BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 11 nationally-ranked Western Washington University volleyball team opens the second half of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference season Saturday with a border battle against Simon Fraser University.

 

WWU carries a five-match winning streak into Saturday's 7 pm match against the Red Leafs on Burnaby Mountain. The Vikings are 13-4 overall and in second place in the GNAC with an 8-1 conference record. Western was off Thursday and will play five of its final nine regular-season matches on the road.

 

The Vikings have won each of their last five matches, dropping just three sets over that span. Following the brief trip over the border to Burnaby, B.C., WWU returns home to WECU Court in Carver Gym for a pair of big matches hosting Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday (Oct. 20) and No. 9 Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (Oct. 22). WWU is 4-4 away from Bellingham this season and a perfect 9-0 on WECU Court in Carver Gym. 

 

WWU's senior outside hitter duo of Calley Heilborn and Gabby Gunterman have made history this season, with each passing the 1,000 career kill mark etching their name in the WWU record book as two of only six players in program history with 1,000 kills and digs in a career. Gunterman (1,142 kills, 1,101 digs) and Heilborn (1,016 kills, 1,251 digs) have combined for 2,158 kills and 2,352 digs in 203 career matches.

 

Senior middle Chloe Roetcisoender ranks second in the GNAC averaging 1.27 blocks per set and is ninth in program history with 391.0 total blocks. Senior setter Malia Aleaga also continues to move up the WWU career charts with 3,217 assists (10.26/set in 2022) to rank fourth in WWU history and 19th in the GNAC record book.

 

WWU is led by 23rd-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams, who is approaching her 500th career victory with a 498-121 record at the helm of the program (.805).

 

 

All home matches will stream live on YouTube via Vikings TV. Additionally, every away GNAC match will feature a webcast on YouTube produced by the visiting team. To watch WWU home matches on your Smart TV, navigate to the YouTube application and search for WWU Athletics, or for away games search for the opposing school's YouTube channel (example: Alaska Anchorage Athletics). All WWU links to follow the Vikings online can be found online, but be sure to bookmark the following links for easy access:

 

• Vikings TV (WWU home matches)
• GNAC Live Streams
• Direct Link to watch WWU matches (wwuvikings.com/VB_Watch)
• Direct Link to follow WWU matches via live stats (wwuvikings.com/VB_Stats)

 

WWU swept Simon Fraser 25-16,25-21,25-20 in the first meeting this season September 17 in Bellingham. The Vikings are 72-34 all-time against SFU and had has won 11 consecutive matches against the Red Leafs. The Vikings have also won 23 of the last 24 meetings in the series.

 

The Vikings recorded a season-high 15 service aces in the road match at Saint Martin's (Oct. 6), tied for second-most by a GNAC team this season. The 15 aces are tied for 7th-most by a Viking quad in a match during the GNAC era (since 2001) and the most since 2007. Tupu Lologo tallied six of the service aces for a career high.

 

Seniors Gabby Gunterman and Calley Heilborn have both joined the 1,000-kill, 1,000-dig club for their career this season. The duo is part of an elite six-player group in WWU history to reach both of those statistical milestones and two of 24 in GNAC history. 

 

 

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2022 season:

 

Here is a look updated records for the 10 GNAC volleyball programs heading into the sixth week of the conference schedule (includes Thursday's results): 

 

 

Here are some tidbits on the Vikings heading into this Saturday's road match at Simon Fraser:

 

• The Record – WWU is 13-4 overall and 8-1 in GNAC play (2nd place)…all four losses have come against top-15 ranked teams (four in top 10)…9-0 at home and 4-4 in away matches.
• GNAC Standings – Enters the second half of the GNAC schedule alone in 2nd in the conference standings with a 8-1 league mark.
• National Ranking – No. 11 in the sixth edition of the regular-season DII Coaches Poll, marking 130 consecutive weeks to be ranked in the national top 25.
• 1000/1000 Club for Gunterman & Heilborn – Seniors Gabby Gunterman and Calley Heilborn are among only 16 players in program history to pass the 1,000-kill milestone for a career…the are both part of an elite six-player club in WWU history to join the 1,000-kill, 1,000-dig club for a career.
• Senior Leadership – WWU features eight seniors on the roster with six in a starting role.
• GNAC Champions – Won last four GNAC titles combining to go 82-5 during the four-season stretch since 2017.
• Block Party – Ranks 3rd in the GNAC and 17th in NCAA II averaging 2.44 blocks per set…Chloe Roetcisoender is 2nd in the GNAC and 10th nationally averaging 1.27 blocks per set.
• Chloe's Blocks – Chloe Roetcisoender has tallied 391.0 total blocks in her career to rank 9th in WWU history…also 3rd averaging 1.30 blocks per set.
• Winning – Won 104 of last 122 matches dating back to the 2018 season (104-18) and is 131-22 dating back to the start of the 2017 season (.856 winning pct.).
• Carver Success – Won 61 of 62 matches inside Carver Gym since the on-campus facility re-opened in 2017. 
• Tough Schedule – Played six of 17 matches vs. ranked opponents to open the 2022 season (2-4).
• Double Doubles – Calley Heilborn has recorded seven double-doubles this season and 53 in 88 career matches as a Viking…Gabby Gunterman has tallied five double-doubles and has 36 in 115 matches.
• Libero – Kasey Woodruff leads the team and ranks 9th in the GNAC averaging 3.34 digs per set…880 career digs in 77 matches as a Viking (3.28 digs/set).
• The Setter – Malia Aleaga is averaging 10.23 assists per set to rank 3rd in the GNAC and 33rd in NCAA II…ranks 4th in WWU history and 19th in GNAC history with 3,217 career assists.
• 5 Set Success – Dating back to the 2015 season (last 8 seasons), WWU is a combined 27-9 (.750) in matches that go the full five sets (1-2 in 2022).
• Always Dancing – Advanced to the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships each of the last nine seasons and 15 times overall (since 2001)…played in West Regional Final in five of last six seasons (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021).
• All Washington Roster – The entire 24-player roster (including redshirts) is comprised entirely of players from the state of Washington. WWU's last out-of-state player was Niki Smith (2000, 2002) from Beaverton, Oregon.
• Lid Lifter at Home – The Vikings have played back-to-back season openers at home hosting the WWU Invitational each of the last two seasons…if it seemed like forever since the Vikings opened a season in Carver Gym…you would be correct. Prior to 2021, WWU played its first match of a season at home in 1978. 
• Student Athletes – Placed eight players on 2021 GNAC All-Academic Team and had a pair of players (Heilborn & Roetcisoender) earn Academic All-District 8 honors.
• Vikings Leader – Head coach Diane Flick-Williams is in her 23rd season leading the Vikings, with an all-time record of 498-121 (.805) at the helm of the program with 16 seasons with 20 or more wins…selected as the GNAC Coach of the Year in 2021, her 11th award.

 

The Vikings 2022 roster features eight seniors that have combined to play in 611 career matches (2,161 sets). Here is a look at Western's senior class, which will be honored on Senior Night prior to the final regular-season home match on Saturday, November 5 (5 pm start time):

 

• Malia Aleaga (82 matches, 301 sets)
• Olivia Fairchild (58 matches, 197 sets)
• Gabby Gunterman (115 matches, 416 sets)
• Calley Heilborn (88 matches, 321 sets)
• Tupu Lologo (88 matches, 318 sets)
• Anna Maracich (17 matches, 39 sets)
• Chloe Roetcisoender (86 matches, 301 sets)
• Kasey Woodruff (77 matches, 268 sets)

 

Senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn became the 16th player in WWU Volleyball history to reach the 1,000 career kill milestone. She joins teammate Gabby Gunterman who also joined the elite club earlier this season and is 9th in program history with 1,142 kills. Here is a look at all the members of the 1,000-kill club in program history:

 

 

Senior setter Malia Aleaga has passed the 3,000-assist milestone for her career, becoming the sixth setter in WWU history to reach that career mark. Aleaga is currently 4th in WWU history with 3,217 career assists (10.69 per set) and is one of 21 players in GNAC history to record 3,000 assists in a career.

 

The WWU volleyball program is in its 51st season have recorded over 1,000 wins in program history, with the milestone win #1000 coming September 24 at Alaska Fairbanks. The Vikings have combined to go 1004-576-7 for a .635 winning percentage.

 

Here is a match-by-match look at the 2022 season heading into the second half of the GNAC schedule. WWU is 13-4 overall and 8-1 in GNAC play heading into Saturday's match at Simon Fraser:

 

 

Through the first 17 matches of the season, WWU ranks 3rd in the GNAC with 2.44 blocks per set, listed 3rd with 12.69 kills per set, 5th with 11.71 assists per set and 3rd with a .229 team hitting percentage. Here is a look at some of the individual standouts for the Vikings and where they currently rank in the GNAC:

 

• Olivia Fairchild – Hitting Pct. (.360, 7th), Blocks (1.15/set, 4th)
• Chloe Roetcisoender – Blocks (1.27/set, 2nd), Hitting Pct. (.365, 4th), Points (3.29/set, 10th), Kills (2.56/set, 15th)
• Gabby Gunterman – Aces (0.43/set, 5th), Digs (2.70/set, 16th), Points (3.03/set, 17th), Kills (2.43/set, 18th)
• Calley Heilborn – Digs (3.24/set, 10th), Points (3.18/set, 11th), Kills (2.60/set, 12th)
• Malia Aleaga – Assists (10.23/set, 3rd)
• Kasey Woodruff – Digs (3.34/set, 9th)

 

The Vikings enter the seventh week of the 2022 season ranked No. 11 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. WWU was listed No. 3 in the preseason and first regular season poll and has now been ranked in 130 consecutive polls dating back to the first week of the 2012 season, with 56 of those spent in the national top 10.

 

WWU is off to an 9-0 start to the season in home matches on WECU Court in Carver Gym, after recording a perfect 12-0 record last season. The Vikings have now won 30 consecutive matches in Carver Gym dating back to the 2019 season (last loss 11/14/19 vs. UAA in 5 sets). Western owns an all-time record of 305-82 (.788) in Carver Gym and since moving back into the renovated facility to start the 2017 season is 61-1. During the 23 seasons with head coach Diane Flick-Williams at the helm of the program the Vikings have combined to go 190-16 (.922) in Carver. Since debuting the new Taraflex court in 2021 the Vikings are a perfect 21-0.

 

The Vikings went the distance in three of their four matches at the Colorado Premier Challenge – the only five-set matches this season – going 1-2 in those matches. Over the last eight seasons (since 2015) the Vikings have combined to go 27-9 (.750) in five-set matches, with a 17-6 record since 2017.

 

The Vikings have now won 104 of their last 122 matches dating back to the 2018 season (104-18/.852) when the Vikings were the NCAA II national runner-up. WWU is also 131-22 dating back to the start of the 2017 season.

 

The Western Washington University volleyball team stormed through the opening weekend of the 2022 season with a perfect 4-0 record in the WWU Invitational. The Vikings strong all-around play was led by four players that earned a spot on the 14-player All-Tournament Team, led by MVP selection senior middle Chloe Roetcisoender. Also earning a spot on the team were senior setter Malia Aleaga (10.00 assists/set, 1.85 digs/set), senior libero Kasey Woodruff (4.23 digs/set) and senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn (2.85 kills/set, 3.23 digs/set, 9 service aces).

 

The Vikings won the 2021 GNAC Championship marking their fourth consecutive league title. WWU also won the conference title in 2017, 2018, 2019 and are now 11-time GNAC champions. Marks the first time a team has won four consecutive GNAC volleyball titles in the 21-year history of the conference. Over the last six seasons (including 2022), WWU has combined to go 131-22 (.856) with an 93-7 record against GNAC opponents (82-5 in conference play).

 

WWU Volleyball head coach Diane Flick-Williams is in her 23rd season leading the program and is the winningest coach in WWU and GNAC history. Flick-Williams owns a career record of 498-121 (.805), guiding the Vikings to 16 seasons of 20 or more victories, 15 NCAA Championship appearances (9 consecutive), four national tournament appearances (2007, 2015, 2018, 2021), 11 GNAC championships and received GNAC Coach of the Year honors 11 times (2001-03, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012-13, 2017-18, 2021). Amongst active Division II coaches, she entered the 2022 season ranked 8th in career winning percentage (.806) and 17th in victories (460). Among all-time NCAA II coaches, she is 11th in career winning percentage and has a top-25 winning percentage among all coaches across NCAA levels all-time. Lead assistant coach James Suh is in his 21st year as coach with the Vikings. Former WWU all-GNAC middle blocker Michaela Hall is in her second season as an assistant coach, and Chris Leverenz and Brad Saindon are volunteer assistant coaches.

 

A new volleyball-dedicated playing surface was installed in Carver Gym prior to the start of last season, with a Taraflex Court replacing the 21-year-old Sport Court. The new surface features a wood-colored inset and a blue outline around the court. Since debuting the new court in 2021 the Vikings are a perfect 21-0.

 

The Vikings have made nine consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II Championships and won four West Regional titles (2007, 2015, 2018, 2021). WWU is 26-15 all-time in 15 trips to the NCAA Tournament. WWU has recorded at least one win in 10 of 15 NCAA tournament appearances and are 4-0 all-time in national quarterfinal contests. WWU played for the national title in 2018 in Pittsburgh (lost 3-2 to Tampa) and advanced to the national semifinal (Final Four) in 2021 in Tampa, Florida.

 

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.

 

The WWU Volleyball program is in its 51st season as a varsity intercollegiate sport in 2022, rising to an elite level by advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships in each of the last nine seasons and 15 of the last 20 dating back to the 2001 season. The program has recorded 1,004 all-time wins (1004-576-7/.635). The winner of 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Vikings have won the last four GNAC titles with a perfect 19-1 record in 2017, perfect 20-0 mark in 2018, an 18-2 league record in 2019 and clinched the four-peat with a 17-1 record in 2021. Led by 23rd-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams (498-121/.805) the Vikings have posted a 249-51 record over the last 11 seasons (.830 winning percentage) and 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).