BURNABY, BC – The Western Washington University volleyball team extended its winning streak to four consecutive matches with a 3-0 road sweep against Simon Fraser University Saturday in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action inside the West Gym.
WWU improved to 4-1 in GNAC play (4-9 overall) with a 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 sweep over SFU. The Vikings have won 12 of their last 15 sets after opening the season 0-9 while playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Western has played a team either ranked in the national top 25 or receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll in 11 of 13 matches.
"This was a great team performance where we were all on the same page and responded well to setbacks," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "Gabby (Kepley) and Devyn (Oestreich) were stable forces for us offensively mixing up their shots. Our middles (Emily Vossenkuhl and Anuhea Lopez) were a constant presence at the net. Everybody contributed to this victory."
Sophomore outside hitter Devyn Oestreich recorded her fourth consecutive double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs, adding a career-high seven total blocks for 17.0 points. Junior opposite Gabby Kepley finished with 11 kills, seven digs and three blocks and redshirt freshman middle Emily Vossenkuhl contributed nine kills and six blocks for 12.0 points.
The Vikings combined to hit .190 for the match (compared to .144 for SFU), with sophomore setter Adele Holland guiding the offense with 27 assists and reached a double-double with 11 digs. Redshirt freshman libero Finnley Claeys had five digs and a pair of service aces and redshirt freshman outside hitter Delaney Speer recorded 12 digs.
SFU (8-5, 3-2 GNAC) had its three-match winning streak snapped while falling to 2-1 on its home court this season. Jocelyn Sherman and Brooke Dexter paced the Red Leafs with eight kills apiece.
WWU (4-9, 4-1 GNAC) remain on the road next week traveling to play nationally-ranked Seattle Pacific on Thursday with first serve scheduled for 7 pm in Royal Brougham Pavilion and Saturday at Montana State Billings at 1 pm MT in Alterowitz Gym. 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 (12), Kepley (11), Vossenkuhl (9)
Aces – Claeys (2), Kepley (1), Holland (1), Speer (1), Oestreich (1), May (1)
Blocks – Oestreich (7), Vossenkuhl (6), Kepley (3)
Assists – Holland (27)
Digs – Oestreich (13), Speer (12), Holland (11)
Points – Oestreich (17.0), Kepley (13.5), Vossenkuhl (12.0)
Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and SFU:
|
COMPARISON
|
WWU
|
SFU
|
|
Attack Pct.
|
.190 (39-15-126)
|
.144 (37-20-118)
|
|
Kills
|
39
|
37
|
|
Assists
|
35
|
36
|
|
Service Aces
|
7
|
3
|
|
Solo Blocks
|
2
|
0
|
|
Block Assists
|
16
|
12
|
|
Total Blocks
|
10.0
|
6.0
|
|
Lead Changes: 24 Times Tied: 14
|
SERIES HISTORY VS. SIMON FRASER
WWU extended its winning streak to 13 consecutive matches against Simon Fraser, improving to 74-34 all-time vs. SFU. Current winning streak dates back to the 2016 season. Western is now 24-1 all-time vs. the Red Leafs in GNAC play and 28-17 when playing in West Gym.
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2023 season:
|
2023 RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall Record
|
4-9
|
|
Streak
|
W4
|
|
Home
|
2-0
|
|
Away
|
2-3
|
|
Neutral
|
0-6
|
|
GNAC Record
|
4-1
|
|
Non-Conference
|
0-8
|
|
3-Set Matches
|
1-5
|
|
4-Set Matches
|
1-4
|
|
5-Set Matches
|
2-0
|
|
Ranked Opponents
|
0-7
|
|
Winning First Set
|
2-2
|
|
Dropping First Set
|
2-7
|
|
Record by Jersey
|
|
White
|
2-2
|
|
Light Blue
|
0-2
|
|
Dark Gray
|
0-2
|
|
Navy Blue
|
2-3
|
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. Single-game tickets are 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 alone in second place in the conference through the first three weeks of the GNAC schedule:
|
GNAC VOLLEYBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
6-0
|
1.000
|
13-2
|
.867
|
2-0
|
5-1
|
5-1
|
W11
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington
|
4-1
|
.800
|
4-9
|
.308
|
2-0
|
2-3
|
0-6
|
W4
|
|
3.
|
Simon Fraser
|
3-2
|
.600
|
8-5
|
.615
|
2-1
|
3-3
|
3-1
|
L1
|
|
4.
|
Central Washington
|
4-2
|
.667
|
10-4
|
.714
|
3-1
|
2-2
|
5-1
|
W2
|
|
5.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
3-3
|
.500
|
7-7
|
.500
|
2-2
|
2-3
|
3-2
|
L1
|
|
6.
|
Western Oregon
|
2-3
|
.400
|
8-5
|
.615
|
1-2
|
2-2
|
5-1
|
W1
|
|
Saint Martin's
|
2-3
|
.400
|
8-6
|
.571
|
1-1
|
3-2
|
4-3
|
L2
|
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
2-3
|
.400
|
10-10
|
.500
|
4-2
|
3-2
|
3-6
|
L1
|
|
9.
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
1-4
|
.200
|
8-11
|
.421
|
4-6
|
1-2
|
3-3
|
W1
|
|
10.
|
Montana State Billings
|
0-6
|
.000
|
2-14
|
.125
|
2-5
|
0-6
|
0-3
|
L13
|
|
This Week's GNAC Schedule
|
|
Thursday, September 28:
at Central Washington 3, Western Oregon 0
Seattle Pacific 3, at Alaska Fairbanks 1
at Alaska Anchorage 3, Montana State Billings 0
at Northwest Nazarene 3, Saint Martin's 0
Saturday, September 30:
Western Oregon 3, at Northwest Nazarene 2
at Central Washington 3, Saint Martin's 0
at Alaska Fairbanks 3, Montana State Billings 0
Seattle Pacific 3, at Alaska Anchorage 1
Western Washington 3, at Simon Fraser 0
|
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 (RV) (GNAC)
|
W
|
3-0
|
25-22,25-22,25-22
|
|
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
|
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.
