SEATTLE, Wash. – Western Washington University senior All-American middle Kayleigh Harper recorded 13 kills and 8 blocks to lead the No. 4 nationally-ranked Viking volleyball team to a three-set sweep over Seattle Pacific Thursday evening in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action in Brougham Pavilion.
WWU improved to 22-1 overall and 14-1 in GNAC play with the 25-20, 25-17, 25-11 victory over the Falcons. WWU remains in first place in the GNAC, inching towards a third consecutive conference title with five matches remaining in the regular season. SPU had its six-match winning streak snapped to drop to 11-12 overall and 8-7 in league play.
"Our serving was on point tonight which set up our net play for 16 blocks," said WWU 20th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "I am really proud of this team for taking a new line up and maximizing it."
Harper, a senior from Oak Harbor, was used as a full-rotation player for the first time this season. The two-time All-American responded with an all-around effort with 13 kills on a .600 hitting percentage, 7 blocks and a pair of service aces. She led all players with 19.5 points.
"Kayleigh was unstoppable tonight. Her hitting, blocking and serving created a lot of match-up challenges," added Flick-Williams.
Redshirt freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn added 8 kills (.316) and recorded a match-high 14 digs. Redshirt freshman Malia Aleaga had 33 assists and tallied a career-high 9 blocks. Senior liberoMae Thungc helped lead the defensive effort with 12 digs, leaving her 12 short of 1,000 for her career, and also contributed a pair of service aces.
Junior outside hitter Alison Davenport and sophomore outside hitter Tess Biscup both had 6 kills. Sophomore middle Chloe Roetcisoender was also a key factor in the dominating blocking effort with 8 blocks.
WWU out-hit SPU .303 to .009 and held a 16.0 to 5.0 advantage in blocks.
Senior outside hitter Gabby Oddo had 11 kills and 4 digs and Maddie Batiste recorded 11 kills.
Kills - Harper (13), Heilborn (8), Davenport (6), Biscup (6)
Aces - Harper (2), Thungc (2), Lologo (1)
Blocks - Aleaga (9), Harper (8), Roetcisoender (8)
Assists - Aleaga (33)
Digs - Heilborn (14), Thungc (12), Lologo (7)
Points - Harper (19.5), Heilborn (10), Roetcisoender (7.5), Biscup (6.5)
The Vikings (22-1, 14-1 GNAC) remain on the road playing at Saint Martin's on Saturday with first serve at 7 pm in Marcus Pavilion in Lacey. 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.
HARPER MOVES UP CAREER KILLS LIST
Senior Kayleigh Harper recorded 13 kills on a .600 hitting percentage gain sole possession of 5thplace in WWU history with 1,211 career kills passing Shannon Rowland (1999-02). Harper is now aiming for the 4th spot in WWU history currently held by Gretchen Haakenson (1,228).
The Vikings swept the season series against SPU, both 3-0 sweeps, including a 25-14, 25-8, 25-7 win in Carver Gym on Oct. 12. WWU now has a 12-match winning streak vs. SPU dating back to the 2014 season and lead the all-time series 52-26 (16-1 since 11/3/11).
The Vikings are 52-2 over their last 54 matches dating back to the start of the 2018 season and 79-9 since the beginning of the 2017 campaign.
WWU is coming off the first 20-win season in GNAC history in 2018 and has won the last two GNAC championship titles (9 overall in program history). Including the 14-1 start this season, WWU is 53-2 in GNAC play dating back to the 2017 season, and recently had a 47-match GNAC winning streak snapped.
» Leads GNAC with 14-1 league record this season.
» Recorded first 20-win season in GNAC history last season.
» 87-8 record in GNAC play over the last five seasons (2015-19).
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 78-9 overall and 52-2 in conference play, and over the last five seasons are 129-23 (.849). Led by 20th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams, the Vikings have posted a 197-38 record over the last eight seasons (.838 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).
