BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team returned to Carver Gym Thursday night defeating Saint Martin's University in straight sets to extend its winning streak to 11 consecutive matches.
The No. 18 nationally-ranked Vikings handed the Saints a 25-22, 25-15, 25-23 defeat in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on WECU Court.
WWU maintained the top spot in the conference with a 12-1 GNAC record improving to 16-4 overall. Saint Martin's has recorded a program-record 10 wins this season, but dropped Thursday's competitive contest to fall to 10-13 overall and 3-10 in GNAC play.
Junior outside hitter
Gabby Gunterman recorded her fourth consecutive double-double with 10 kills (on a .381 attack pct.) and 13 digs. She added three service aces and solo block for a match-high 14.0 points.
Junior middle
Chloe Roetcisoender led the Vikings with 11 kills on a .588 hitting percentage and recorded a match-high 4.0 blocks.
Sophomore outside hitter
Calley Heilborn notched a 10-kill, 10-dig double-double (her 14th of the season).
Sophomore setter
Malia Aleaga ran a balanced offense with three players tallying double-digits in kills and dished out 33 assists to go along with 12 digs for a double-double. Sophomore libero
Kasey Woodruff contributed a match-high 14 digs.
"It took us a little bit to get going, but overall a good team effort with a very spread-out offense ran by Malia (Aleaga)," said WWU head coach
Diane Flick-Williams. "Chloe (Roetcisoender) was an anchor in the middle on offense and defense for us tonight. I thought it was also a good defensive effort with four players recording double-digits in digs."
Emily Gooding led Saint Martin's with 11 kills and libero Kylie Alos had 11 digs.
SET-BY-SET
SET 1 (WWU 25, SMU 22): The Vikings went up 1-0 in the match winning the first set 25-22. Saint Martin's out-hit WWU .242-to-.235 in the opening stanza, but the Vikings were strong down the stretch pulling away from a 19-19 tie for the three-point win. Heilborn led WWU with four kills (.429) in the set, with Woodruff sparking the defense with five digs. Tia Allen and Emily Gooding each had four kills with matching .375 hitting percentages.
SET 2 (WWU 25, SMU 15): WWU used an early 10-3 run to pull away defeated the Saints 25-15 to go up 2-0 in the match. In addition to the early run, WWU rattled off five consecutive points to take a 17-7 lead. WWU hit a scorching .371 in the set, with Gunterman, Heilborn and Roetcisoender each tallying four kills. Gunterman added six digs as the Vikings defense had 20 team digs in the set.
SET 3 (WWU 25, SMU 23): Western trailed 11-7 following a 6-0 Saint Martin's run and were down 13-8. The Vikings answered with a 5-1 run forcing a Saints timeout, which stalled the rally going on a 3-0 run to lead 17-13. Western battled back trailing by one point at 20-19, 21-20 and 22-21 and eventually tied the set 23-23. The Vikings ended the set and the match going on a 4-0 run with
Tupu Lologo fueling the rally on the service line. Roetcisoender had five kills with a .714 hitting percentage in the set with twin sister
Tess Biscup also tallying five kills. Gunterman completed her double-double with four kills on six attacks (.667) and Aleaga dished out 14 assists.
UP NEXT
The Vikings (16-4, 11-1 GNAC) continues their three-match homestand hosting Western Oregon on Saturday with first serve on WECU Court in Carver Gym set for 7 pm. WWU then hosts a rare Monday match-up against GNAC rival Alaska Anchorage at 7 pm. The complete 2021 WWU Volleyball schedule, complete with results and links to follow matches live, can be found online at
wwuvikings.com/VB.
WWU STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills – Roetcisoender (11), Heilborn (10), Gunterman (10)
Aces – Gunterman (3), Lologo (2), Heilborn (1)
Blocks – Roetcisoender (4), Aleaga (2), Fairchild (2)
Assists – Aleaga (33), Woodruff (4), Lologo (3)
Digs – Woodruff (14), Gunterman (13), Aleaga (12)
Points – Gunterman (14.0), Roetcisoender (13.0), Heilborn (12.0), Biscup (10.0)
UPDATED GNAC STANDINGS
Here is a look at the 2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings following play on Thursday, with the Vikings remaining in first place in the conference:
| 2021 STANDINGS |
CONF |
PCT |
OVERALL |
PCT |
HOME |
AWAY |
NEUTRAL |
STREAK |
| 1. |
Western Washington |
12-1 |
.923 |
16-4 |
.800 |
9-0 |
6-1 |
1-3 |
Won 11 |
| 2. |
Alaska Anchorage |
10-3 |
.769 |
17-8 |
.680 |
8-3 |
8-2 |
1-3 |
Won 1 |
| 3. |
Simon Fraser |
10-4 |
.714 |
16-5 |
.761 |
6-2 |
5-2 |
5-1 |
Won 1 |
| 4. |
Central Washington |
8-5 |
.615 |
12-7 |
.632 |
9-0 |
2-5 |
1-2 |
Won 2 |
| |
Seattle Pacific |
8-5 |
.615 |
12-8 |
.600 |
9-0 |
2-6 |
1-2 |
Won 1 |
| 6. |
Alaska Fairbanks |
7-7 |
.500 |
14-12 |
.538 |
8-2 |
4-8 |
2-2 |
Lost 1 |
| 7. |
Montana State Billings |
5-8 |
.385 |
10-13 |
.435 |
8-4 |
2-7 |
0-2 |
Won 1 |
| 8. |
Saint Martin's |
3-10 |
.231 |
10-13 |
.435 |
3-5 |
2-6 |
5-2 |
Lost 2 |
| 9. |
Northwest Nazarene |
2-11 |
.154 |
5-16 |
.238 |
3-4 |
1-12 |
1-0 |
Lost 2 |
| 10. |
Western Oregon |
1-12 |
.077 |
3-17 |
.150 |
1-6 |
0-7 |
2-4 |
Lost 2 |
Thursday's GNAC Results
at #18 Western Washington 3, Saint Martin's 0
at Central Washington 3, Alaska Fairbanks 0
Alaska Anchorage 3, at Northwest Nazarene 1
at Simon Fraser 3, Western Oregon 1 |
SERIES HISTORY VS. SAINT MARTIN'S
WWU earned the season sweep over the Saints, also winning in four sets October 9 in Lacey. The Vikings now lead the all-time series 65-5 with a 44-match winning streak over SMU. Western has won 66 of the last 68 sets in the series dating back to 2010. In home matches, WWU has won 22 straight matches over the Saints since 1999.
SEASON RESULTS
Here is a match-by-match look at the 2021 season through the first 20 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* |
W |
3-0 |
25-22,25-23,25-19 |
| 11/4 |
Saint Martin's* |
W |
3-0 |
25-22,25-15,25-23 |
| 11/6 |
Western Oregon* |
|
7 pm |
Alumni Night |
| 11/8 |
Alaska Anchorage* |
|
7 pm |
Rivalry Match |
RECORD BREAKDOWN
WWU is 16-4 overall and 12-1 in GNAC play, going 6-2 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 |
16-4 |
| Streak |
W11 |
| Home |
9-0 |
| Away |
6-1 |
| Neutral |
1-3 |
| GNAC Record |
12-1 |
| 3-Set Matches |
6-2 |
| 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 |
5-2 |
| Dark Gray |
4-1 |
TOUGH IN CARVER GYM
WWU is 9-0 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 293-82 (.781) record in the on-campus facility and since moving back into the renovated facility in 2017, WWU is 49-1. Western is 178-16 (.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 18 consecutive matches in Bellingham.
VIKTORIOUS
The Vikings have now won 82 of their last 95 matches dating back to the 2018 season (82-13/.863) when the Vikings were the NCAA II national runner-up. WWU is also 109-17 (.865) dating back to the start of the 2017 season.
FOLLOW THE VIKS ONLINE
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.
ABOUT WWU VOLLEYBALL
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 (476-116/.804) the Vikings have posted a 227-46 record over the last 10 seasons (.832 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).
