MONMOUTH, Ore. – The No. 2 nationally-ranked Western Washington University volleyball team recorded a 3-0 sweep over Western Oregon Thursday evening in the New PE Building in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
The Vikings defeated the Wolves 25-14, 25-15, 25-16 to remain perfect on the season at 11-0 overall and 3-0 in GNAC play. WWU has now won 41 consecutive conference matches dating back to the 2017 season and overall has won 41 of its last 42 contest going back to last season.
Junior outside hitter Alison Davenport (Auburn, WA/Auburn Mountainview) had a standout all-around performance with 11 kills and 5 blocks, finishing with a team-high 13.5 points. Redshirt freshmanCalley Heilborn (Auburn, WA/Auburn Riverside) added a team-high 12 kills and sophomore Gabby Gunterman (Lake Stevens, WA) anchored the defense with a match-high 13 digs.
Sophomore middle Chloe Roetcisoender (Duvall, WA/Cedar Park Christian) provided a match-high 6 blocks and had 5 kills to complete the Vikings dominating effort.
"We did a great job of staying the course and holding off a couple of their runs," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "Alison (Davenport) was on fire at the net both blocking and hitting, and that really lifted us tonight."
Senior libero Mae Thungc (Kent, WA/Kentridge) was injured during the first set and redshirt freshmanKasey Woodruff (University Place, WA/Curtis) replaced her finishing with 6 digs.
"Kasey did an awesome job coming in and relieving Mae when she got injured," added Flick-Williams.
WOU (2-8, 0-3 GNAC) was led by 6 kills from Delaney Smith and 4 blocks by Allyson Crisp.
Kills - Heilborn (12), Davenport (11), Gunterman (8)
Aces - Aleaga (2), Gunterman (1), Payne (1)
Blocks - Roetcisoender (7), Davenport (5), Harper (4)
Assists - Aleaga (37)
Digs - Gunterman (13), Heilborn (9), Woodruff (6)
Points - Davenport (13.5), Heilborn (12.5), Gunterman (11.0), Roetcisoender (9.0)
The Vikings (11-0, 3-0 GNAC) continue their Oregon road trip facing Concordia in Portland on Saturday at 2 pm. WWU heads into the match on Saturday having won its last 19 road conference games and overall has won 24 consecutive matches at an opponents home venue (not counting neutral-site games). The match vs. the Cavaliers on Saturday will stream live on GNAC.tv and feature live statistical updates with links at WWUVikings.com/Live.
The Vikings recorded their 40th all-time win against Western Oregon, improving to 40-14 overall vs. the Wolves. Tonight's victory extended the winning streak in the series to 13 consecutive matches dating back to the 2013 season. WWU has won 20 of the last 21 meetings in the series.
GNAC STANDINGS AND THURSDAY'S RESULTS
Here is an early look at the GNAC standings through matches played on Thursday:
|
VOLLEYBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
Alaska
|
4-0
|
1.000
|
7-5
|
.583
|
2-0
|
2-2
|
3-3
|
Won 4
|
|
Western Washington
|
3-0
|
1.000
|
11-0
|
1.000
|
2-0
|
2-0
|
7-0
|
Won 11
|
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
2-1
|
.667
|
7-4
|
.636
|
2-2
|
2-2
|
3-0
|
Lost 1
|
|
Central Washington
|
2-1
|
.667
|
7-4
|
.636
|
1-0
|
2-2
|
4-2
|
Won 1
|
|
Concordia
|
2-1
|
.667
|
4-6
|
.400
|
2-3
|
0-2
|
2-1
|
Won 1
|
|
Montana State Billings
|
2-1
|
.667
|
4-8
|
.333
|
2-0
|
1-3
|
1-5
|
Lost 1
|
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
1-2
|
.333
|
5-5
|
.500
|
1-0
|
1-3
|
3-2
|
Won 1
|
|
Simon Fraser
|
1-2
|
.333
|
5-6
|
.454
|
1-1
|
1-2
|
3-3
|
Lost 1
|
|
Seattle Pacific
|
0-3
|
.000
|
3-8
|
.272
|
0-2
|
1-2
|
2-4
|
Lost 3
|
|
Western Oregon
|
0-3
|
.000
|
2-8
|
.200
|
0-1
|
0-3
|
2-4
|
Lost 3
|
|
Saint Martin's
|
0-3
|
.000
|
0-12
|
.000
|
0-2
|
0-3
|
0-7
|
Lost 12
|
|
Thursday's Results:
Alaska Fairbanks 3, Montana State Billings 2
Western Washington 3, Western Oregon 0
Concordia 3, Simon Fraser 2
Central Washington 3, Seattle Pacific 0
Northwest Nazarene 3, Saint Martin's 1
Home team in bold
|
WWU is 11-0 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 41 of their last 42 matches dating back to last season. WWU is also 68-8 (.895) dating back to the start of the 2017 season.
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 20th-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).
