BELLINGHAM, Wash. – With the postseason right around the corner, the Western Washington University volleyball team is showing no signs of slowing down.

 

The No. 14 nationally-ranked Vikings carry a 15-match winning streak into Saturday's regular-season finale. WWU will host Simon Fraser University in a noon match on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The battle of the border rivals features the two of the top ranked teams in the West Region, with WWU listed No. 2 and vying for a postseason spot at No. 6. The Vikings moved up two more sports to No. 14 in the AVCA Coaches Poll and have now been ranked in 120 consecutive national polls dating back to the beginning of the 2012 season.

 

WWU has already clinched its record fourth consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference title, the 11th title for the Vikings since the GNAC was formed in 2001. The Vikings have also secured yet another 20-win campaign at 20-4 overall and are 16-1 in league play. SFU enters the matinee match 17-7 overall and in 2nd place in the GNAC standings at 11-6.

 

Western's string of consecutive conference titles began with three straight from 2017-19, and after the COVID-19 pandemic where no championship was awarded from the 2021 spring season, the Vikings picked the success right back with this year's title. WWU also won three straight GNAC titles from 2001-03.

 

The Vikings clinched the outright title with a 3-0 sweep on November 11 at Montana State Billings and reached the 20-win mark with a 3-1 win at Seattle Pacific last Saturday. WWU carries a perfect 11-0 home record in Carver Gym into Saturday's match vs. SFU.

 

WWU enters the final week of GNAC play leading the conference and ranking 5th nationally averaging 2.68 blocks per set. The Vikings also pace the conference with a .239 hitting percentage (34th in NCAA II) and is 2nd in the GNAC averaging 13.38 kills per set.

 

The All-American outside hitter combination of sophomore Calley Heilborn (3.28 kills/set) and junior Gabby Gunterman (3.16 kills/set) lead the Vikings, ranking 5th and 6th in the GNAC. Sophomore setter Malia Aleaga is 2nd in the conference with 10.85 assists per set and junior middle Olivia Fairchild leads the GNAC with 1.38 blocks per set (6th in NCAA II) and 2nd with a .331 hitting percentage.

 

 

The Vikings have locked up the 2021 GNAC Championship marking the fourth consecutive league title. WWU also won the GNAC title in 2017, 2018, 2019 and are now 11-time conference champions. This marks the first team an team has won four consecutive GNAC volleyball titles in the 21-year history of the conference. Over the last five seasons (including 2021), WWU has combined to go 113-17 (.869) with a 82-6 record against GNAC opponents (73-4 in conference play).

 

Here is a look at the series history between WWU and Simon Fraser in the regular-season finale for both teams:

 

• Simon Fraser: Defeated SFU in five sets (25-13, 19-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-9) in the GNAC opener for both teams on September 18…WWU leads the all-time series 69-34 with a current eight-match winning streak (won 20 of last 21). WWU is 20-1 vs. SFU in GNAC play and 30-6 all-time in home games.

 

The Vikings will play their final home regular-season match of the season, but won't have a Senior Day since there are no seniors on the 19-player roster. A pregame ceremony will honor the WWU Cheer team and the Viking Band, as well as SFU's three seniors.

 

WWU has a strong hold on the No. 2 ranking in the West Region, earning the same ranking in all three polls that were released by the NCAA. The Vikings trail only Cal State San Bernardino in the regional rankings. The top eight teams, with automatic qualifiers from the GNAC, CCAA and PacWest, will qualify for the NCAA II West Regional Championships held December 2-4 at a to-be-determined campus location (usually the top seed in the West).

 

WWU is 11-0 in home matches on WECU Court in Carver Gym this season, after going 8-0 during the abbreviated spring season. The Vikings own an all-time 295-82 (.782) record in the on-campus facility and since moving back into the renovated facility in 2017, WWU is 51-1. Western is 180-16 (.918) all-time in Carver Gym in the 22 seasons that head coach Diane Flick-Williams has led the program. WWU's last loss in Carver Gym was a five-set thriller vs. UAA on November 14, 2019, and has since won 20 consecutive matches in Bellingham.

 

Beginning October 18, a new campus fan policy went into effect with all fans having to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours to gain admission into Carver Gym. Due to state of Washington and WWU policy, face coverings/masks are also required for all fans and social distancing in the stands is encouraged. Tickets will be on sale to the general public beginning one hour prior to first serve at the Carver Gym Box Office and free parking is available in the C lots on the south edge of the WWU campus. 

 

Fans can follow this week's matches live online with a free webcast on Vikings TV, as well as live statistical updates through live stats. Direct links to watch the match are listed below:

 

• VIKINGS TV – wwuvikings.com/VB_Watch
• LIVE STATS – wwuvikings.com/VB_Stats

 

WWU has a current 15-match winning streak, a stretch of victories that began with a four-set road win over Northwest Nazarene on September 25. The Vikings were perfect during October going 9-0, with five 3-0 sweeps. WWU has now recorded a double-digit winning streak in each of the last six "full" seasons: 17 (2019), 30 (2018), 20 (2017), 11 (2016), 16 (2015). Here is a look at the longest winning streaks in program history, with the current streak 9th-longest by a WWU squad:

 

 

WWU has reached the 20-win mark for the ninth consecutive season and for the 31st time in program history. Head coach Diane Flick-Williams has guided the program to at least 20 wins now in 16 of her 21 full seasons at the helm of the program.

 

WWU is 20-4 overall and 16-1 in GNAC play, going 8-2 in three-set matches, 7-1 in four-set contests and 5-1 in five sets. Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2021 season:

 

 

In the first 13 matches of the season, the Vikings went 9-4, but were without a three-set victory. The Vikings have solved that problem with eight sweeps in the last 10 matches (SPU, MSUB, NNU, CWU, SMU, WOU, MSUB) and have won 23 of their last 37 sets.

 

The Vikings are 5-1 in five-set matches this season, including three GNAC victories going the distance against Simon Fraser (away) and Alaska Fairbanks (home and away). 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).

 

The Vikings have now won 86 of their last 99 matches dating back to the 2018 season (86-13/.869) when the Vikings were the NCAA II national runner-up. WWU is also 113-17 (.869) dating back to the start of the 2017 season.

 

Calley Heilborn has recorded a double-double (Kills-Digs) in 18 of 24 matches to rank 2nd in the GNAC now has 43 career double-doubles in 65 matches as a Viking (66.1%). Gabby Gunterman has 13 double-doubles this season and 28 in her career, including a 22-kill, 22-dig performance at Alaska Fairbanks (10/28). Setter Adele Holland and Malia Aleaga each have a pair of assist-dig double-doubles. Middle Olivia Fairchild tallied a 19-kill, 10-block performance vs. Cal State San Bernardino.

 

Here is a look at the 2021 GNAC standings heading into the final weekend of conference play, with the Vikings having clinched the conference title to receive an automatic berth to the NCAA II West Regional Championships.

 

 

WWU placed eight student-athletes on the 2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team, the second-most selections in program history (nine in 2010). Twin sisters Tess Biscup and Chloe Roetcisoender led the Vikings eight selections as three-time GNAC Academic award winners. Gabby Gunterman, Calley Heilborn, Anna Maracichand Kasey Woodruff all were recognized for the second consecutive season. Gabby Kepleyand Kate Wick earned the award in their first year of eligibility.

 

The Vikings moved up two spots from No. 16 to No. 14 in the 11th edition of the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. WWU has remained in the national top 25 all season after being listed No. 14 in the preseason poll. The Vikings have now been ranked in 120 consecutive polls dating back to the first week of the 2012 season, with 51 of those spent in the national top 10.

 

Here is a match-by-match look at the 2021 season through the first 24 matches of the season:

 

 

The Vikings were selected as the GNAC Team of the Week after sweeping the road trip at Alaska Fairbanks (3-2 win) and Alaska Anchorage (3-0 victory). WWU extended its winning streak to 10 consecutive matches with a 3-2 win over Alaska Fairbanks (23-25, 27-25, 25-16, 21-25, 15-11) and 3-0 over Alaska Anchorage (25-22, 25-23, 25-19) to improve to 15-4 overall. WWU has a two-match lead in the GNAC standings with a 11-1 conference record.

 

True freshman setter Adele Holland made her collegiate debut in the five-set home victory over Alaska Fairbanks (10/2) with a 48-assist, 14-dig double-double. Holland stepped in for then-injured All-American setter Malia Aleaga and is averaging 6.03 assists per set in 13 matches (6 starts, 6-0 record). Holland is the first "true" freshman to see game action for the Vikings since Taylor Dillard during the 2011 season. Right around the 2009-2010 seasons, head coach Diane Flick-Williams (now in her 22nd season) began the process of having first-year freshman player utilize a redshirt season.

 

A new volleyball-dedicated playing surface was installed in Carver Gym prior to the start of the 2021 season, with a Taraflex Court replacing the 21-year-old Sport Court. The new surface features a wood-colored inset and a blue outline around the court.

 

WWU features a 19-player roster for the 2021 season, with 12 returning letterwinners and nine starting players (from the spring 2021 season). The recruiting class features seven new players, with six scheduled to use 2021 as a redshirt season. The Vikings feature three returning All-Americans in junior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman, sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn and sophomore setter Malia Aleaga.

 

WWU Volleyball head coach Diane Flick-Williams is in her 22nd season leading the program and is the winningest coach in WWU and GNAC history. Flick-Williams owns a career record of 480-116 (.805), guiding the Vikings to 16 seasons of 20 or more victories, 14 NCAA Championship appearances (8 consecutive), 3 national tournament appearances (2007, 2015, 2018), 11 GNAC championships and received GNAC Coach of the Year honors 10 times (2001-03, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012-13, 2017-18). Amongst active Division II coaches, she entered the 2021 season ranked 9th in career winning percentage (.804) and 20th in victories (460). Among all-time NCAA II coaches, she is 11th in winning percentage and has a top-25 winning percentage among all coaches across NCAA levels all-time. Lead assistant coach James Suh is in his 20th year as coach with the Vikings. Former WWU all-GNAC middle blocker Michaela Hall joined the program this season as a graduate assistant, and Chris Leverenz and Brad Saindon are volunteer assistant coaches.

 

WWU has advanced to the NCAA II Championships in each of the last eight seasons (2012-19) and 14 times overall in program history (all since 2001). The Vikings advanced to the 2018 NCAA National Championship Match for the second time (also in 2007), falling in a five-set thriller to the University of Tampa. The Vikings have advanced to the West Regional Final in four of the last five seasons, winning regional titles in 2015 (in Anchorage, AK) and 2018 (Bellingham/Carver Gym). WWU is 22-14 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

 

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 (2021 will be 9 straight) and 14 of the last 19 dating back to the 2001 season. The winner of 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Western won the 2018 GNAC title with a perfect 20-0 record, the 2017 championship by posting a 19-1 league, became a 3-peat champion with an 18-2 mark in 2019 and have already clinched the 2021 title. Led by 22nd-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams (480-116/.805) the Vikings have posted a 231-46 record over the last 10 seasons (.834 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).