BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team is having another exceptional season ranked No. 9 nationally, No. 2 in the West Region and with two weeks remaining in the regular season, are in second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

 

WWU enters the penultimate week of the 2022 regular season with a 17-5 overall record and 12-2 mark in GNAC play. The Vikings close out the home portion of the schedule this week hosting Western Oregon on Thursday (7 pm) and Saint Martin's on Saturday (5 pm) on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

 

The week's festivities will include Senior and Alumni Night on Saturday and a Special Olympics honorary first serve by the national champion Skagit Net volleyball team.

 

The Vikings are coming off a pair of road victories against regionally-ranked Northwest Nazarene (3-1) and Central Washington (3-2) to earn GNAC Team of the Week honors. Senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn filled up the stat sheet averaging 5.00 kills, 4.67 digs and 1.00 blocks per set with double-doubles in each match.

 

During the grueling course of the season, the Vikings five defeats have all come against ranked teams to help build one of the strongest strength of schedule in the nation. 

 

Following home matches vs. WOU and SMU, the Vikings close out the regular season on the road traveling to play Montana State Billings (11/10, 7 pm MT) and Seattle Pacific (11/12, 2 pm). 

 

On the court, Heilborn has surged to lead the team and rank sixth in the GNAC averaging 2.98 kills per set, 10th with 3.29 digs per set and fifth with 3.61 points per set. Senior middle Chloe Roetcisoender has been a steady force throughout the season averaging 2.58 kills on a 3.68 hitting percentage to rank fifth in the GNAC. Roetcisoender is also second in the conference averaging 1.27 blocks per set and is eighth in program history with 417 total blocks. Senior setter Malia Aleaga quarterbacks the offense averaging 10.30 assists per set and senior libero Kasey Woodruff leads the team and is ninth in the GNAC with 3.46 digs per set.

 

Head coach Diane Flick-Williams is in her 23rd season leading the program, recently recording her 500th career victory. Flick-Williams is 502-122 in her career for a .804 winning percentage.

 

 

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

 

 

The Vikings 2022 roster features eight seniors that have combined to play in 646 career matches (2,303 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 this Saturday (5 pm start):

 

• Malia Aleaga (87 matches, 322 sets)
• Olivia Fairchild (58 matches, 197 sets)
• Gabby Gunterman (120 matches, 433 sets)
• Calley Heilborn (93 matches, 342 sets)
• Tupu Lologo (93 matches, 339 sets)
• Anna Maracich (22 matches, 59 sets)
• Chloe Roetcisoender (91 matches, 322 sets)
• Kasey Woodruff (82 matches, 289 sets)

 

With an eight-player senior class, Saturday's celebration will have a bit of a different look. All eight seniors will be introduced to the crowd and escorted to the court by family members prior to the match where photos will be taken and gives will be exchanged. A much more detailed and thorough celebration of this amazing class of seniors will take place right after the completion of the match, complete with longer introductions and a special video recognizing this senior class that has been through so much during their career. Both pre and post-match senior night festivities will stream live on Vikings TV.

 

The Vikings checked in at No. 2 in the first ordered West Regional ranking (as of Nov. 2), trailing only Alaska Anchorage. WWU is one of four GNAC teams listed in the top 10, which help determine the eight-team NCAA Division II Championships that will be played November 17-19 on a campus site (usually the No. 1 seed). The Vikings have advanced to play in each of the last nine NCAA II Championships, including earning West Regional titles in 2015, 2019 and 2021. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled to air Sunday, November 13 at 7 pm PT on NCAA.com. Here is a look at the current NCAA II West Region Rankings:

                                    

 

Here is a look at where WWU stands in the GNAC, regional and national rankings:

 

• GNAC: 2nd place at 12-2 in conference play.
• West Region: Ranked No. 2 in the second edition of the NCAA II West Regional rankings.
• National: Listed No. 9 in the current AVCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll.

 

The Vikings earned the GNAC Team of the Week honor after recording road wins over regionally-ranked opponents Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. WWU combined to hit .282 in the matches, which featured a four-set win at NNU and a five-set thriller at CWU. Calley Heilborn led the way averaging 5.00 kills per set on a .373 hitting percentage, also adding 1.00 blocks and 4.67 digs per set to earn GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors

 

Senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn earned the most recent GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honor. Heilborn recorded a pair of double-doubles during the week, tallying 23 kills and 23 digs in the four-set win at NNU and came back two days later with a 22-kills, 19-dig performance in the 3-2 win at CWU. In the two combined matches Heilborn averaged 5.00 kills, 4.67 digs and 1.00 blocks per set. Fueled by a .561 hitting percentage with no attack errors at NNU, Heilborn combined for a .373 hitting percentage in the two matches. This marks the 11th career GNAC weekly award for Heilborn, setting the program record (Kayleigh Harper, 10) and second-most in GNAC history.

 

WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams added to her already impressive list of coaching accomplishments, recording the 500th victory of her career October 20 in a 3-0 sweep vs. Alaska Fairbanks. In 23 seasons leading the Vikings, Flick-Williams' teams have combined for a 502-122 record (.804).

 

Senior libero Kasey Woodruff has recorded 960 digs in 82 career matches (3.32 digs/set), needing just 40 more digs to become the 18th player in program history to record 1,000 digs in a career. Woodruff's current 3.32 digs per set in her career is 11th-best in program history.

 

WWU placed seven student-athletes on the 2022 Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team, highlighted by four-time selection senior middle Chloe Roetcisoender, who is nearing graduation with a 3.91 GPA as an elementary education major. Roetcisoender becomes the first four-time GNAC All-Academic selection in program history and one of 14 in conference history. Four players earned their third GNAC Academic All-Star awards – seniors Gabby Gunterman, Calley Heilborn, Anna Maracich and Kasey Woodruff. Sophomore Gabby Kepley became a two-time selection and Adele Holland earned the award in her first year of eligibility. WWU has now had at least five GNAC All-Academic selections in each of the last six seasons, combining for 40 awards over that span.

 

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 is off to an 10-1 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 won 31 of their last 32 home matches and are 62-2 since moving back into the renovated facility to start the 2017 season. 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. Since debuting the new Taraflex court in 2021 the Vikings are 22-1. WWU has an all-time record of 306-83 in Carver Gym for a .787 winning percentage.

 

Here is a look at the series history between WWU and its opponents this week:

 

• Western Oregon: Defeated WOU in straight sets October 8 in Monmouth (25-18,25-22,25-21)…WWU has won the last 20 matches in the series and is 48-14 all-time vs. the Wolves…Vikings have recorded a 3-0 sweep in 12 of the last 13 head-to-head matches…won 24 consecutive matches vs. WOU in Bellingham.
• Saint Martin's: Defeated SMU in four sets October 6 in Lacey (25-17,25-12,16-25,25-19)…WWU leads the all-time series 66-5 with a current 45-match winning streak…Vikings have won 69 of the last 71 sets vs. the Saints dating back to the 2010 season…current 22-match winning streak vs. SMU in Bellingham.

 

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. 

 

 

The Vikings enter the 10th week of the 2022 season ranked No. 9 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 133 consecutive polls dating back to the first week of the 2012 season, with 59 of those spent in the national top 10.

 

Here is a look updated records for the 10 GNAC volleyball programs heading into the penultimate week of the conference schedule: 

 

 

Here are some tidbits on the Vikings heading into this week's matches:

 

• The Record – WWU is 17-5 overall and 12-2 in GNAC play (2nd place)…all five losses have come against top-15 ranked teams (four in top 10)…10-1 at home and 7-4 in away matches.
• GNAC Standings – 2nd in the GNAC conference standings with a 12-2 league mark.
• National Ranking – No. 9 in the 10th edition of the regular-season DII Coaches Poll, marking 133 consecutive weeks to be ranked in the national top 25.
• West Region Ranking – No. 2 in the second of three West Regional rankings by the NCAA.
• 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…they 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 four consecutive GNAC titles: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 (11 total GNAC titles).
• Block Party – Ranks 3rd in the GNAC and 15th in NCAA II averaging 2.40 blocks per set…Chloe Roetcisoender is 2nd in the GNAC and 7th nationally averaging 1.27 blocks per set.
• Chloe's Blocks – Chloe Roetcisoender has tallied 417.0 total blocks in her career to rank 8th in WWU history…also 3rd averaging 1.30 blocks per set.
• Winning – Won 108 of last 127 matches dating back to the 2018 season (108-19) and is 135-23 dating back to the start of the 2017 season (.854 winning pct.).
• Carver Success – Won 62 of 64 matches inside Carver Gym since the on-campus facility re-opened in 2017. 
• Tough Schedule – Played seven of 22 matches vs. ranked opponents to open the 2022 season (2-5).
• Double Doubles – Calley Heilborn has recorded 10 double-doubles this season and 56 in 93 career matches as a Viking…Gabby Gunterman has tallied five double-doubles and has 36 in 120 matches.
• Libero – Kasey Woodruff leads the team and ranks 9th in the GNAC averaging 3.46 digs per set…has recorded 960 career digs in 82 matches as a Viking (3.32 digs/set) to rank 19th in WWU history.
• The Setter – Malia Aleaga is averaging 10.33 assists per set to rank 2nd in the GNAC and 35th in NCAA II…ranks 4th in WWU history and 18th in GNAC history with 3,436 career assists.
• 5 Set Success – Dating back to the 2015 season (last 8 seasons), WWU is a combined 29-9 (.763) in matches that go the full five sets (3-2 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 seven players on 2022 GNAC All-Academic Team with Chloe Roetcisoender earning the honor for the fourth time in her career.
• Vikings Leader – Head coach Diane Flick-Williams is in her 23rd season leading the Vikings, with an all-time record of 502-122 (.804) 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…winningest coach in GNAC volleyball history.

 

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 1,162 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 3,438 career assists (10.68 per set) and is one of 21 players in GNAC history to record 3,000 assists in a career (currently ranked No. 18).

 

 

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 1008-577-7 for a .635 winning percentage.

 

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.

 

Here is a match-by-match look at the 2022 season heading into this week's matches vs. Western Oregon and Saint Martin's. WWU is 17-5 overall and 12-2 in GNAC play:

 

 

WWU improved to 3-2 on the season in five-set matches, with a 2-0 record in GNAC play when going the distance. Over the last eight seasons (since 2015) the Vikings have combined to go 29-9 (.763) in five-set matches, with a 19-6 record since 2017.

 

The Vikings have now won 108 of their last 127 matches dating back to the 2018 season (108-19/.850) when the Vikings were the NCAA II national runner-up. WWU is also 135-23 dating back to the start of the 2017 season.

 

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 135-23 (.854) with an 97-8 record against GNAC opponents (86-6 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 502-122 (.804), 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 perfect 22-1.

 

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 1,008 all-time wins (1008-577-7/.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 (502-122/.804) the Vikings have posted a 253-52 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).