BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team completed a perfect 3-0 weekend to open the 2020-21 season, picking up a pair of wins over Western Oregon University on Saturday on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
 
The Vikings defeated the Wolves 3-0 in the morning contest by scores of 25-9, 25-16, 25-22 and completed the perfect weekend with a 3-1 victory in the afternoon match by scores of 25-14,25-15,27-29,25-21. WWU opened the season with a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-14, 25-12) Friday night while playing its first official match in nearly 500 days.
 
"I'm really happy with how we played the entire weekend. I think this was a good opening for us," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "It showed that we've done some good things and that we have a lot of things that we need to work on."
 
Sophomore All-American outside hitter Calley Heilborn led the Vikings averaging 3.83 kills per set (23 kills) and 5.00 digs per set (30 digs), while hitting at a .375 clip in the pair of victories. She also had four service aces, all coming in the final match of the weekend.
 
Junior middle Olivia Fairchild recorded 17 total blocks (2.43 blocks/set) during the two matches.
 
Sophomore All-American setter Malia Aleaga guided the offense to a .295 team hitting percentage and recorded 66 assists (9.43 assists/set).
 
The Vikings, who led NCAA Division II in blocks in 2019, used a decisive 29-6 blocking advantage in the two matches en route to the pair of victories.
  The Vikings out-blocked Western Oregon 13-1, with junior middle Olivia Fairchild leading the way with a career-high seven blocks, in a 3-0 sweep to open Saturday's doubleheader.
 
WWU defeated Western Oregon by set scores of 25-9, 25-16 and 25-22 to improve to 2-0 on the season.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn recorded nine kills and eight digs, while hitting an efficient .471. Junior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman added seven kills and eight digs, while hitting .412.
 
Fairchild tallied five kills to go with her seven blocks.
 
Sophomore setter Malia Aleaga directed the offense to a .313 team hitting percentage, dishing out 26 assists while adding three blocks, five digs and one service ace.
 
Western Oregon's Isabel Hurliman led players with 13 kills and Lauren Smith added 10 kills for the Wolves.
  Kills - Heilborn (9), Gunterman (7), Biscup (6)
Aces - Aleaga (1), Davenport (1), Maracich (1)
Blocks – Fairchild (7), Aleaga (3), Davenport (3)
Assists - Aleaga (26)
Digs - Heilborn (8), Gunterman (8), Aleaga (5)
    Calley Heilborn recorded a 14-kill, 22-dig double-double, and added a career-high four service aces to lead the Vikings to a 3-1 victory over Western Oregon.
 
Junior middle Olivia Fairchild recorded a career-high 10 total blocks (7 block assist, 3 block solo) and added eight kills on a .375 hitting percentage.
 
Junior All-American outside hitter Gabby Gunterman also recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs.
 
Sophomore setter Malia Aleaga dished out 40 assists and also had eight digs and a pair of blocks.
 
Western Oregon won its first set of the weekend with a 29-27 third-set victory to push the match to four sets. It was WOU's first set victory over WWU since 2016.
 
"When it came down to the last set, I think we did a really good job after 20 points buckling down in certain areas," said Flick-Williams. "I think Malia (Aleaga) played great all weekend long and really kept us together at times when we were struggling."
 
The Wolves were led by at 15-kill, 17-dig double-double by Isabel Hurliman.
  Kills - Heilborn (14), Gunterman (11), Fairchild (8)
Aces - Heilborn (4), Gunterman (1), Davenport (1)
Blocks - Fairchild (10), Roetcisoender (6), Davenport (4)
Assists - Aleaga (40)
Digs - Heilborn (22), Woodruff (20), Gunterman (10)

VB🏐| SCENES FROM CARVER

📸 from the second game here between @WWUVolleyball and Western Oregon.

📸: Jeff Evans/WWU#GoViks x #WeAreVikings pic.twitter.com/uPtxd6Xesy
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) April 17, 2021

The Vikings (3-0) are back on the court next weekend with three matches against Seattle Pacific. WWU hosts SPU on Friday evening (April 23) in Carver Gym with first serve scheduled for 5 pm. The Vikings and Falcons will play a doubleheader on Saturday in Brougham Pavilion starting at noon. All three matches can be viewed online via YouTube with links available at WWUVikings.com/Live.