BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team had its five-match winning streak snapped in a 3-0 loss to No. 20 nationally-ranked Central Washington University to conclude the 2023 season Saturday in front of 1,004 fans on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
The Vikings finished third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 12-6 and were 12-14 overall while playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Saturday's match vs. the nationally-ranked Wildcats marked the 10th against a top-25 team.
Game scores were 25-20, 25-19, 25-22 as the Wildcats improved to 20-6 overall and placed second in the GNAC with a 14-4 record to likely seal a spot in the NCAA Championships West Regional.
WWU was led by a 10-kill, 11-dig double-double from sophomore outside hitter Devyn Oestreich, who reached double-digits in kills and digs in a match for the 12th time this season. The Vikings strong play at the net resulted in a 10.5-7.0 advantage in blocks, with redshirt freshman middle Emily Vossenkuhl and sophomore Karli Tri each contributing five blocks.
The Wildcats were led by a match-high 14 kills from Ellie Marble and a 34-assist, 13 dig double-double by Tia Andaya. Libero Hannah Stires recorded 18 digs.
SENIOR NIGHT FOR KYLIE HONRUD
Saturday served as Senior Night for Kylie Honrud for her final collegiate match. Honrud suffered a season-ending injury earlier this season, but was able to be an honorary starter prior to first serve. The Ferndale native was the Vikings lone senior this season on the roster.
Kills – Oestreich (10), Vossenkuhl (7), Grant (6)
Aces – Oestreich (1), Claeys (1)
Blocks – Tri (5), Vossenkuhl (5), Oestreich (3)
Assists – Holland (14), Hansen (14), Oestreich (3)
Digs – Speer (14), Oestreich (11), Claeys (7)
Points – Oestreich (12.5), Vossenkuhl (9.5), Speer (7.5), Grant (7.0), Tri (7.0)
Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Central Washington:
|
COMPARISON
|
WWU
|
CWU
|
|
Attack Pct.
|
.138 (35-19-116)
|
.202 (41-18-114)
|
|
Kills
|
35
|
41
|
|
Assists
|
35
|
39
|
|
Service Aces
|
2
|
6
|
|
Solo Blocks
|
1
|
0
|
|
Block Assists
|
19
|
14
|
|
Total Blocks
|
10.5
|
7.0
|
|
Tie Scores: 13 Lead Changes: 9
|
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2023 season:
|
2023 RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall Record
|
12-14
|
|
Streak
|
L1
|
|
Home
|
6-3
|
|
Away
|
6-5
|
|
Neutral
|
0-6
|
|
GNAC Record
|
12-6
|
|
Non-Conference
|
0-8
|
|
3-Set Matches
|
5-7
|
|
4-Set Matches
|
4-4
|
|
5-Set Matches
|
3-3
|
|
Ranked Opponents
|
2-8
|
|
Winning First Set
|
8-5
|
|
Dropping First Set
|
4-9
|
|
Record by Jersey
|
|
White
|
6-4
|
|
Light Blue
|
0-3
|
|
Dark Gray
|
0-2
|
|
Navy Blue
|
6-5
|
Here is a look at the final standings from the 2023 Great Northwest Athletic Conference season, with the Vikings finishing in third place at 12-6 in league matches:
|
GNAC VOLLEYBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
16-2
|
.889
|
22-4
|
.846
|
8-1
|
9-2
|
5-1
|
W3
|
|
2.
|
Central Washington
|
14-4
|
.778
|
20-6
|
.769
|
7-2
|
8-3
|
5-1
|
W1
|
|
3.
|
Western Washington
|
12-6
|
.667
|
12-14
|
.462
|
6-3
|
6-5
|
0-6
|
L1
|
|
4.
|
Simon Fraser
|
11-7
|
.611
|
16-10
|
.615
|
6-3
|
7-6
|
3-1
|
W1
|
|
5.
|
Saint Martin's
|
10-8
|
.556
|
17-11
|
.607
|
7-3
|
6-5
|
4-3
|
W1
|
|
6.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
8-10
|
.444
|
16-17
|
.485
|
8-5
|
5-6
|
3-6
|
W1
|
|
7.
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
7-11
|
.389
|
14-18
|
.438
|
7-9
|
4-6
|
3-3
|
L1
|
|
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
7-11
|
.389
|
11-15
|
.423
|
4-5
|
4-8
|
3-2
|
L3
|
|
9.
|
Western Oregon
|
4-14
|
.222
|
10-16
|
.385
|
1-8
|
4-7
|
5-1
|
L1
|
|
10.
|
Montana State Billings
|
1-17
|
.056
|
3-25
|
.107
|
3-11
|
0-11
|
0-3
|
L10
|
|
This Week's GNAC Schedule
|
|
Thursday, November 16:
at Western Washington 3, Northwest Nazarene 1
Western Oregon 3, at Montana State Billings 0
at Alaska Anchorage 3, Alaska Fairbanks 1
Central Washington 3, at Simon Fraser 0
at Seattle Pacific 3, Saint Martin's 1
Saturday, November 18:
at Seattle Pacific 3, Western Oregon 1
Saint Martin's 3, at Montana State Billings 1
at Simon Fraser 3, Northwest Nazarene 1
Central Washington 3, at Western Washington 0
|
Here is a match-by-match look at the 2023 season:
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
|
Score
|
Score-by-set
|
|
Yotes Classic Showcase (San Bernardino, CA)
|
|
8/31
|
Regis (#18)
|
L
|
3-1
|
22-25,25-20,15-25,20-25
|
|
8/31
|
Cal State San Bernardino (#19)
|
L
|
3-0
|
22-25,11-25,17-25
|
|
9/1
|
Cal State LA (#9)
|
L
|
3-0
|
17-25,15-25,18-25
|
|
9/2
|
MSU Denver (#3)
|
L
|
3-0
|
19-25,11-25,15-25
|
|
Colorado Premier Challenge (Denver, CO)
|
|
9/8
|
Ferris State (RV)
|
L
|
3-0
|
13-25,22-25,11-25
|
|
9/8
|
Concordia St. Paul (#2)
|
L
|
3-1
|
25-16,15-25,20-25,23-25
|
|
9/9
|
MSU Denver (#6)
|
L
|
3-0
|
20-25,14-25,13-25
|
|
9/9
|
Texas-Tyler (RV)
|
L
|
3-1
|
26-24,17-25,23-25,26-28
|
|
Great Northwest Athletic Conference
|
|
9/14
|
@Central Washington (#13) (GNAC)
|
L
|
3-1
|
15-25,15-25,25-22,23-25
|
|
9/16
|
@Northwest Nazarene (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-2
|
18-25,19-25,25-21,25-16,15-12
|
|
9/21
|
Alaska Anchorage (RV) (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-1
|
18-25,25-23,25-20,27-25
|
|
9/23
|
Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-2
|
25-11,16-25,25-19,18-25,15-11
|
|
9/30
|
@Simon Fraser (RV) (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-22,25-22,25-22
|
|
10/5
|
@Seattle Pacific (#21) (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-22,25-20,25-22
|
|
10/7
|
@MSU Billings (GNAC)
|
L
|
3-2
|
25-16,24-26,21-25,25-22,13-15
|
|
10/12
|
Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
L
|
3-2
|
25-22,25-23,22-25,18-25,10-15
|
|
10/14
|
Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-1
|
25-22,12-25,25-17,25-20
|
|
10/19
|
@Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
|
L
|
3-0
|
13-25,20-25,15-25
|
|
10/21
|
@Alaska Anchorage (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
26-24,25-23,25-16
|
|
10/28
|
Simon Fraser (GNAC)
|
L
|
3-2
|
25-22,18-25,25-16,18-25,6-15
|
|
11/2
|
MSU Billings (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-15,25-15,25-16
|
|
11/4
|
Seattle Pacific (#18) (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-1
|
21-25,25-19,25-23,25-19
|
|
11/9
|
@Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-21,25-22,25-18
|
|
11/11
|
@Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-2
|
20-25,25-22,25-23,23-25,15-12
|
|
11/16
|
Northwest Nazarene (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-1
|
25-17,25-20,22-25,25-17
|
|
11/18
|
Central Washington (GNAC)
|
L
|
3-0
|
25-20,25-19,25-22
|
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 completed 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 1,024 all-time wins (1024-592-7). The winner of 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Vikings have four of the last six 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 (518-137) the Vikings have posted a 269-67 record over the last 12 seasons and played in the NCAA II West Region championship match five out of the last seven seasons, 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).
