POMONA, Calif. – The Western Washington University volleyball team put together its most dominating performance of the young season defeating Chaminade University in straight sets on Friday afternoon during the second day of the 2019 D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase inside Kellogg Arena. 

The No. 3 nationally-ranked Vikings improved to 7-0 on the season with the 25-21, 25-18, 25-15 victory over the Silverswords. WWU has now recorded four consecutive three-set sweeps while off to the best start to a season since also starting the 2013 7-0. 

As a team the Vikings recorded a season-high .398 hitting percentage (45 kills, 4 errors, 103 attacks) and out-blocked Chaminade 7.0 to 1.0.

"This was our most complete match yet and I can't single anyone out because it was all of us together," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "Every player on and off the court contributed today and I am really proud of how they played."

Senior middle Kayleigh Harper (Oak Harbor, WA) and redshirt freshman Calley Heilborn (Auburn, WA/Auburn Riverside) each recorded 12 kills and tied for the team lead with 13.5 points. Harper continues to inch toward the 500 career block mark with 3 block assists, giving her 474 for her career.

Heilborn led WWU with 13 digs to record her fifth double-double (kills-digs) of the season. Senior libero Mae Thungc (Kent, WA/Kentridge) contributed 11 digs and redshirt freshman setter Malia Aleaga (Burien, WA/Kennedy) led all players with 41 assists. Sophomore middle Chloe Roetcisoender (Duvall, WA/Cedar Park Christian) continued her excellent tournament play at the net with a match high 4 blocks.

Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Gunterman (Lake Stevens, WA) added 8 kills and 8 digs, and junior outside Alison Davenport (Auburn, WA/Auburn Mountainview) recorded 7 kills on a .467 hitting percentage and contributed 4 blocks.

Chaminade, an NCAA tournament team last season, suffered its first defeat of the season to drop to 4-1. Senior outside hitter Emma Tecklenburg led the Silverswords with 10 kills and junior libero Leka Kiner-Falefa recorded a match-high 14 digs. 

WWU closed out the D2 West Region Showcase on Saturday playing Hawai'i Hilo at noon in the final non-conference match of the season. The Vikings home and Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener is Thursday, September 19 vs. Northwest Nazarene (7 pm in Carver Gym).

WWU closes out play in the D2 West Region Showcase on Saturday playing Hawai'i Hilo at noon in Kellogg Arena. The match will feature a live webcast (WWUVikings.com/VB_Watch) and live stats (WWUVikings.com/VB_Stats).

Off to a 7-0 start to the season, the Vikings have now won 37 of their last 38 matches dating back to last season. WWU is also 64-8 (.889) dating back to the start of the 2017 season.

Kills - Harper (12), Heilborn (12), Gunterman (8)

Aces - Thungc (2), Gunterman (1), Lologo (1)

Blocks - Roetcisoender (4), Davenport (3), Harper (3)

Assists - Aleaga (41), Lologo (1)

Digs - Heilborn (13), Thungc (11), Gunterman (8)

Points - Harper (13.5), Heilborn (13.5), Gunterman (9.0), Davenport (8.5)

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 20-3 all-time record in the tournament. The Vikings now have a 10-match showcase winning streak after today's win over Chaminade, and yesterday's sweeps against Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal Poly Pomona. WWU was 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).