BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team completed a weekend sweep of the Alaska schools Saturday with a five-set thriller against Alaska Fairbanks on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
WWU extended its winning streak to three consecutive matches, improving to 3-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 25-11, 16-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-11 victory in front of 826 fans. Western improved to 3-9 overall and are tied for 2nd place in the conference standings through the first two weeks of GNAC play.
"We gritted it out against a very tough Fairbanks team tonight. I feel like we had different players stepping up at different times when we needed it," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "We are young, we are growing and we are constantly learning. To do all that and come away with a pair of wins to start the home season is something this team should be very proud of. We have a lot of work left to do, but these last three matches are great building blocks and I am very proud of the resolve to this team"
The Vikings were sparked by a third consecutive double-double from sophomore outside hitter Devyn Oestreich, who registered 13 kills and 17 digs to go with a service ace and two blocks for 15.0 points. Sophomore utility player Abby May was an all-around force for Western recording seven kills, five digs, four aces and three blocks. Sophomore middle Karli Tri added 11 kills and five total blocks for 14.0 points. Redshirt freshman middle Emily Vossenkuhl contributed seven kills and four blocks.
"Voss and Karli had great moments in the middle. Devyn was a force for us in all facets of the match," added Flick-Williams. "Finnley (Claeys) was scrapping on defense and brought a wicked serve. And Abby (May) came off the bench and sparked us to the win with a great all-around match."
Claeys led all players with a career-high 25 digs and had a pair of service aces. Sophomore setter Adele Holland tallied another double-double with 39 assists and 13 digs. The Vikings 11 service aces were a season high.
The deciding fifth set featured the WWU jumping out to a 9-6 lead, but UAF pulled to within one point twice at 10-9 and 12-11. The Vikings closed out the match on a 3-0 run with May recording a pair of kills to clinch the 15-11 set win and five-set victory.
The Nanooks (7-10, 0-3 GNAC) were led by 15 kills from Karli Nielson and 23 digs from libero Kinley Erickson.
WWU (3-9, 3-1 GNAC) returns to the road with three consecutive matches away from Bellingham, beginning with a trip over the border next Saturday (Sept. 30) taking on Simon Fraser University inside West Gym with first serve scheduled for 7 pm. The Vikings next home match is scheduled for Thursday, October 12 hosting Saint Martin's on WECU Court in Carver Gym. 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 (13), Tri (11), May (7)
Aces – May (4), Kepley (2), Claeys (2)
Blocks – Tri (5), Vossenkuhl (4), May (3)
Assists – Holland (39), Tri (2), Claeys (2)
Digs – Claeys (25), Oestreich (17), Holland (13)
Points – Oestreich (15.0), Tri (14.0), May (12.5), Vossenkuhl (9.5), Kepley (7.5)
Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and UAF:
|
COMPARISON
|
WWU
|
UAF
|
|
Attack Pct.
|
.168 (48-21-161)
|
.138 (52-30-159)
|
|
Kills
|
48
|
52
|
|
Assists
|
43
|
47
|
|
Service Aces
|
11
|
7
|
|
Solo Blocks
|
2
|
0
|
|
Block Assists
|
14
|
19
|
|
Total Blocks
|
9.0
|
9.5
|
|
Lead Changes: 7 Times Tied: 18
|
WWU won its 28th consecutive match against Alaska Fairbanks, a winning streak that dates back to the 2008 season. The Vikings now lead the all-time series vs. UAF 52-7 with a 42-3 mark in GNAC matches. WWU is 27-0 all-time vs. UAF in home matches, which includes a 25-0 mark inside Carver Gym.
The Vikings are 2-0 in five-set matches this season (both in GNAC play) and are 31-9 when going the distance over the last nine seasons (.775 winning percentage).
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2023 season:
|
2023 RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall Record
|
3-9
|
|
Streak
|
W3
|
|
Home
|
2-0
|
|
Away
|
1-3
|
|
Neutral
|
0-6
|
|
GNAC Record
|
3-1
|
|
Non-Conference
|
0-8
|
|
3-Set Matches
|
0-5
|
|
4-Set Matches
|
1-4
|
|
5-Set Matches
|
2-0
|
|
Ranked Opponents
|
0-7
|
|
Winning First Set
|
1-2
|
|
Dropping First Set
|
2-7
|
|
Record by Jersey
|
|
White
|
2-2
|
|
Light Blue
|
0-2
|
|
Dark Gray
|
0-2
|
|
Navy Blue
|
1-3
|
HOW TO SEE THE VIKINGS IN PERSON
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 look at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings following Saturday's matches. WWU is tied for 2nd place in the conference through the first two weeks of the conference season:
|
GNAC VOLLEYBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
4-0
|
1.000
|
11-2
|
.846
|
2-0
|
3-1
|
5-1
|
W9
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington
|
3-1
|
.750
|
3-9
|
.250
|
2-0
|
1-3
|
0-6
|
W3
|
|
|
Simon Fraser
|
3-1
|
.750
|
8-4
|
.667
|
2-0
|
3-3
|
3-1
|
W3
|
|
4.
|
Saint Martin's
|
2-1
|
.667
|
8-4
|
.667
|
1-1
|
3-0
|
4-3
|
W2
|
|
5.
|
Central Washington
|
2-2
|
.500
|
8-4
|
.667
|
1-1
|
2-2
|
5-1
|
L1
|
|
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
2-2
|
.500
|
6-6
|
.500
|
1-1
|
2-3
|
3-2
|
W1
|
|
7.
|
Western Oregon
|
1-2
|
.333
|
7-4
|
.636
|
1-2
|
1-1
|
5-1
|
L1
|
|
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
1-2
|
.333
|
9-9
|
.500
|
3-1
|
3-2
|
3-6
|
L2
|
|
9.
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
0-3
|
.000
|
7-10
|
.412
|
3-5
|
1-2
|
3-3
|
L2
|
|
10.
|
Montana State Billings
|
0-4
|
.000
|
2-11
|
.154
|
2-5
|
0-3
|
0-3
|
L10
|
|
This Week's GNAC Schedule
|
|
Tuesday, September 19:
Rocky Mountain 3, at Montana State Billings 0
Saint Martin's 3, at Pacific (OR) 0
Thursday, September 21:
at Western Washington 3, Alaska Anchorage 1
Central Washington 3, at Montana State Billings 0
at Seattle Pacific 3, Northwest Nazarene 0
at Simon Fraser 3, Alaska Fairbanks 0
Saturday, September 23:
at Western Washington 3, Alaska Fairbanks 2
Northwest Nazarene 3, at Montana State Billings 1
at Seattle Pacific 3, Central Washington 2
at Simon Fraser 3, Alaska Anchorage 0
Saint Martin's 3, at Western Oregon 1
|
Here is a match-by-match look at the 2023 season with current results and the schedule:
|
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 (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Burnaby, BC
|
|
10/5
|
@Seattle Pacific (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Seattle, WA
|
|
10/7
|
@MSU Billings (GNAC)
|
|
|
1:00 pm MT – Billings, MT
|
|
10/12
|
Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
|
10/14
|
Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
|
10/19
|
@Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm AKT – Fairbanks, AK
|
|
10/21
|
@Alaska Anchorage (GNAC)
|
|
|
2:00 pm AKT – Anchorage, AK
|
|
10/28
|
Simon Fraser (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
|
11/2
|
MSU Billings (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
|
11/4
|
Seattle Pacific (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
|
11/9
|
@Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Monmouth, OR
|
|
11/11
|
@Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
|
|
1:00 pm – Lacey, WA
|
|
11/16
|
Northwest Nazarene (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
|
11/18
|
Central Washington (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
|
The Vikings have won 35 of their last 37 matches on WECU Court in Carver Gym and are 66-3 since moving back into the renovated facility to start the 2017 season. Went 12-2 in home matches last season and was a perfect 12-0 in 2021. During the 24 seasons with head coach Diane Flick-Williams at the helm of the program the Vikings have combined to go 195-18 (.915) in Carver. Since debuting the new Taraflex court in 2021 the Vikings are 26-2. WWU has an all-time record of 310-84 in Carver Gym for a .787 winning percentage.
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 1,015 all-time wins (1015-587-7). 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 (509-132) the Vikings have posted a 260-62 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).
