SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Western Washington University volleyball team captured its fourth NCAA Division II West Regional title with a 3-0 sweep over Cal State Los Angeles Saturday evening inside Coussoulis Arena.
The Vikings won their 19th consecutive match to improve to 24-4 overall and advance to the NCAA Division II Championship Finals and the Elite 8 that will be played December 9-11 in Tampa, Florida. No. 2 seed WWU recorded the straight-sets victory over No. 5 Cal State LA with scores of 25-23, 29-27, 25-15.
WWU will be making its fourth appearance in the Elite 8, joining the 2007, 2015 and 2018 squads that also won West Regional titles since joining the NCAA in 1998. The eight-team field that will play in the national quarterfinals will be re-seeded Sunday with WWU joining Gannon (Atlantic), Washburn (Central), Daemen (East), Hillsdale (Midwest), Augusta (Southeast), West Texas A&M (South Central) and tournament host Tampa (South). The University of Tampa will serve as the Elite 8 host with matches played in the Bob Martinez Center.
"Our block came to play and when that happens I know good things will come," said WWU head coach
Diane Flick-Williams. "We were pushing uphill for a majority of those first two sets but saw no panic in our team and knew they could pull it off. Matches are marathons and as long as we stick to the process we know we'll be fine."
Saturday's victory over Cal State LA featured a pair of come-from-behind set wins and a dominating third-set performance to put the match away. WWU trailed 19-14 and 22-19 in the opening set, but used a late 5-0 run to take the 25-23 win to go up 1-0 in the match.
WWU fell behind early in the second set with CSLA scoring the first five points and held a 16-11 lead. The Vikings chipped away at the deficit using a 9-5 spurt to pull even at 24-24. Western fended off a trio of set points against them and rallied for the 29-27 win to go up 2-0.
The Vikings dominated the third set from the start and never looked back recording the 25-15 win to punch their ticket to the Elite 8.
Junior middle
Chloe Roetcisoender led the Vikings with 13 kills on a .765 hitting percentage, and also contributed six blocks for 16.0 total points.
Sophomore outside hitter
Calley Heilborn added a 10-kill, 13-dig double-double and junior opposite
Tess Biscup contributed nine kills and five blocks.
The Vikings dominated the play at the net recording a 14.0-to-6.0 advantage in blocks, led by eight total blocks from junior middle
Olivia Fairchild.
WWU's balanced team effort also featured nine kills and eight digs from GNAC Player of the Year
Gabby Gunterman. Sophomore setter
Malia Aleaga directed the team to a .295 hitting percentage while dishing out 40 assists to go with six digs and four blocks.
Cal State LA (20-10) was led by a match-high 15 kills by Emily Elliott and a 13-kill, 17-dig double-double from Karla Santos. The Golden Eagles advanced to the West Regional final by knocking off No. 4 Cal Poly Pomona (3-1) and No. 1 Cal State San Bernardino (3-0).
UP NEXT FOR THE VIKINGS
The Vikings (24-4) will find out their seed for the national quarterfinal round (Elite 8) that will be played December 9-11 in Tampa, Florida. WWU won its fourth West Regional title after playing in the regional championship match for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The updated eight-team bracket that will compete in Tampa will be announced Sunday on
NCAA.com
WWU STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills – Roetcisoender (13), Heilborn (10), Biscup (9)
Aces – None
Blocks – Fairchild (8), Roetcisoender (6), Aleaga (6)
Assists – Aleaga (40), Holland (1)
Digs – Heilborn (13), Lologo (10), Gunterman (8)
Points – Roetcisoender (16.0), Fairchild (11.5), Biscup (11.5), Heilborn (11.0)
ALL-REGIONAL SELECTIONS
WWU placed four players on the 2021 NCAA II West Regional All-Tournament Team:
- Gabby Gunterman, Western Washington
- Chloe Roetcisoender, Western Washington
- Malia Aleaga, Western Washington
- Olivia Fairchild, Western Washington
- Hannah Stires, Central Washington
- Marianna Payne, Central Washington
- Jalyn Hayes, Cal State San Bernardino
- Alexis Cardoza, Cal State San Bernardino
- Alejandra Negron, Cal State LA
- Karla Santos, Cal State LA
- Eliza Cannon, Cal State LA
- Emily Elliott, Cal State LA
POSTSEASON HISTORY
The Vikings improved to 25-14 all-time in 15 trips to the NCAA Division II Championships. WWU is making its ninth consecutive trip to the West Regional and won its fourth regional title (2007, 2015, 2018, 2021). WWU has now recorded at least one win in 10 of 15 NCAA tournament appearances. WWU played for the national title in 2018 and advanced to the regional semifinal in 2019, with the 2020 championships canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a match-by-match look at how the Vikings have fared in 14 previous appearances in the NCAA Championships:
2001 (No. 3 seed) – San Bernardino, CA
Defeated Cal State L.A. 3-2
Lost to UC San Diego, 3-0
2002 (No. 3 seed) – San Bernardino, CA
Lost to Cal State Los Angeles, 3-2
2003 (No. 2 seed) – La Jolla, CA
Lost to Cal State San Bernardino, 3-1
2006 (No. 7 seed) – San Bernardino, CA
Lost to UC San Diego, 3-1
2007 (No. 2 seed) – San Bernardino, CA
Defeated Chico State, 3-0
Defeated UC San Diego, 3-2
Defeated Cal State San Bernardino, 3-0 (West Regional Final)
Defeated Dowling, 3-0
Defeated Washburn, 3-1
Lost to Concordia-St. Paul, 3-1 (NCAA Championship Match)
2010 (No. 3 seed) – San Bernardino, CA
Defeated Alaska Anchorage, 3-1
Lost to Seattle Pacific, 3-2
2012 (No. 4 seed) – Laie, HI
Defeated Sonoma State, 3-0
Lost to BYU Hawaii, 3-1
2013 (No. 5 seed) – San Bernardino, CA
Lost to Sonoma State, 3-0
2014 (No. 3 seed) – Nampa, ID
Lost to Cal State San Bernardino, 3-1
2015 (No. 2 seed) – Anchorage, AK
Defeated Point Loma, 3-0
Defeated UC San Diego, 3-2
Defeated Cal State San Bernardino, 3-2 (West Regional Final)
Defeated Rockhurst, 3-1
Lost to Wheeling Jesuit, 3-0 (National Semifinal)
2016 (No. 3 seed) – Anchorage, AK
Defeated California Baptist, 3-0
Defeated Cal State San Bernardino, 3-0
Lost to Alaska Anchorage, 3-1 (West Regional Final)
2017 (No. 2 seed) – Riverside, CA
Defeated Alaska Anchorage, 3-1
Defeated Northwest Nazarene, 3-1
Lost to Cal State San Bernardino, 3-0 (West Regional Final)
2018 (No. 1 seed) – Bellingham, WA
Defeated Cal State East Bay, 3-0
Defeated Cal Poly Pomona, 3-0
Defeated Cal State San Bernardino, 3-2 (West Regional Final)
Defeated Tarleton State, 3-0
Defeated Lewis, 3-1
Lost to Tampa, 3-2 (NCAA Championship Match)
2019 (No. 2 seed) – San Bernardino, CA
Defeated Hawai'i Hilo, 3-0
Lost to Azusa Pacific, 3-2
2021 (No. 2 seed) – San Bernardino, CA
Defeated Simon Fraser, 3-1
Defeated Central Washington, 3-1
Defeated Cal State Los Angeles, 3-0 (West Regional Final)
SEASON RESULTS
Here is a match-by-match look at the 2021 season following the West Regional Final of the NCAA Championships:
| 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* |
W |
3-0 |
25-17,25-17,25-18 |
| 11/8 |
Alaska Anchorage* |
W |
3-1 |
25-21,23-25,28-26,25-22 |
| 11/11 |
at Montana State Billings* |
W |
3-0 |
25-15,25-23,25-15 |
| 11/13 |
at Seattle Pacific* |
W |
3-1 |
24-26,25-18,25-19,25-23 |
| 11/20 |
Simon Fraser* |
W |
3-1 |
20-25,25-18,25-18,26-24 |
| 12/2 |
Simon Fraser (NCAA) |
W |
3-1 |
25-22,23-25,25-20,25-23 |
| 12/3 |
Central Washington (NCAA) |
W |
3-1 |
25-21,20-25,28-26,25-15 |
| 12/4 |
Cal State LA (NCAA) |
W |
3-0 |
25-23,29-27,25-15 |
RECORD BREAKDOWN
WWU improved to 24-4 overall after finishing the conference season with a 17-1 record in GNAC play to win a fourth consecutive conference title. The Vikings are 9-2 in three-set matches, 10-1 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 |
24-4 |
| Streak |
W19 |
| Home |
12-0 |
| Away |
8-1 |
| Neutral |
4-3 |
| GNAC Record |
17-1 |
| 3-Set Matches |
9-2 |
| 4-Set Matches |
10-1 |
| 5-Set Matches |
5-1 |
| Ranked Opponents |
2-3 |
| Record by Jersey |
| Navy Blue |
9-1 |
| White |
2-0 |
| Light Blue |
7-2 |
| Dark Gray |
6-1 |
EXTENDED WINNING STREAKS
WWU extended its winning streak to 19 consecutive matches, the 6th-longest in program history. The streak dates back to a four-set road victory over Northwest Nazarene on September 25. The Vikings were perfect during October going 9-0 and 6-0 in November. 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:
| Rk |
Streak |
Year (Dates) |
| 1. |
30 |
2018 (Aug. 25-Nov. 30) |
| 2. |
24 |
2003 (Aug. 29-Nov. 15) |
| 3. |
21 |
2007 (Sept. 13-Nov. 15) |
| 4. |
20 |
2017 (Sept. 19-Dec. 1) |
|
20 |
2001 (Aug. 25-Oct. 27) |
| 6. |
19 |
2021 (Sept. 25-current) |
| 7. |
18 |
2002 (Sept. 14-Nov. 16) |
| 8. |
17 |
2019 (Sept. 5-Oct. 17) |
| 9. |
16 |
2015 (Sept. 5-Oct. 17) |
VIKTORIOUS
The Vikings have now won 90 of their last 103 matches dating back to the 2018 season (90-13/.874) when the Vikings were the NCAA II national runner-up. WWU is also 117-17 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 nine seasons (including 2021) and 15 of the last 20 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 clinched the 2021 title with a 17-1 record. Led by 22nd-year head coach
Diane Flick-Williams (484-116/.807) the Vikings have posted a 235-46 record over the last 10 seasons (.836 winning percentage) and have played in the NCAA II West Region championship match five out of the last six seasons (2015-21), winning titles in 2015, 2018 and 2021 (also 2007). 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 three of the past six seasons (2015, 2018, 2021).
