BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 12 Western Washington University volleyball team overcame a first-set loss to defeat in-state rival Central Washington University in four sets Thursday in front of a crowd of 1,107 on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
WWU bounced back from a 25-21 first-set setback, storming back for set wins of 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 to earn the Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory over CWU. CWU dropped to 8-6 overall and 3-3 in GNAC play.
The Vikings improved to 10-4 overall and gained sole possession of second place in the conference with a 5-1 league record. WWU also remained unbeaten in Caver Gym this season in eight matches and have won 29 consecutive matches on its home court.
Senior middle Chloe Roetcisoender led the Vikings with 14 kills on a .565 hitting percentage, also adding seven blocks for a team-high 18.5 points.
Senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn recorded a 12-kill, 14-dig double-double and senior middle Olivia Fairchild tallied nine kills (.364) and seven blocks.
"Chloe (Roetcisoender) was really steady for us and kind of carried us early when we needed a lift, but then we settled in and it was a total team effort to get the win in front of a great crowd," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "It was so great to have the band back in Carver Gym and a great student section…that energy really gave us a lift. I am proud of the way we didn't hang our heads after the first set and stayed together as a team. A great way to celebrate Malia's (Aleaga) birthday."
CWU was led by 16 kills, eight digs and three blocks by Ashley Kaufman and near triple-double stat line of 15 kills, 24 assists and eight digs by Tia Andaya. Libero Hannah Stires recorded a match-high 22 digs.
The Vikings (10-4, 5-1 GNAC) remain at home hosting Northwest Nazarene on Saturday with first serve for the annual Pink Game scheduled for 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The complete 2022 WWU Volleyball schedule, with links to statistics, webcasts, live stats and more can be found online at wwuvikings.com/VB.
Kills – Roetcisoender (14), Heilborn (12), Fairchild (9)
Aces – Aleaga (1)
Blocks – Roetcisoender (7), Fairchild (7), Kepley (6)
Assists – Aleaga (42), Gunterman (2), Lologo (2)
Digs – Heilborn (14), Gunterman (11), Woodruff (9)
Points – Roetcisoender (18.5), Fairchild (13.5), Heilborn (13.5), Kepley (12.5)
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2022 season:
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2022 RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall Record
|
10-4
|
|
Streak
|
W2
|
|
Home
|
8-0
|
|
Away
|
1-1
|
|
Neutral
|
1-3
|
|
GNAC Record
|
5-1
|
|
3-Set Matches
|
6-1
|
|
4-Set Matches
|
3-0
|
|
5-Set Matches
|
1-2
|
|
Ranked Opponents
|
2-4
|
|
Winning First Set
|
9-1
|
|
Dropping First Set
|
1-3
|
|
Record by Jersey
|
|
White
|
4-1
|
|
Light Blue
|
3-1
|
|
Dark Gray
|
3-0
|
|
Navy Blue
|
0-2
|
Here is a match-by-match look at the 2022 season following Thursday's four-set win over Central Washington:
|
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)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
|
10/6
|
at Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Lacey, WA
|
|
10/8
|
at Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Monmouth, OR
|
SERIES HISTORY VS. CENTRAL WASHINGTON
WWU improved to 78-44-1 all-time vs. Central Washington and won 13 of the last 14 in the series dating back to the 2013 season…won each of the last eight contests in Bellingham, including a current 16-match winning streak in Carver Gym.
WWU is off to an 8-0 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 29 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 304-82 (.788) in Carver Gym and since moving back into the renovated facility to start the 2017 season is 60-1. During the 23 seasons with head coach Diane Flick-Williams at the helm of the program the Vikings have combined to go 189-16 (.922) in Carver. Since debuting the new Taraflex court in 2021 the Vikings are a perfect 20-0.
Here is a look at the updated records for the 10 GNAC volleyball programs following play Thursday night:
|
GNAC VOLLEYBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
6-0
|
1.000
|
16-1
|
.941
|
8-0
|
4-0
|
4-1
|
Won 8
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington
|
5-1
|
.833
|
10-4
|
.714
|
8-0
|
1-1
|
1-3
|
Won 2
|
|
3.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
4-2
|
.667
|
11-3
|
.786
|
6-2
|
2-1
|
3-0
|
Lost 1
|
|
4.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
4-3
|
.571
|
6-9
|
.400
|
2-1
|
2-5
|
2-3
|
Won 3
|
|
5.
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
3-3
|
.500
|
13-5
|
.722
|
6-2
|
3-2
|
4-1
|
Lost 1
|
|
|
Central Washington
|
3-3
|
.500
|
8-6
|
.571
|
1-1
|
3-3
|
4-2
|
Lost 2
|
|
|
Simon Fraser
|
3-3
|
.500
|
6-9
|
.400
|
3-0
|
0-4
|
3-5
|
Won 1
|
|
8.
|
Saint Martin's
|
2-4
|
.333
|
12-4
|
.750
|
6-2
|
2-2
|
4-0
|
Won 3
|
|
9.
|
Western Oregon
|
1-5
|
.167
|
5-9
|
.357
|
0-2
|
1-3
|
4-4
|
Lost 5
|
|
10.
|
Montana State Billings
|
0-7
|
.000
|
7-8
|
.467
|
5-3
|
1-4
|
1-1
|
Lost 1
|
|
This Week's GNAC Schedule
|
|
Thursday, September 29:
at #12 Western Washington 3, Central Washington 1
Saint Martin's 3, at Montana State Billings 0
at Seattle Pacific 3, Western Oregon 1
at Simon Fraser 3, Northwest Nazarene 1
Saturday, October 1:
Western Oregon at Montana State Billings, 1 pm MT
#11 Alaska Anchorage at Alaska Fairbanks, 2 pm MT
Saint Martin's at Seattle Pacific, 2 pm
Central Washington at Simon Fraser, 7 pm
Northwest Nazarene at #12 Western Washington, 7 pm
|
The Vikings have now won 101 of their last 119 matches dating back to the 2018 season (101-18/.849) when the Vikings were the NCAA II national runner-up. WWU is also 128-22 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 1,001 all-time wins (1001-576-7/.634). 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 (495-121/.804) the Vikings have posted a 246-51 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).
