BILLINGS, Mont. – The No. 8 nationally-ranked Western Washington University volleyball team recorded a 3-0 sweep on the road over Montana State Billings Thursday evening in Alterowitz Gymnasium.
The Vikings moved to 20-5 overall, recording their 10th consecutive 20-win season, and remained in second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 15-2 record in league play. WWU dominated the sweep over MSUB winning 25-19, 25-18, 25-11.
"Great team win tonight. I thought Malia (Aleaga) ran a great offense and our pins (Gabby Gunterman and Calley Heilborn) swung really well. Our middles keep getting themselves involved and Gabby (Kepley) came alive at the end of the match," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "Add that to great serving by Abby (May) and Tupu (Lologo), the defense by Kasey (Woodruff) and a bench that was calling out the game plan…it was a full team effort competing together."
WWU was led by a fifth consecutive double-double by senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn, who led the Vikings with match-highs in kills (12) and digs (13). Senior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman added 11 kills on a .375 hitting percentage and sophomore pin hitter Gabby Kepley contributed eight kills and three blocks.
The Vikings hit a season-high .360 in the match, third-highest by a GNAC team in a conference match this season.
Senior setter Malia Aleaga returned to action with a 34-assist, 10-dig double-double and redshirt freshman Abby May recorded four of the Vikings nine service aces.
Senior libero Kasey Woodruff had five digs to become the 18th player in WWU history with 1,000 digs in a career.
"Big congratulations to Kasey on 1,000 career digs," added Woodruff. "I really appreciate her attention to our system and how she maximized her role in it. Her leadership of our defense is why we keep balls off the floor the way we do."
MSUB (7-19, 0-17 GNAC) was led by eight kills from Caty Havekost, 10 digs by Jahsita Fa'ali'i and a match-high four blocks by Paiten Langston.
The Vikings (20-5, 15-2 GNAC) close out the 2022 regular season Saturday Seattle Pacific with first serve scheduled for 2 pm in Brougham Pavilion. The NCAA Championships Selection Show will air Sunday at 7:30 pm PT on NCAA.com, with the Vikings poised to make a 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA West Regional. The complete 2022 WWU Volleyball schedule, with links to browse statistics and follow games via webcasts and live stats can be found online at wwuvikings.com/VB.
Kills – Heilborn (12), Gunterman (11), Kepley (8), Roetcisoender (7)
Aces – May (4), Aleaga (2), Heilborn (2)
Blocks – Maracich (3), Kepley (3), Roetcisoender (2)
Assists – Aleaga (34)
Digs – Heilborn (13), Aleaga (10), Woodruff (5), Gunterman (5)
Points – Heilborn (14.0), Gunterman (12.0), Kepley (9.5), Roetcisoender (8.5)
The Vikings recorded their 20th victory of the season, marking the 10th consecutive 20-win season for the program. WWU now has 32 20-win seasons in 50 full seasons in program history (not counting limited 2020-21 spring season). Head coach Diane Flick-Williams has guided the program to at least 20 wins in 17 of 22 full seasons at the helm of the program.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MSU BILLINGS
WWU swept the season series vs. MSBU, also winning in straight sets (25-15, 25-20, 25-17) on Sept. 10 in Carver Gym. The Vikings extended their winning streak over the Yellowjackets to 15 consecutive matches. WWU now leads the all-time series 32-1 with a 14-1 record in Alterowitz Gym.
WOODRUFF JOINS 1,000-DIG CLUB
Senior libero Kasey Woodruff officially joined the 1,000-dig club Thursday, becoming the 18th player in program history with at least 1,000 digs in a career. Woodruff has averaged 3.34 digs per set in her career to rank 11th in the WWU career record book. Here is a look at the 18 Vikings to join the exclusive defensive club:
|
Rk
|
Player
|
Digs
|
Years
|
|
1.
|
Courtney Schneider (385 sets)
|
2695
|
2004-07
|
|
2.
|
Samantha Hutchinson (369 sets)
|
2438
|
2011-14
|
|
3.
|
Abby Phelps (450 sets)
|
1915
|
2015-18
|
|
4.
|
Allison Gotz (379 sets)
|
1708
|
2007-10
|
|
5.
|
Joellee Buckner (433 sets)
|
1473
|
2014-17
|
|
6.
|
Nicola Parker (338 sets)
|
1435
|
2000-03
|
|
7.
|
Calley Heilborn (352 sets)
|
1359
|
2019-22
|
|
8.
|
Aubrey Stephens (277 sets)
|
1324
|
2015-18
|
|
9.
|
Brianna Murray (269 sets)
|
1310
|
2002-04
|
|
10.
|
Lorrie Post (390 sets)
|
1274
|
1987-90
|
|
11.
|
Chrissy Sursely (392 sets)
|
1260
|
1993-96
|
|
12.
|
Jana Freeman (407 sets)
|
1173
|
1993-96
|
|
13.
|
Jennica McPherson (391 sets)
|
1167
|
2012-15
|
|
14.
|
Gabby Gunterman (440 sets)
|
1148
|
2018-22
|
|
15.
|
Mae Thungc (321 sets)
|
1111
|
2016-19
|
|
16.
|
Shannon Rowland (348 sets)
|
1036
|
1999-02
|
|
17.
|
Donja Walker (348 sets)
|
1022
|
1997-00
|
|
18.
|
Kasey Woodruff (299 sets)
|
1000
|
2019-22
|
Here is a look at where WWU stands in the GNAC, regional and national rankings:
- GNAC: 2nd place at 14-2 in conference play.
- West Region: Ranked No. 2 in the third edition of the NCAA II West Regional rankings.
- National: Listed No. 8 in the current AVCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll.
The Vikings have now won 111 of their last 130 matches dating back to the 2018 season (111-19/.854) when the Vikings were the NCAA II national runner-up. WWU is also 139-23 dating back to the start of the 2017 season.
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2022 season:
|
2022 RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall Record
|
20-5
|
|
Streak
|
W5
|
|
Home
|
12-1
|
|
Away
|
7-1
|
|
Neutral
|
1-3
|
|
GNAC Record
|
15-2
|
|
3-Set Matches
|
10-1
|
|
4-Set Matches
|
6-1
|
|
5-Set Matches
|
3-2
|
|
Ranked Opponents
|
2-5
|
|
Winning First Set
|
17-1
|
|
Dropping First Set
|
3-4
|
|
Record by Jersey
|
|
White
|
8-1
|
|
Light Blue
|
6-1
|
|
Dark Gray
|
6-0
|
|
Navy Blue
|
0-3
|
Here is a look at the updated records for the 10 GNAC volleyball programs following Thursday's matches, with WWU remaining in second place in the conference standings with a 15-2 GNAC mark:
|
GNAC VOLLEYBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Alaska Anchorage*
|
16-1
|
.941
|
26-2
|
.929
|
13-0
|
9-1
|
4-1
|
Won 5
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington
|
15-2
|
.882
|
20-5
|
.800
|
12-1
|
7-1
|
1-3
|
Won 5
|
|
3.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
11-6
|
.647
|
13-12
|
.520
|
6-2
|
5-7
|
2-3
|
Won 4
|
|
4.
|
Central Washington
|
10-7
|
.588
|
15-10
|
.600
|
5-3
|
6-5
|
4-2
|
Lost 1
|
|
5.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
9-8
|
.529
|
16-9
|
.640
|
8-5
|
5-4
|
3-0
|
Lost 4
|
|
|
Simon Fraser
|
9-8
|
.529
|
12-14
|
.462
|
7-2
|
2-7
|
3-5
|
Lost 1
|
|
7.
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
7-10
|
.412
|
17-12
|
.586
|
9-4
|
4-7
|
4-1
|
Won 2
|
|
8.
|
Western Oregon
|
5-12
|
.294
|
9-16
|
.360
|
3-5
|
2-7
|
4-4
|
Lost 4
|
|
9.
|
Saint Martin's
|
3-14
|
.176
|
13-14
|
.481
|
7-6
|
2-8
|
4-0
|
Lost 3
|
|
10.
|
Montana State Billings
|
0-17
|
.000
|
7-19
|
.269
|
5-8
|
1-10
|
1-1
|
Lost 12
|
|
* Clinched at least share of 2022 GNAC title
|
|
This Week's GNAC Schedule
|
|
Thursday, November 10:
#5 Alaska Anchorage 3, at Western Oregon 0
Alaska Fairbanks 3, at Saint Martin's 2
at Seattle Pacific 3, Simon Fraser 1
#8 Western Washington 3, at Montana State Billings 0
Saturday, November 12:
Simon Fraser at Montana State Billings, 1 pm MT
#8 Western Washington at Seattle Pacific, 2 pm
Alaska Fairbanks at Western Oregon, 2 pm
#5 Alaska Anchorage at Saint Martin's, 5 pm
Northwest Nazarene at Central Washington, 7 pm
|
Here is a match-by-match look at the 2022 season following Thursday's 3-0 victory over Montana State Billings in the penultimate match of the 2022 regular season:
|
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)
|
W
|
3-1
|
25-17,25-17,23-25,25-16
|
|
10/29
|
at Central Washington (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-2
|
26-24,25-23,19-25,20-25,16-14
|
|
11/3
|
Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-1
|
22-25,25-15,25-21,25-19
|
|
11/5
|
Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-20,25-12,25-19
|
|
11/10
|
at Montana St. Billings (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-19, 25-18, 25-11
|
|
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 1,011 all-time wins (1011-577-7/.636). 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 (505-122/.805) the Vikings have posted a 256-52 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).
