DENVER, Colo. – For the first time since the beginning of the 2018 season, the Western Washington University volleyball team has dropped consecutive matches.
After falling 3-0 to No. 17 Wayne State College earlier this afternoon (22-25, 17-25, 22-25), the No. 9 Vikings dropped their evening match against No. 5 Lewis University in straight sets (16-25, 24-26, 16-25) to conclude the first day of the Colorado Premier Challenge on the Regis University campus.
WWU last dropped consecutive matches when it opened the 2018 season 0-3 at the West Florida Invitational, but proceeded to win a school-record 30 consecutive matches on the way to earning national runner-up honors.
In a rematch of the 2018 national semifinal, Lewis (5-1) took control of the match by out-hitting WWU .258 to .026 and held a 12-2 advantage in blocks.
The Vikings were led by double-digits in digs by sophomore libero
Kasey Woodruff (15 digs) and junior outside hitter
Gabby Gunterman (11 digs). Gunterman also led Western with six kills.
Lewis received nine kills from Bella Ray (.286) and an 8-kill, 7-block performance by Ava Venema. Jamie Poppen led all players with 18 digs.
UP NEXT
The Vikings (3-2) will play a pair of matches during the final day of the 2021 Colorado Premier Challenge, with the match schedule posted on the
tournament website, which includes links to live stats and the webcast.
WWU STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills - Gunterman (6), Fairchild (5), Heilborn (5)
Aces - Aleaga (1), Heilborn (1), Maracich (1)
Blocks - Roetcisoender (1), Fairchild (1), Heilborn (1)
Assists - Aleaga (25)
Digs - Woodruff (15), Gunterman (12), Heilborn (10)
Points - Heilborn (6.5), Gunterman (6.0), Fairchild (5.5), Kepley (4.5)
