FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Western Washington University volleyball team continued its five-set magic this season recording a 3-2 road victory over Alaska Fairbanks Thursday night in the Patty Center. Game scores were 23-25, 27-25, 25-16, 20-25, 15-11 in favor of the Vikings.
 
No. 19 nationally-ranked WWU extended its winning streak to nine consecutive matches, improving to 14-4 overall and 10-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. The victory, coupled with a 3-1 loss by Alaska Anchorage to Simon Fraser, moved the Vikings into sole possession of first place in the GNAC standings. WWU is the three-time defending GNAC champions winning titles in 2017-2018-2019.
 
Playing in its third consecutive five-set match, UAF dropped to 13-11 overall and 6-6 in GNAC play with its fourth consecutive defeat.
 
"Playing on the road in the GNAC is a grind and we are still learning how to prepare for it," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams (474-116/.803, 22nd season). "I am really proud of the team for staying present and grinding it out against a UAF team that played great. It was a great team effort."
 
The Nanooks prevailed in a back-and-forth first set winning 25-23 to go up 1-0 in the match, but WWU answered with 27-25 second set win to tie the match. The Vikings staved off a set point for UAF and finished with a 3-0 run. The Vikings dominated the third set 25-16 to go up 2-1 in the match, but UAF took the fourth set 25-22 to once again even things up. In the deciding fifth set Western used a 4-1 run to pull away from a 5-5 tie, but UAF answered with a 5-2 run to tie the set at 11-11. Following a timeout, WWU went on a 4-0 run to seal the victory, with all four points coming in kills by sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn.
 
Heilborn recorded a career-high 26 kills on a .258 hitting percentage and tallied 22 digs for her 13th double-double of the season. Heilborn added a pair of blocks and two service aces for 29.5 total points, tied for 5th-most by a Viking over the last 24 seasons (during the NCAA II era).
 
Junior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman paired with Heilborn for a dominating effort by the Viking pin hitters, also recording a career high with 22 kills on a .396 hitting percentage. Gunterman also had 22 digs for her 10th double-double of the season.
 
"Our pin hitters – Calley and Gabby – were fantastic tonight and moved the ball around like a park sprinkler," said Flick-Williams on her All-American outside hitters.
 
Junior middle Chloe Roetcisoender recorded a match-high 10 blocks and neared a double-double with nine kills on a .320 hitting percentage.
 
"Chloe was so steady for us in the middle and had her hands on so many attacks," said Flick-Williams.
 
Sophomore libero Kasey Woodruff (18 digs) and sophomore defensive specialist Tupu Lologo (14 digs) helped anchor a solid defensive effort with four players recording double-digits in digs.
 
Sophomore setter Malia Aleaga dished out 63 assists while guiding the Vikings to a .277 hitting percentage.
 
The Nanooks were led by a 16-kill, 13-dig double-double by Rilee White and 15 kills and nine digs by Lahra Weber. Setter Cate Whiting neared a triple-double with seven kills, 19 digs, 51 assists and also had four blocks.
  The Vikings (14-4, 10-1 GNAC) remains in the 49th state taking on Alaska Anchorage on Saturday with first serve at 7 pm AKT/8 pm PT. The complete 2021 WWU Volleyball schedule, complete with results and links to follow matches live, can be found online at wwuvikings.com/VB.
  The Vikings continued their five-set magic this season, improving to 5-1 in matches that go the distance (three in GNAC play). WWU is now 26-7 in five-set matches over the last seven seasons (since 2015), which includes a 16-4 mark over the last five seasons (since 2017).
  Kills - Heilborn (26), Gunterman (22), Roetcisoender (9)
Aces - Heilborn (2), Gunterman (1)
Blocks - Roetcisoender (10), Biscup (5), Gunterman (3)
Assists - Aleaga (63), Heilborn (3), Woodruff (2)
Digs - Gunterman (22), Heilborn (22), Woodruff (18)
Points - Heilborn (29.5), Gunterman (25.0), Roetcisoender (14.0), Biscup (11.0)
  WWU defeated the Nanooks in five sets in both matches this season to earn the 2021 sweep. The Vikings now lead the all-time series vs. UAF 49-7, including a 39-3 mark in GNAC matches. Western has now won 25 consecutive matches vs. the Nanooks dating back to 2008, including an 12-match winning streak in Fairbanks.
  Here is a match-by-match look at the 2021 season through the first 18 matches of the season:
 

Date	Opponent		Score	Score-by-set
9/3	Sonoma State	W	3-1	26-24,23-25,25-18,25-18
9/4	MSU Denver (#11)	W	3-2	25-21,24-26,18-25,30-28,15-7
9/5	Chaminade	W	3-1	25-20,22-25,25-23,25-18
9/10	vs. Wayne State (#17)	L	0-3	22-25,17-25,22-25
9/10	vs. Lewis (#5)	L	0-3	16-25,24-26,16-25
9/11	vs. Lynn (RV)	W	3-2	22-25,25-16,23-25,25-20,15-11
9/11	vs. Cal State San Bernardino (#6)	L	2-3	23-25,35-33,25-17,21-25,13-15
9/18	at Simon Fraser* (#20)	W	3-2	25-13,19-25,20-25,25-23,15-9
9/23	at Central Washington*	L	1-3	13-25,25-19,15-25,23-25
9/25	at Northwest Nazarene*	W	3-1	25-13,25-27,25-22,25-22
10/2	Alaska Fairbanks*	W	3-2	25-13,20-25,25-23,23-25,15-13
10/7	at Western Oregon*	W	3-1	25-12,23-25,25-20,25-17
10/9	at Saint Martin's*	W	3-1	25-19,25-17,21-25,25-19
10/14	Seattle Pacific*	W	3-0	25-22,27-25,25-22
10/16	Montana State Billings*	W	3-0	25-17,25-11,25-18
10/21	Northwest Nazarene*	W	3-0	25-14,25-14,25-12
10/23	Central Washington*	W	3-0	25-13,25-22,25-22
10/28	at Alaska Fairbanks*	W	3-2	23-25,27-25,25-16,21-25,15-11
10/30	at Alaska Anchorage*

  WWU is 14-4 overall and 10-1 in GNAC play, going 4-2 in three-set matches, 5-1 in four-set contests and 5-1 in five sets. Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2021 season:
 

2021 RECORD BREAKDOWN
Overall Record	14-4
Streak	W9
Home	8-0
Away	5-1
Neutral	1-3
GNAC Record	10-1
3-Set Matches	4-2
4-Set Matches	5-1
5-Set Matches	5-1
Ranked Opponents	2-3
Record by Jersey
Navy Blue	5-1
White	2-0
Light Blue	4-2
Dark Gray	3-1

  The Vikings have had success playing in Alaska, now winning 25 of their last 28 matches in the state of Alaska, with a current 12-match winning streak in Fairbanks. WWU is also 13-3 all-time at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage since it debuted in 2014. The record includes a 5-2 mark vs. UAA, five wins in the 2015 and 2016 NCAA II West Regionals and three wins in the 2017 D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase.
  The Vikings have now won 80 of their last 93 matches dating back to the 2018 season (80-13/.860) when the Vikings were the NCAA II national runner-up. WWU is also 107-17 (.863) dating back to the start of the 2017 season.
  Here is a look at the 2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings following play on Thursday, with the Vikings taking hold of sole possession of first place in the GNAC:
 

2021 STANDINGS		CONF	PCT	OVERALL	PCT	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	STREAK
1.	Western Washington	10-1	.909	14-4	.778	8-0	5-1	1-3	Won 9
2.	Alaska Anchorage	9-2	.818	16-7	.696	8-2	7-2	1-3	Lost 1
3.	Simon Fraser	9-3	.750	15-4	.789	5-2	5-1	5-1	Won 7
4.	Seattle Pacific	7-5	.583	11-8	.578	9-0	1-6	1-2	Lost 1
5.	Central Washington	6-5	.545	10-7	.588	8-0	1-5	1-2	Lost 2
6.	Alaska Fairbanks	6-6	.500	13-11	.542	7-2	4-7	2-2	Lost 4
7.	Montana State Billings	4-8	.333	9-13	.409	8-4	1-7	0-2	Lost 1
8.	Saint Martin's	3-8	.273	10-11	.476	3-4	2-5	5-2	Won 3
9.	Northwest Nazarene	2-9	.182	5-14	.263	3-2	1-12	1-0	Won 1
10.	Western Oregon	1-10	.091	3-15	.167	1-5	0-6	2-4	Won 1
Thursday's GNAC Results #19 Western Washington 3, at Alaska Fairbanks 2 Simon Fraser 3, at Alaska Anchorage 1 at Western Oregon 3, Seattle Pacific 0 at Saint Martin's 3, Montana State Billings 1

  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.
  Currently in its 50th season as a varsity intercollegiate sport at WWU, the Western volleyball program has risen to elite level by advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships in each of the last eight seasons and 14 of the last 19 dating back to the 2001 season. The winner of 10 Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, Western won the 2018 GNAC title with a perfect 20-0 record, the 2017 championship by posting a 19-1 league and became a 3-peat champion with an 18-2 mark in 2019. Led by 22nd-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams (474-116/.803) the Vikings have posted a 225-46 record over the last 10 seasons (.830 winning percentage) and have played in the NCAA II West Region championship match four of the last five 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, and have advanced to the NCAA Final Four in two of the past five seasons (2015 and 2018).