BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 4 nationally-ranked Western Washington University volleyball team was defeated in a five-set thriller by Alaska Anchorage, 3-2, on Thursday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
The Vikings held a 2-0 lead in the match over the Seawolves, but UAA battled back to win the next two games, and won the deciding fifth set in the battle between the top two teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Standings. Game scores were 25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 25-27, 14-16 in a match that featured 43 tie scores and 21 lead changes.
WWU remains in first place in the conference with a 15-2 league mark and 23-2 overall, a one-game edge over UAA (19-6, 14-3). Both of the Vikings losses this season have come against UAA, dropping the first meeting between the NCAA Division II powerhouses on Oct. 19 in Anchorage. WWU's loss also snapped a 39-match winning streak in Carver Gym dating back to the 2014 season.
Despite leading in most statistical categories, including a 16.0-12.5 edge in blocks, 71-68 margin in digs and .250-.191 hitting percentage advantage, it was WWU's 17 service errors that would prove to be the deciding factor.
"The long and short of it is that you can't miss 17 serves and expect to win," said WWU head coachDiane Flick-Williams. "This is a good pressure learning experience and we will get back to work tomorrow."
After leading the match 2-0, the Seawolves squeaked out wins of 25-23 and 27-25 in the third and fourth sets to send the match to the deciding fifth set. In the final set, WWU held a 9-7 lead forcing UAA to call a timeout. The Seawolves came out of the break on a 5-0 run to build a 12-9 lead. The Vikings pulled even at 13-13 and 14-14, but kills by Vanessa Hayes and Hannah Pembroke gave the Seawolves the comeback victory. It was WWU's first five-set loss this season (2-1) and only the second over the last three seasons (10-2).
The Vikings were led by a 17-kill, 16-dig double-double from redshirt freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn, who hit at a .412 clip while recording her 14th double-double of the season.
WWU senior middle Kayleigh Harper had 14 kills and 4 blocks, becoming the GNAC's all-time leader in blocks with 561 to pass Northwest Nazarene's Maddi Farrell.
The Vikings also received a career-high 14 kills and 7 blocks from sophomore opposite Tess Biscupand twin sister Chloe Roetcisoender contributed 10 kills and 9 blocks. Sophomore outside hitterGabby Gunterman came back from a mild injury to record 9 kills and 4 blocks.
Senior libero Mae Thungc led all players with 21 digs and redshirt freshman setter Malia Aleaga had 60 assists, 3 service aces and a pair of blocks. Redshirt freshman defensive specialist Kasey Woodruff added a career-high 17 digs in her first career start.
The Seawolves were led by 17-kill performance from Vanessa Hayes, and a 13-kill, 2-ace, 18.5-point performance from Kayla McGlathery.
Kills - Heilborn (17), Harper (14), Biscup (14), Roetcisoender (10)
Aces - Aleaga (3), Harper (2), Heilborn (1)
Blocks - Roetcisoender (9), Biscup (7), Harper (4)
Assists - Aleaga (60), Woodruff (2), Lologo (1)
Digs - Thungc (21), Woodruff (17), Heilborn (16)
Points - Heilborn (19.5), Harper (18.5), Biscup (17.5), Roetcisoender (14.5), Gunterman (11.5)
The Vikings (23-2, 15-2 GNAC) hosts Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday for Senior Night in Carver Gym with first serve at 7 pm. Seniors Mae Thungc, Joslyn Bopray and Kayleigh Harper will be honored prior to the game.
Here is an early look at the GNAC standings through matches played on Thursday, with WWU remaining in first place with a 15-2 league record.
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VOLLEYBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
Western Washington
|
15-2
|
.882
|
23-2
|
.920
|
8-1
|
8-1
|
7-0
|
Lost 1
|
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
14-3
|
.824
|
19-6
|
.760
|
9-3
|
7-3
|
3-0
|
Won 3
|
|
Simon Fraser
|
12-5
|
.705
|
16-9
|
.640
|
6-3
|
7-3
|
3-3
|
Lost 1
|
|
Central Washington
|
11-6
|
.647
|
16-9
|
.640
|
7-1
|
5-6
|
4-2
|
Lost 1
|
|
Alaska
|
11-6
|
.647
|
14-11
|
.560
|
5-3
|
6-5
|
3-3
|
Won 4
|
|
Seattle Pacific
|
9-9
|
.500
|
12-14
|
.462
|
4-7
|
6-4
|
2-4
|
Lost 1
|
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
8-9
|
.471
|
12-12
|
.500
|
3-5
|
6-5
|
3-2
|
Won 2
|
|
Concordia
|
7-10
|
.412
|
9-15
|
.375
|
5-6
|
2-8
|
2-1
|
Won 1
|
|
Montana State Billings
|
5-12
|
.294
|
8-19
|
.296
|
4-7
|
3-7
|
1-5
|
Won 1
|
|
Western Oregon
|
2-15
|
.118
|
4-20
|
.167
|
1-6
|
1-10
|
2-4
|
Lost 3
|
|
Saint Martin's
|
0-17
|
.000
|
0-26
|
.000
|
0-9
|
0-10
|
0-7
|
Lost 26
|
|
Thursday's Results (home team in bold)
Alaska Anchorage 3, Western Washington 2
Concordia 3, Central Washington 2
Montana State Billings 3, Seattle Pacific 1
Northwest Nazarene 3, Western Oregon 0
Alaska Fairbanks 3, Simon Fraser 0
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Fans can follow WWU Volleyball online at WWUVikings.com/VB, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUVolleyball), Instagram (@WWUVB) and Facebook (@WWUVolleyball). All home matches feature a live webcast, as well as most road matches, with links on how to follow the games available at WWUVikings.com/Live.
The WWU volleyball program has risen to elite level by advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships in each of the last seven seasons and 13 of the last 18 dating back to the 2001 season. The winner of nine Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, Western won the 2018 GNAC title with a perfect 20-0 record and the 2017 championship by posting a 19-1 league. Over the last three seasons (includes 2019) the Vikings have combined to go 80-9 overall and 54-2 in conference play, and over the last five seasons are 129-23. Led by 20th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams, the Vikings have posted a 198-38 record over the last eight seasons (.839 winning percentage) and have played in the NCAA II West Region championship match each of the last four seasons (2015-18), winning titles in 2015 and 2018. WWU played for the NCAA II national championship in 2007 and 2018, both national runner-up finishes, have advanced to the NCAA Final Four in two of the past four seasons (2015 and 2015).
