POMONA, Calif. – The No. 3 nationally-ranked Western Washington University volleyball team opened play in the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase with a 3-0 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay in Kellogg Arena on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona.

The Vikings swept the Otters by scores of 25-15, 25-16, 25-23 to remain unbeaten at 5-0 on the season. CSUMB evened its season record at 2-2.

"We still have a lot to learn and this morning is no exception for lessons," said 20^th-year WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "I thought we had some great steady play from Gabby (Gunterman), Kayleigh (Harper), and Calley (Heilborn) came along as the match went on."

Redshirt freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn (Auburn, WA/Auburn Riverside) led all players with 14 kills on a .333 hitting percentage, and added 15 digs for her fourth double-double in five matches this season. In addition to tallying match highs in kills and digs, she recorded three service aces to finish with 18.5 points

Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Gunterman (Lake Stevens, WA) added 12 kills (.296) and 9 digs, and also had 3 blocks to finish with 14.0 total points.

Senior middle Kayleigh Harper (Oak Harbor, WA) recorded 9 kills on a .500 hitting percentage and tied senior teammate Joslyn Bopray (Spokane, WA/Lewis & Clark) with a match-high 5 blocks. 

Overall the Vikings out-blocked Monterey Bay 11.0 – 6.0, while out-hitting the Otters .298 to .118.

CSUMB was led by 10 kills from Jenna Tobin and 10 digs by Sophia Torres.

The Vikings return to action later this evening with an 8 pm match against tournament host Cal Poly Pomona. The match will feature a live webcast (WWUVikings.com/VB_Watch) and live stats (WWUVikings.com/VB_Stats). The Vikings will then play single matches on Friday (Chaminade, 2:30 pm) and Saturday (Hawai'i Hilo, 12 pm) to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule.

Kills - Heilborn (14), Gunterman (12), Harper (9)

Aces - Heilborn (3), Payne (1)

Blocks - Bopray (5), Harper (5), Davenport (4)

Assists - Aleaga (39)

Digs - Heilborn (15), Thungc (10), Gunterman (9)

Points - Heilborn (18.5), Gunterman (14.0), Harper (11.5)

An annual tradition that pits the schools in the GNAC, CCAA and PacWest against each other in pod play, the West Region Volleyball Showcase features some of the top matchups in the nation while giving 36 schools at six regional locations the chance to flex their muscles in non-conference action. The CCAA plays hosts in 2019, with Cal State San Bernardino, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State LA, Stanislaus State, San Francisco State and UC San Diego each hosting to a six-team pod with competition in the three-day tournament taking place Sept. 12-14.

This season marks the sixth consecutive season the Vikings have competed in the West Region Showcase, with WWU compiling an 18-3 all-time record in the tournament. The Vikings now have an 8-match showcase winning streak after today's win vs. Cal State Monterey Bay, after going 4-0 last season in the pod hosted by Azusa Pacific, and 3-1 in each of the two previous seasons.

After playing the first eight matches of the 2019 season on the road, the Vikings will make their official Carver Gym debut when they host Northwest Nazarene on WECU Court on Thursday, September 19 with first serve scheduled for 7 pm. The complete 2019 season schedule and additional information on the program can be viewed at WWUVikings.com/VB.

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 2015).