BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University senior student-athletes Malia Aleaga and Chloe Roetcisoender swept the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Players of the Week for competition held November 7-13.

 

Aleaga was selected as the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for her first career conference weekly awards and Roetcisoender earned her third career GNAC weekly awards as the Defensive Player of the Week. 

 

The senior duo helped the Vikings to a dominating finish to the regular season with a pair of road sweeps over Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific. WWU completed the regular season with a 21-5 overall record and placed second in the GNAC with a 16-2 league record. The Vikings will be making their 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships as the No. 2 seed in the West Regional, with WWU serving as the host in Carver Gym for the eight-team tournament. 

 

Aleaga averaged 12.17 assists, 2.83 digs and 0.83 blocks per set in the pair of wins. She posted a double-double of 34 assists and 10 digs at MSUB and then finished with 39 assists, seven digs and four blocks at Seattle Pacific. The setter was also instrumental in guiding the Vikings to a team .338 hitting percentage in the pair of victories.

 

Roetcisoender averaged 2.00 blocks and 3.33 kills per set with a .559 hitting percentage in the two matches. She opened with two blocks, seven kills and a .700 hitting percentage at MSUB before posting a double-double of 10 blocks and 13 kills with a .500 hitting percentage at Seattle Pacific.

 

The Vikings had five GNAC Player of the Week selections during the season, with Roetcisoender and senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn each earning a pair of awards.

 

WWU opens the NCAA postseason Thursday hosting No. 7 seed Central Washington at 7:30 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. West Regional matches will also be played in Bellingham and Carver Gym at noon (Cal Poly Pomona vs. Cal State San Bernardino), 2:30 pm (Alaska Anchorage vs. Chaminade) and 5 pm (Sonoma State vs. Cal State LA).

 

Here is a look at the GNAC Volleyball Players of the Week for the 2022 season: