 GNAC) return to action Saturday night hosting Concordia for Senior Night beginning at 7 pm in Carver Gym. Brette Boesel, Abby Phelps, Michaela Hall, Taylor Lyall and Aubrey Stephens will be honored in a pregame ceremony prior to playing their last regular-season match in Carver Gym.
                                                                                                              Kills - Phelps (13), Harper (9), Gunterman (9)
Aces - Thungc (3), Boesel (2), Phelps (2)
Blocks - Hall (4), Harper (4), Boesel (2)
Assists - Boesel (37)
Digs - Stephens (15), Phelps (11), Thungc (11)
  WWU extended winning streaks of 22 matches this season, 27 straight in Carver Gym and 35 consecutive GNAC victories (dating back to last season)…during the 22-match winning streak, the Vikings have won 66 of 76 sets and recorded 15 sweeps…22 consecutive wins is the 2^nd-longest winning streak in program history, trailing only a 24-match winning streak in 2003…here is a look at the longest winning streaks in program history:
 

LONGEST WWU WIN STREAKS
1.	24	Aug. 29-Nov. 15, 2003
2.	22	Aug. 25, 2018-current
3.	21	Sept. 13-Nov. 30, 2007
4.	20	Aug. 25-Oct. 27, 2001
	20	Sept. 19-Dec. 1, 2017
6.	18	Sept. 14-Nov. 16, 2002
7.	16	Sept. 5-Oct. 17, 2015
8.	13	Sept. 5-Oct. 9, 2008
9.	12	Oct. 19-Nov. 16, 1990
10.	11	Sept. 24-Oct. 29, 2016

  Abby Phelps is now 15 kills short of the all-time GNAC record for kills with 1,499, with the record of 1,513 held by Sam Harthun (Alaska Fairbanks, 2012-15)…with 16.0 points Thursday night, Phelps now has 1,711.0 in her career, 3^rd-most in GNAC history.
 

PHELPS IN GNAC RECORD BOOK
KILLS
1.	Sam Harthun (UAF)	1,513	2012-15
2.	Abby Phelps (WWU)	1,499	2015-
3.	Kendra Bodine (NNU)	1,491	2014-17
4.	Sarah Sommerman (SU)	1,461	2002-05
5.	Alyssa Given (SPU)	1,454	2004-07
POINTS
1.	Louise Free (NNU)	1723.5	1999-02
2.	Alyssa Given (SPU)	1718.0	2004-07
3.	Abby Phelps (WWU)	1711.0	2015-
4.	Sam Harthun (UAF)	1681.0	2012-15
5.	Kendra Bodine (NNU)	1646.0	2014-17

  Fans can follow WWU Volleyball online at WWUVikings.com/VB, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUVolleyball), Instagram (@WWUVB) and Facebook (@WWUVolleyball).