BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University junior middle
Kayleigh Harper recorded 14 kills and 6 blocks to help lead the No. 8 nationally-ranked Vikings to a 3-1 victory over Alaska Anchorage on Saturday evening in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Game scores were 25-23, 18-25, 25-13, 25-11 in favor of the Vikings.
WWU remained atop the GNAC standings improving to 11-3 overall and 6-0 in league play. Alaska Anchorage falls to 11-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play. Western has now won its last four matches vs. the Seawolves and has won 5 of the last 6 in the series.
Harper (Oak Harbor, WA) tied for the match high with 14 kills and was a key contributor at the net with 6 of WWU's 14 blocks.
"Kayleigh was such a steady presence for us in the beginning of the match, offensively and defensively," said head coach
Diane Flick-Williams. "She becomes a huge distraction which helps everyone else have opportunities and the pins."
Senior outside hitter
Abby Phelps (Manson, WA/Chelan) recorded her 12
th double-double of the season with 11 kills and 19 digs. She recorded 9 of her 11 kills over the final two sets after being limited to a pair of kills in the first two sets.
Junior defensive specialist
Mae Thungc (Kent, WA/Kentridge) recorded 16 digs and was a key factor at the service line with one service ace. Senior outside hitter
Taylor Lyall (Bellingham, WA/Sehome) recorded a career-high 3 service aces and added 3 digs.
"Mae and Taylor had some great service runs that created momentum for us at the service line," said Flick-Williams. "Ali (
Alison Davenport) and Abby (Phelps) also responded with their serve and the combination of a good serve and pass game was an important difference maker tonight."
Junior middle
Joslyn Bopray (Spokane, WA/Lewis & Clark) stepped into the starting lineup due to an injury to senior middle
Michaela Hall (Centralia, WA) and provided a spark with 6 kills and 7 blocks. Redshirt freshman
Gabby Gunterman (Lake Stevens, WA) added 9 kills and 5 digs.
"Joslyn has not skipped a beat from her great season last year. I was so proud of her for not only what she contributed physically, but her presence and calm was a big factor in steadying us out after the second set," added Flick-Williams.
Western out-blocked Anchorage 14.0 to 12.0, with sophomore
Alison Davenport (Auburn, WA/Auburn Mountainview) adding 6 blocks and senior setter
Brette Boesel (Brewster, WA) contributing 3 blocks (as well as a match-high 43 assists).
The Seawolves were led by 14 kills from freshman Eve Stephens, but the reigning AVCA National Player of the Week was limited to a .171 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Chrisalyn Johnson recorded a 10-kill, 14-dig double-double for the Seawolves.
The Vikings (11-3, 6-0 GNAC) face a quick turnaround playing Simon Fraser on Tuesday in GNAC action in West Gym in Burnaby, BC. WWU will then host Montana State Billings next Saturday, Sept. 29, in Carver Gym with first serve at 7 pm. Advance tickets are available online at
WWUVikings.com/Tickets.
MATCH NOTES…WWU extended winning streaks of 11 matches (overall in 2018), 19 matches (inside Carver Gym dating back to 2014) and 24 matches (in GNAC games dating back to last season)…during the 11-match winning streak, the Vikings have won 33 of 40 sets…WWU has won 4 straight and 5 of 6 vs. Alaska Anchorage, and now leads the all-time series 35-17 (27-10 in GNAC play)...
Abby Phelps now has 1,350 career kills, 4 shy of 2
nd place in the WWU record book…
Kayleigh Harper jumped up to No. 9 in WWU history with 366 career blocks.
FOLLOW THE VIKS…Fans can follow WWU Volleyball online at
WWUVikings.com/VB, and via social media on
Twitter (@WWUVolleyball),
Instagram (@WWUVB) and
Facebook (@WWUVolleyball).
WWU LEADERS…
Kills - Harper (14), Phelps (11), Gunterman (9)
Aces - Lyall (3), Phelps (1), Thungc (1)
Blocks - Bopray (7), Davenport (6), Harper (6)
Assists - Boesel (43), Stephens (1)
Digs - Phelps (19), Thungc (16), Stephens (14)
UPDATED GNAC STANDINGS…
| VOLLEYBALL |
CONF |
PCT |
OVERALL |
PCT |
HOME |
AWAY |
NEUTRAL |
STREAK |
| Western Washington |
6-0 |
1.000 |
11-3 |
.786 |
4-0 |
4-0 |
3-3 |
Won 11 |
| Central Washington |
5-1 |
.833 |
11-2 |
.846 |
3-2 |
5-0 |
3-0 |
Won 2 |
| Seattle Pacific |
5-1 |
.833 |
7-6 |
.538 |
5-1 |
2-1 |
0-4 |
Won 5 |
| Alaska Anchorage |
4-2 |
.667 |
11-3 |
.786 |
5-1 |
4-1 |
2-1 |
Lost 1 |
| Concordia |
4-2 |
.667 |
7-6 |
.538 |
4-2 |
3-1 |
0-3 |
Lost 1 |
| Simon Fraser |
3-3 |
.500 |
6-6 |
.500 |
2-2 |
2-1 |
2-3 |
Won 1 |
| Western Oregon |
2-4 |
.333 |
5-8 |
.385 |
1-3 |
2-1 |
2-4 |
Lost 2 |
| Northwest Nazarene |
2-4 |
.333 |
2-11 |
.154 |
0-5 |
2-3 |
0-3 |
Won 1 |
| Montana State Billings |
1-5 |
.167 |
7-8 |
.467 |
0-2 |
3-4 |
4-2 |
Won 1 |
| Alaska |
1-5 |
.167 |
3-10 |
.231 |
0-2 |
1-4 |
2-4 |
Lost 2 |
| Saint Martin's |
0-6 |
.000 |
2-10 |
.167 |
0-3 |
1-4 |
1-3 |
Lost 7 |
