NAMPA, Idaho – Sometimes you just have to be pushed to the limit…and today the young Western Washington University volleyball team pushed all the way past the limit for a five-set, reverse sweep victory on the road over Northwest Nazarene University.

 

Seeking its first victory of the season while concluding a season-opening 10-match road trip, the Vikings overcame a 2-0 deficit to push past the Nighthawks in the 18-25,19-25, 25-21, 25-16, 15-12 victory in a Saturday afternoon match inside the Johnson Center on the NNU campus.

 

WWU improved to 1-9 overall while facing one of the toughest early-season schedules in the nation and completed the first weekend of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 1-1 mark. The Vikings have faced seven ranked opponents and two receiving votes in the national poll in the first 10 matches of the season.

 

"It feels like a drop of water in the Sahara," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "It was a great fight by our young team. Many people had to step up and contribute to achieve this on the road."

 

Of the 12 players that saw action on the court Saturday for WWU, 10 are either a freshman or sophomore, with seven total players making their collegiate debut this season. 

 

Sophomore outside hitter Devyn Oestreich paced the Vikings balanced team effort with a career-high 18-kill, 18-dig double-double, adding a trio of aces and three blocks for 22.0 total points. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Delaney Speer notched a 11-kill, 10-dig double-double, junior opposite Gabby Kepley tallied seven kills, 10 digs and five blocks and redshirt freshman middle blocker Karli Tri contributed a career-high-tying nine kills.

 

"Karli (Tri) was our steady force in the third set while others got going," added Flick-Williams. "Devyn (Oestreich) came alive and was outstanding on the outside. Abby (May) stepped into a new role and really anchored our defense and serve-receive."

 

Western's comeback was fueled by a strong defensive effort that featured five players with double-digits in digs. Sophomore Abby May stepped into the libero role during the second set and recorded a career-high 17 digs and sophomore setter Adele Holland recorded a 14-dig, 37-assist double-double.

 

Maren Dent led NU with 18 kills, 16 digs and four aces for a match-high 22.5 points. Hailey Cheney added 13 kills for the Nighthawks (5-5, 1-1 GNAC).

 

WWU (1-9, 1-1 GNAC) makes its home debut next week hosting Alaska Anchorage (Thursday, 9/21) and Alaska Fairbanks (9/23) with 7 pm matches on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

 

WWU played in a five-set match for the first time this season and are now 30-9 when going the maximum five sets dating back to the 2015 season. First reverse sweep since defeating Central Washington at home on May 1, 2021 in the first match of a doubleheader during the spring COVID season. First reverse sweep on the road since a 3-2 West Regional Final win over Cal State San Bernardino in 2015 to punch a ticket to the Elite 8 in Tampa, Florida.

 

The long road to open the 2023 season has finally concluded for the Vikings, with the first 10 matches being played away from Bellingham. WWU will make its home debut on WECU Court in Carver Gym next week hosting Alaska Anchorage (Thursday, 9/21) and Alaska Fairbanks (Saturday, 9/23) with both conference matches featuring a 7 pm first serve. 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 (18), Speer (11), Tri (9)

Aces – Oestreich (3), Kepley (2), Speer (2)

Blocks – Kepley (4), Tri (3), Vossenkuhl (3)

Assists – Holland (37)

Digs – Oestreich (18), May (17), Holland (14), Speer (10), Kepley (10)

Points – Oestreich (22.0), Speer (13.0), Kepley (11.0), Tri (11.0)

 

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

 

 

WWU won its 11th consecutive match against Northwest Nazarene, improving to 46-9 all-time in 55 meetings with the Nighthawks. The Vikings also improved to 21-3 all-time in road matches vs. NNU in the Johnson Center.

 

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

 

 

After opening the 2023 season with 10 consecutive matches on the road, the Vikings make its debut on WECU Court in Carver Gym next week hosting defending GNAC champion Alaska Anchorage on Thursday (9/21) with first serve at 7 pm. Season tickets for the Vikings nine home matches are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the WWU Box Office at (360) 650-6103. Single-game tickets are also available at wwuvikings.com/Tickets. New for the 2023-24 season for all intercollegiate sports will be FREE STUDENT TICKETS at all events sponsored by WECU and The Foundation for WWU & Alumni.

 

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 1,013 all-time wins (1013-587-7). 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 (507-132) the Vikings have posted a 258-62 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).