BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Led by a 13-kills, 5-block performance from All-American middle Kayleigh Harper, the No. 5 nationally-ranked Western Washington University volleyball team swept Montana State Billings 3-0 Saturday night on WECU Court in front of a crowd of 641 fans in Carver Gym.

The Vikings improved to 21-1 overall and strengthened their first-place position in the GNAC with a 13-1 league record after second-place Alaska Anchorage recorded its third loss of the conference season. WWU also won its 39^th consecutive match inside Carver Gym with the 25-21, 25-15, 25-20 three-set sweep of the Yellowjackets.

"Tonight was a good, solid team effort," said 20^th-year WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "I'm proud of our team for withstanding a good defensive effort by MSUB and stayed the course when we were down."

Harper record 13 kills on a .632 hitting percentage, and also contributed 5 blocks. It was the middle of the second set however where she really showed her dominance, contributing on 5 of the 6 points (4 kills and 0.5 block) during a 6-0 Viking run. The run pushed the lead to 17-8 and the Vikings went on to win the set 25-15.

"Kayleigh was outstanding in mixing up shots and really seemed in command of her game," added Flick-Williams. "She has been working hard to improve and I'm happy for her that it has paid off."

While Harper owned the second set, it was sophomore outside hitter Gabby Gunterman who dominated the first. Gunterman recorded 7 of her 13 kills on her way to her team-best 13^th double-double of the season (13 kills, 11 digs).

Sophomore middle Chloe Roetcisoender added 7 kills and 5 blocks for 9.5 points and redshirt freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn tallied 6 kills and a match-high-tying 11 digs. 

Redshirt freshman setter Malia Aleaga had 40 assists in the three-game sweep, also adding 2 blocks, 6 digs and an ace, and redshirt freshman utility player Tupu Lologo had 10 digs and led the team with a pair of service aces. Senior libero Mae Thungc also reached double-digits in digs with 10, moving her closer to the 1,000 milestone mark for her career (now has 976).

MSUB (7-17, 4-10) was led by 8 kills from Maddi Vigil and 9 digs each from Hannah Hashbarger and Marissa Logozzo.

Kills - Harper (13), Gunterman (13), Roetcisoender (7)

Aces - Lologo (2), Aleaga (1), Heilborn (1)

Blocks - Harper (5), Roetcisoender (5), Heilborn (4)

Assists - Aleaga (40), Lologo (1), Thungc (1)

Digs - Heilborn (11), Gunterman (11), Lologo (10), Thungc (10)

Points - Harper (16.5), Gunterman (13.5), Roetcisoender (9.5), Heilborn (9.0)

The Vikings (21-1, 13-1 GNAC) will play four of the final six matches of the season on the road, beginning next week at Seattle Pacific (7 pm) on Thursday and Saint Martin's on Saturday (5:15 pm). WWU will next be in Carver Gym November 14 in a showdown with Alaska Anchorage and November 16 for Senior Night vs. Alaska Fairbanks. All home matches feature a 7 pm first serve.

The Vikings have won 39 consecutive matches in Carver Gym dating back to 2014 season (played two seasons at Whatcom CC in 2015-16), including a perfect 13-0 record last season and off to a 8-0 start this year.

»      Current 39-match winning streak in Carver Gym dating back to 2014.

»      WWU is 275-81 (.772) all-time in Carver Gym, including 160-15 (.914) under Diane Flick-Williams.

»      Went 13-0 in Carver Gym last season, including three wins in the NCAA II West Regional.

WWU has reached the 20-win mark for the eighth consecutive season and for the 30^th time in the 48-year history of the program. During the string of consecutive 20-win seasons, which started in 2012, the program has recorded a 196-38 record for a .838 winning percentage. Head coach Diane Flick-Williams has guided the program to at least 20 wins now in 15 of her 20 seasons at the helm of the program.

Senior Kayleigh Harper recorded 13 kills on a .632 hitting percentage to move into a tie for 5^th place in WWU history with 1,198 career kills with Shannon Rowland (1999-02). Harper is now aiming for the 4^th spot in WWU history currently held by Gretchen Haakenson (1,228).

WWU swept the season series vs. the Yellowjackets and are now 28-1 all-time vs. MSUB. Saturday's victory extended the current winning streak vs. Billings to 11 consecutive matches. WWU is undefeated all-time vs. MSUB in matches played in Bellingham at 14-0, with a  12-0 record in Carver Gym.

Here is an early look at the GNAC standings through matches played on Saturday, with the Vikings extending their lead in the conference with a 13-1 record.

The Vikings are 51-2 over their last 53 matches dating back to the start of the 2018 season and 78-9 since the beginning of the 2017 campaign.

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. Led by 20^th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams, the Vikings 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 2018).