BELLINGHAM, Wash. – In a battle of top-10 teams, No. 10 Western Washington University was defeated in four sets by No. 9 University of Alaska Anchorage Saturday in front of a Pride Night crowd of 1,472 fans on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
The Vikings had their 31-match Carver Gym winning streak snapped in the 12-25, 16-25, 25-21, 23-25 setback. WWU dropped to 15-5 overall (10-1 at home) and 10-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with its second loss of the season against UAA. All five of the Vikings losses this season have come against ranked opponents. UAA improved to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in conference play to remain in first place just ahead of the Vikings.
After dropping the first two sets, the Vikings stormed back to take the third set 25-21 and looked to be in control to push the match to a fifth set. WWU lead the fourth set 16-11, but UAA went on a 8-1 run to grab a 19-17 lead. Trailing by one point at 23-22, the Vikings looked to tie the set on a Tupu Lologo service ace, but UAA challenge the call via video review and the point was overturned. The Seawolves went on to win the set 25-23 to take the match 3-1.
The Vikings were led by 15.0 points by senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn, who tallied 12 kills, two aces, eight digs and a pair of blocks. Senior opposite Gabby Kepley recorded 13 kills on a .258 hitting percentage and senior middle Chloe Roetcisoender recorded eight kills and three blocks. Senior libero Kasey Woodruff led the Vikings with 21 digs and setter Malia Aleaga had a 36-assist, 10-dig double-double.
UAA senior outside hitter Eve Stephens led the Seawolves with 33 kills on a .477 hitting percentage, setting the GNAC record for the most kills in a four-set match. Stephens also tallied nine digs, one ace and a pair of blocks. Setter Ellen Floyd recorded 44 assists and Talia Leauanae had a match-high 25 digs.
The Vikings (15-5, 10-2 GNAC) return to the road next week traveling to play Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho on Thursday (7 pm MT/6 pm PT) and in-state rival Central Washington in Ellensburg on Saturday (1 pm). The complete 2022 WWU Volleyball schedule, with links to statistics, webcasts, live stats and more can be found online at wwuvikings.com/VB.
Kills – Kepley (13), Heilborn (12), Roetcisoender (8)
Aces – May (3), Aleaga (2), Heilborn (2)
Blocks – Roetcisoender (3), Maracich (2), Aleaga (2)
Assists – Aleaga (36)
Digs – Woodruff (21), Aleaga (10), Oestreich (9)
Points – Heilborn (15.0), Kepley (14.0), Roetcisoender (9.5), Aleaga (6.0), Oestreich (6.0)
WWU had its 31-match Carver Gym winning streak snapped and are now 62-2 in its home gym since moving back into the renovated facility in 2017. The Vikings are 10-1 on WECU Court this season after going 12-0 last season. Both of the Vikings losses in Carver Gym since 2017 are against UAA, also dropping a five-set match on November 14, 2019. Western owns an all-time record of 306-83 (.787) in Carver Gym. During the 23 seasons with head coach Diane Flick-Williams at the helm of the program the Vikings have combined to go 191-17 (.918) in Carver.
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2022 season:
|
2022 RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall Record
|
15-5
|
|
Streak
|
L1
|
|
Home
|
10-1
|
|
Away
|
4-1
|
|
Neutral
|
1-3
|
|
GNAC Record
|
10-2
|
|
3-Set Matches
|
8-1
|
|
4-Set Matches
|
4-1
|
|
5-Set Matches
|
2-2
|
|
Ranked Opponents
|
2-5
|
|
Winning First Set
|
13-1
|
|
Dropping First Set
|
2-4
|
|
Record by Jersey
|
|
White
|
7-1
|
|
Light Blue
|
4-1
|
|
Dark Gray
|
4-0
|
|
Navy Blue
|
0-3
|
Here is a look at the updated records for the 10 GNAC volleyball programs following Saturday's matches:
|
GNAC VOLLEYBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
12-1
|
.923
|
22-2
|
.917
|
10-0
|
8-1
|
4-1
|
Won 1
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington
|
10-2
|
.833
|
15-5
|
.750
|
10-1
|
4-1
|
1-3
|
Lost 1
|
|
3.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
9-4
|
.692
|
16-5
|
.762
|
8-3
|
5-2
|
3-0
|
Won 4
|
|
4.
|
Central Washington
|
8-5
|
.615
|
13-8
|
.619
|
4-2
|
5-4
|
4-2
|
Won 1
|
|
5.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
7-6
|
.538
|
9-12
|
.429
|
5-2
|
2-7
|
2-3
|
Lost 1
|
|
6.
|
Simon Fraser
|
6-6
|
.500
|
9-12
|
.429
|
5-2
|
1-5
|
3-5
|
Won 2
|
|
7.
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
5-8
|
.385
|
15-10
|
.600
|
8-3
|
3-6
|
4-1
|
Lost 2
|
|
8.
|
Western Oregon
|
4-8
|
.333
|
8-12
|
.400
|
2-3
|
2-5
|
4-4
|
Won 1
|
|
9.
|
Saint Martin's
|
2-10
|
.167
|
12-10
|
.545
|
6-4
|
2-6
|
4-0
|
Lost 6
|
|
10.
|
Montana State Billings
|
0-13
|
.000
|
7-15
|
.318
|
5-6
|
1-8
|
1-1
|
Lost 8
|
|
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 3, at Montana State Billings 2
Northwest Nazarene 3, at Seattle Pacific 1
at Simon Fraser 3, Alaska Fairbanks 0
at Western Oregon, 3, Saint Martin's 1
#9 Alaska Anchorage 3, at #10 Western Washington 1
|
Here is a match-by-match look at the 2022 season following Saturday's 3-1 loss to No. 9 Alaska Anchorage. WWU is 15-5 overall and 10-2 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)
|
L
|
3-1
|
12-25,16-25,25-21,23-25
|
|
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
|
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 1,006 all-time wins (1006-577-7/.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 (500-122/.804) the Vikings have posted a 251-52 record over the last 11 seasons (.828 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).
