BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 10 nationally-ranked Western Washington University volleyball team recorded its seventh consecutive victory with a three-set sweep over Alaska Fairbanks Thursday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
The 26-24, 25-16, 25-15 victory moved the Vikings to 15-4 overall and within a half game of Great Northwest Athletic Conference leader Alaska Anchorage at 10-1 in conference play. No. 10 WWU and No. 9 Alaska Anchorage square off Saturday evening in Carver Gym with tip-off at 7 pm.
The victory gave head coach Diane Flick-Williams her milestone 500th career win at the helm of the program. Flick-Williams has built a dynasty at Western with the Vikings going 500-121 in her 23 seasons as the head coach for a .805 winning percentage.
"I don't really think about all the wins, but I think about all the players that have been part of this journey and the great moments we have carved out as a volleyball family," said Flick-Williams. "It is a special moment to celebrate the milestone with the team after a great performance tonight."
Senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn led the Vikings with 13 kills on a .565 hitting percentage, also contributing five digs, a pair of aces and one block for a match-high 15.5 points. Senior middle Chloe Roetcisoender added 10 kills on a .692 hitting percentage and eight block assists for 14.0 points.
"Calley and Chloe were really a force in all areas tonight with their accuracy and efficiency," said Flick-Williams. "They also made key plays at pivotal parts of the match."
Senior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman had six kills and 10 digs, and redshirt freshman Abby May recorded three service aces. Senior setter Malia Aleaga dished up 32 assists while leading the Vikings to a .337 team hitting percentage for the second-best mark of the season.
The Vikings out-blocked the Nanooks 10-5, including an 8-3 margin in the second and third sets.
"Our block really came alive in the second and third sets, which really set the tone for the rest of the match," added Flick-Williams.
WWU seemed to be in control in the first set holding a 17-13 lead, but UAF stormed back going on a 7-3 run to tie the set 20-20 and led 23-22. The set was tied 24-24 before WWU received back-to-back kills from Roetcisoender and Heilborn to earn the 26-24 win. The final point of the set featured a rally of over a minute with 50 combined touches between the two teams.
UAF (15-9, 5-7 GNAC) was led by 10 kills each by Elizabeth Jackson and Ella Bines. Jessica Long led the Nanooks with nine digs.
The Vikings (15-4, 10-1 GNAC) will host No. 9 Alaska Anchorage (21-2, 11-1 GNAC) Saturday on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The battle of the nationally-ranked rivals will also feature Pride Night celebrating the LBGTQ+ community. First serve is scheduled for 7 pm in Carver Gym with free parking and shuttle service in the C lots on the south portion of campus. The complete 2022 WWU Volleyball schedule, with links to statistics, webcasts, live stats and more can be found online at wwuvikings.com/VB.
"We are looking forward to having a great crowed in Carver Gym to celebrate Pride Night and also to watch a great rivalry match with UAA," said Flick-Williams.
Kills – Heilborn (13), Roetcisoender (10), Gunterman (6)
Aces – May (3), Heilborn (2), Lologo (1)
Blocks – Roetcisoender (8), Gunterman (3), Aleaga (3)
Assists – Aleaga (32), Lologo (4), Woodruff (2)
Digs – Gunterman (10), Woodruff (8), Lologo (6)
Points – Heilborn (15.5), Roetcisoender (14.0), Gunterman (7.5), Maracich (5.0)
WWU is off to an 10-0 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 31 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 306-82 (.789) in Carver Gym and since moving back into the renovated facility to start the 2017 season is 62-1. During the 23 seasons with head coach Diane Flick-Williams at the helm of the program the Vikings have combined to go 191-16 (.923) in Carver. Since debuting the new Taraflex court in 2021 the Vikings are a perfect 22-0.
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2022 season:
|
2022 RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall Record
|
15-4
|
|
Streak
|
W7
|
|
Home
|
10-0
|
|
Away
|
4-1
|
|
Neutral
|
1-3
|
|
GNAC Record
|
10-1
|
|
3-Set Matches
|
8-1
|
|
4-Set Matches
|
4-0
|
|
5-Set Matches
|
2-2
|
|
Ranked Opponents
|
2-4
|
|
Winning First Set
|
13-1
|
|
Dropping First Set
|
2-3
|
|
Record by Jersey
|
|
White
|
7-1
|
|
Light Blue
|
4-1
|
|
Dark Gray
|
4-0
|
|
Navy Blue
|
0-2
|
SERIES HISTORY VS. ALASKA FAIRBANKS
The Vikings swept the season series vs. Alaska Fairbanks also winning in four sets September 24 in Fairbanks. WWU has won 27 consecutive matches vs. the Nanooks dating back to the 2008 season, including a perfect 26-0 record in home contests vs. UAF. The Vikings lead the all-time series 51-7 with a 41-3 record in GNAC matches. WWU has now swept UAF in 18 of the last 21 meetings.
Here is a look at the updated records for the 10 GNAC volleyball programs following Thursday's matches:
|
GNAC VOLLEYBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
11-1
|
.917
|
21-2
|
.913
|
10-0
|
7-1
|
4-1
|
Lost 1
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington
|
10-1
|
.909
|
15-4
|
.789
|
10-0
|
4-1
|
1-3
|
Won 7
|
|
3.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
8-4
|
.667
|
15-5
|
.750
|
8-3
|
4-2
|
3-0
|
Won 3
|
|
4.
|
Central Washington
|
7-5
|
.583
|
12-8
|
.600
|
4-2
|
4-4
|
4-2
|
Lost 1
|
|
|
Seattle Pacific
|
7-5
|
.583
|
9-11
|
.450
|
5-1
|
2-7
|
2-3
|
Won 1
|
|
6.
|
Simon Fraser
|
5-6
|
.455
|
8-12
|
.400
|
4-2
|
1-5
|
3-5
|
Won 1
|
|
7.
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
5-7
|
.417
|
15-9
|
.625
|
8-3
|
3-5
|
4-1
|
Lost 1
|
|
8.
|
Western Oregon
|
3-8
|
.273
|
7-12
|
.368
|
1-3
|
2-5
|
4-4
|
Lost 3
|
|
9.
|
Saint Martin's
|
2-9
|
.182
|
12-9
|
.571
|
6-4
|
2-5
|
4-0
|
Lost 5
|
|
10.
|
Montana State Billings
|
0-12
|
.000
|
7-14
|
.333
|
5-5
|
1-8
|
1-1
|
Lost 7
|
|
This Week's GNAC Schedule
|
|
Thursday, October 20:
at #10 Western Washington 3, Alaska Fairbanks 0
at Simon Fraser 3, #9 Alaska Anchorage 1
at Seattle Pacific 3, Central Washington 2
Northwest Nazarene 3, at Montana State Billings 0
Saturday, October 22:
Central Washington at Montana State Billings, 1 pm MT
Northwest Nazarene at Seattle Pacific, 2 pm
Alaska Fairbanks at Simon Fraser, 4 pm
Saint Martin's at Western Oregon, 7 pm
#9 Alaska Anchorage at #10 Western Washington, 7 pm
|
Here is a match-by-match look at the 2022 season following Thursday's 3-0 sweep against Alaska Fairbanks. WWU is 15-4 overall and 10-1 in GNAC play:
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
|
Score
|
Score-by-set
|
|
8/25
|
Ferris State (#20)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-8,25-19,29-27
|
|
8/25
|
Sonoma State
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-20,25-21,25-20
|
|
8/26
|
Regis (RV)
|
W
|
3-1
|
25-16,18-25,27-25,25-21
|
|
8/27
|
Cal State LA (RV)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-20,25-21,26-24
|
|
9/2
|
Lewis (#18)
|
W
|
3-2
|
25-22,22-25,22-25,25-21,15-9
|
|
9/2
|
Concordia-St. Paul (#6)
|
L
|
2-3
|
19-25,25-21,12-25,25-19,12-15
|
|
9/3
|
NW Missouri State (#10)
|
L
|
1-2
|
25-22,16-25,16-25,21-25
|
|
9/3
|
West Florida (#5)
|
L
|
2-3
|
23-25,20-25,25-21,25-22,19-21
|
|
9/8
|
Seattle Pacific (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-19,25-17,25-23
|
|
9/10
|
Montana St. Billings (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-15,25-20,25-17
|
|
9/17
|
Simon Fraser (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-16,25-21,25-20
|
|
9/22
|
at Alaska Anchorage (#14, GNAC)
|
L
|
0-3
|
22-25,19-25,22-25
|
|
9/24
|
at Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-1
|
25-23,25-15,20-25,25-17
|
|
9/29
|
Central Washington (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-1
|
21-25,25-23,25-19,25-18
|
|
10/1
|
Northwest Nazarene (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-22,25-19,25-18
|
|
10/6
|
at Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-1
|
25-17,25-12,16-25,25-19
|
|
10/8
|
at Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-18,25-22,25-21
|
|
10/15
|
at Simon Fraser (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-2
|
23-25,25-22,25-18,23-25,15-8
|
|
10/20
|
Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
26-24,25-16,25-15
|
|
10/22
|
Alaska Anchorage (#9, GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
|
10/27
|
at Northwest Nazarene (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm MT
|
|
10/29
|
at Central Washington (GNAC)
|
|
|
1:00 pm
|
|
11/3
|
Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm
|
|
11/5
|
Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
|
|
5:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
|
11/10
|
at Montana St. Billings (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm MT
|
|
11/12
|
at Seattle Pacific (GNAC)
|
|
|
2:00 pm
|
The Vikings have now won 106 of their last 124 matches dating back to the 2018 season (106-18/.855) when the Vikings were the NCAA II national runner-up. WWU is also 133-22 dating back to the start of the 2017 season.
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 1,005 all-time wins (1005-576-7/.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 (500-121/.805) the Vikings have posted a 251-51 record over the last 11 seasons (.831 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).
