BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team dropped a five-set match to Saint Martin's University Thursday evening in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on WECU Court in Carver Gym

WWU won the first two sets, but Saint Martin's battled back to take the final three sets to record the reverse-sweep victory snapping a 46-match losing streak to the Vikings.

A large student section helped create a great atmosphere in Carver Gym on Student Appreciation Night, with an announced crowd of 1,217 fans. WWU dropped to 5-11 overall and is tied for 3rd in the GNAC standings at 5-3.

After taking the first two sets by scores of 25-22 and 25-23, the Vikings looked to be in position for the three-set sweep. WWU and SMU were tied in the third set 22-22 before the Saints went on a 3-0 run to extend the match. The Saints took the fourth set 25-18 and built a 10-3 lead to open the deciding fifth set. Western went on a 7-2 run to pull to within two points at 12-10, but the Saints answered winning the final three points to secure the victory.

WWU sophomore outside hitter Devyn Oestreich led the Vikings with 18.5 total points recording a 15-kill, 23-dig double-double to go with four blocks and one service aces. Sophomore middle Karlie Tri had a career-high 12 kills and four blocks and redshirt freshman outside hitter Delaney Speer contributed nine kills and a career-high 21 digs. Sophomore setter Adele Holland recorded 44 assists, 10 digs and three blocks. Junior pin hitter Gabby Kepley  was an all-around contributor with 10 kills, eight digs, three service aces and two blocks. Sophomore libero Abby May filled in with a career-high-tying 17 digs.
 

Saint Martin's (11-6, 5-3) held the advantage in hitting percentage .235-to-.172 over the Vikings and had 11 service aces. Sirena Peredo tallied a 20-kill, 17-dig double-double on a .228 hitting percentage and Emily Garten had 16 kills, four aces and seven digs. Setter Karla Soto tallied a 55-assist, 11-dig double-double.

WWU (5-11, 5-3 GNAC) remains at home hosting Western Oregon Saturday for Pride Night in Carver Gym. First serve is scheduled for 7 pm on WECU Court. The complete 2023 WWU Volleyball schedule, with links to statistics, webcasts, live stats and more can be found online at wwuvikings.com/VB.

Kills – Oestreich (15), Tri (12), Kepley (10)

Aces – Kepley (3), May (2), Oestreich (1)

Blocks – Vossenkuhl (5), Oestreich (4), Tri (4)

Assists – Holland (44)

Digs – Oestreich (23), Speer (21), May (17)

Points – Oestreich (18.5), Kepley (14.0), Tri (14.0), Vossenkuhl (10.0)

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and SMU:

Saint Martin's snapped a 46-match losing streak to the Vikings, earning a win over WWU for the first time since October 30, 1998. WWU is 67-6 all-time vs. the Saints.

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2023 season:

Here is a look updated records for the 10 GNAC volleyball programs through matches played on Thursday: 

Saturday's match vs. Western Oregon will celebrate the fourth annual Pride Match, with WWU Athletics working closely with the LGBTQ+ leadership on campus to host an inclusive night in Carver Gym. The match demonstrates how Western and the WWU Volleyball program supports and welcomes all. Pride Night shirts will be for sale in the Carver Gym lobby with proceeds donated to the Bellingham Queer Collective. Pride Night Stickers will also be handed out to the first 400 fans and WWU LGBTQ+ clubs and resources will provide information to fans in the lobby. More information on the WWU LGBTQ+ resources is available online at lgbtq.wwu.edu/community.

Here is a match-by-match look at the 2023 season with current results and the schedule:

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 52nd season as a varsity intercollegiate sport in 2023, rising to an elite level by advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships in each of the last 10 seasons and 16 of the last 21 dating back to the 2001 season. The program has recorded 1,016 all-time wins (1016-588-7). The winner of 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Vikings have four of the last five 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 24th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams (511-134) the Vikings have posted a 262-64 record over the last 12 seasons and played in the NCAA II West Region championship match five out of the last seven 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).