BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 2 nationally ranked Western Washington University volleyball team opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 3-1 victory over Northwest Nazarene Thursday night on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
 
Playing the first home game of the 2019 season, the Vikings continued their winning ways remaining perfect at 9-0 with a 32^nd consecutive victory in Carver Gym. WWU has won 39 of its last 40 matches dating back to last season and the two-time defending GNAC champions have won 39 consecutive conference matches.
 
WWU (9-0) won the four-set match Thursday night by scores of 25-23, 19-25, 25-10, 25-15. NNU drops to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in GNAC play.
 
Senior All-American middle Kayleigh Harper (Oak Harbor, WA) and sophomore outside hitter Gabby Gunterman (Lake Stevens, WA) paced the Vikings with 14 kills each, and redshirt freshman Calley Heilborn (Auburn, WA/Auburn Riverside) recorded a match-high 19 digs.
 
Gunterman also had 16 digs while recording her fifth double-double of the season and Heilborn tallied 11 kills for her seventh double-double in nine matches. Harper contributed 6 blocks, including three solo blocks, to finish with a team-high 18.5 points. Redshirt freshman utility player Tupu Lologo (Federal Way, WA) had 12 digs, 3 service aces and 4 assists.
 
"We settled in after the second set and started to apply more pressure, and that all started at the service line," said 20^th-year WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "Tonight was another learning moment for our team, getting the first home match out of the way, and bouncing back from a lull in the second set. We had some good offensive and defensive performances, and we'll build off that heading into a tough match on Saturday."
 
WWU out-blocked NNU 13-2 and recorded 9 service aces in the match.
 
The Nighthawks were led by a 14-kill, 11-dig double-double from Brooke Foster. Abbey Blum led five NNU players with double-digits in digs with 13, also adding a match-high four service aces.

VB🏐 | A few more images Scenes from Carver Gym and the 2019 home opener for @WWUVolleyball with a 3-1 #VIKtory over NNU to improve to 9-0 on the season.

Full Gallery ➡ https://t.co/1Ddnny8MC1

📸 Radley Muller Photography pic.twitter.com/guBiMyuQZ1

— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) September 20, 2019

  WWU continues its opening home weekend of the season with a GNAC contest vs. in-state rival Central Washington on Saturday with first serve at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Admission is free for all WWU students, faculty and staff by showing their WWU ID Card. The complete 2019 season schedule and additional information on the program can be viewed at WWUVikings.com/VB.
  WWU now leads the all-time series vs. Northwest Nazarene 40-9, including a 17-4 record in home games. The Vikings have won five straight vs. the Nighthawks and eight consecutive vs. NNU in Carver Gym..
  WWU is 9-0 on the season, marking the second-best start in program history trailing only a 13-0 start to the 2008 season.
  The Vikings have now won 39 of their last 40 matches dating back to last season. WWU is also 66-8 (.892) dating back to the start of the 2017 season.
  Kills - Harper (14), Gunterman (14), Heilborn (11)
Aces - Lologo (3), Gunterman (2), Payne (2)
Blocks - Harper (6), Roetcisoender (4), Heilborn (4)
Assists - Aleaga (40), Heilborn (4), Lologo (4)
Digs - Heilborn (19), Gunterman (16), Thungc (15)
Points - Harper (18.5), Gunterman (17.5), Heilborn (14.0)
  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).