BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team improved to 4-0 on the season with a 3-0 sweep over Seattle Pacific University Friday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
 
The Vikings defeated the Falcons by scores of 26-24, 25-20, 25-22 to remain unbeaten to start the abbreviated spring season. Already playing its 11^th match of the season, SPU dropped to 7-4 with its 13^th consecutive loss against the Vikings.
 
WWU faced some adversity in the first and third sets, trailing late, but each time rose to the occasion to earn the comeback wins. In the opening set the Falcons built a 23-19 led, before the Vikings went on a 7-1 run for the 26-24 victory to go up 1-0 in the match. Western led throughout the second set in the 25-20 win to go up 2-0 and once again overcame a deficit in the third set. SPU held a five-point 20-15 lead, but WWU answered closing out the match on a 10-2 run for the sweep. In the final set the Vikings scored the final six points for the 25-22 win.
 
"I thought the team really stayed composed tonight when faced with adversity and had a good tempo," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "They stayed in the moment, didn't get too flustered and played some great volleyball when they had to. I am proud of how they handled those moments tonight."
 
The Vikings were led by another double-double from sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn, who registered team highs with 11 kills and 10 digs. Heilborn also had three total blocks and one service aces for 14.0 total points.
 
WWU's balanced offensive effort also had junior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman with 10 kills, junior middle Olivia Fairchild with nine kills (.500) and senior opposite Alison Davenport with seven kills.
 
Sophomore libero Kasey Woodruff added 11 digs and sophomore setter Malia Aleaga directed the offense with 37 assists.
 
Davenport, Fairchild, Heilborn and junior middle Chloe Roetcisoender each had three blocks for the Vikings.
 
WWU out-hit SPU .240 to .143 and held a 7.0-5.0 advantage in blocks.
 
The Falcons (7-4) were led by 12 kills each from Maddie Pruden (.476) and Hannah Hair (.385). Lindsey Lambert recorded a match-high 39 assists.
 
The Vikings and Falcons complete their three-match weekend series Saturday in Seattle with first serve of the doubleheader scheduled for noon in Brougham Pavilion.
  Kills - Heilborn (11), Gunterman (10), Fairchild (9)
Aces - Roetcisoender (1), Heilborn (1), Gunterman (1)
Blocks - Davenport (3), Roetcisoender (3), Fairchild (3)
Assists - Aleaga (37)
Digs - Heilborn (19), Lologo (11), Woodruff (8)
  The Vikings (4-0) return to the court on Saturday with a pair of road matches against Seattle Pacific (7-4) inside Brougham Pavilion. First serve for the doubleheader is scheduled for noon, with the second match immediately following. The webcast can be watched live via SPU's YouTube channel with a direct link available at WWUVikings.com/VB_Watch.
  The 2020-21 championship volleyball season currently features 13 matches, which includes five doubleheaders, in a condensed season running from April 16 through May 15. To view the most up-to-date schedule, with direct webcast and live stats links, visit WWUVikings.com/VB.
 

Date	First Serve	Opponent	Location	Result
April 16 (Fri)	5:00 pm	Western Oregon	Bellingham, WA (Carver Gym)	W, 3-0
April 17 (Sat)	10:00 am	Western Oregon	Bellingham, WA (Carver Gym)	W, 3-0
April 17 (Sat)	2:00 pm	Western Oregon	Bellingham, WA (Carver Gym)	W, 3-1
April 23 (Fri)	5:00 pm	Seattle Pacific	Bellingham, WA (Carver Gym)	W, 3-0
April 23 (Sat)	12:00 pm	at Seattle Pacific	Seattle, WA (Brougham Pavilion)
April 23 (Sat)	3:00 pm	at Seattle Pacific	Seattle, WA (Brougham Pavilion)
May 1 (Sat)	12:00 pm	Central Washington	Bellingham, WA (Carver Gym)
May 1 (Sat)	5:00 pm	Central Washington	Bellingham, WA (Carver Gym)
May 8 (Sat)	12:00 pm	at Central Washington	Ellensburg, WA (Nicholson Pavilion)
May 8 (Sat)	5:00 pm	at Central Washington	Ellensburg, WA (Nicholson Pavilion)
May 14 (Fri)	5:00 pm	at Seattle Pacific	Seattle, WA (Brougham Pavilion)
May 15 (Sat)	12:30 pm	Seattle Pacific	Bellingham, WA (Carver Gym)
May 15 (Sat)	5:00 pm	Seattle Pacific	Bellingham, WA (Carver Gym)

  Fans can follow WWU Volleyball online at WWUVikings.com/VB, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUVolleyball), Instagram (@WWUVB) and Facebook (@WWUVolleyball).
  The WWU 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. Over the last four seasons the Vikings have combined to go 88-11 overall and 57-3 in conference play, and over the last six seasons are 138-25 (.847). Led by 21-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams, the Vikings have posted a 206-40 record over the last nine seasons (.837 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).