DENVER, Colo. – The Western Washington University volleyball team pushed No. 2 nationally-ranked Concordia-St. Paul to the limit before falling in four sets Friday during the first day of the Colorado Premier Challenge.
The Vikings were defeated by the reigning NCAA Division II national runner-up 25-16, 15-25, 20-25, 23-25 in the second match of the day. No. 22 WWU was upended by Ferris State (receiving votes in AVCA poll) in straight sets in the morning match (13-25, 22-25, 11-25).
In the match vs. Concordia-St. Paul, WWU received a great team effort with sophomore Devyn Oestreich (10 kills, 12 digs, 4 aces) and redshirt freshman Delaney Speer (10 kills, 10 digs) each recording double-doubles. Sophomore middle Karli Tri added a career-high nine kills and contributed three blocks.
In the morning match vs. Ferris State, junior Gabby Kepley paced the Vikings with eight kills and redshirt freshman Emily Vossenkuhl recorded three blocks.
WWU dropped to 0-6 on the season, with five of the matches against top-25 teams and the other against a team listed as receiving votes. The Vikings feature a youthful roster in 2023 with 11 of 13 players that have seen action this season listed as underclassmen in eligibility.
The Vikings (0-6, 0-0 GNAC) close out the non-conference portion of the schedule tomorrow against a pair of to-be-determined opponents during bracket play of the final day of the Colorado Premier Challenge. WWU opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play next week on the road traveling to play Central Washington (9/14, 7 pm) and Northwest Nazarene (9/16, 1 pm MT). The complete 2023 WWU Volleyball schedule, with links to statistics, webcasts, live stats and more can be found online at wwuvikings.com/VB.
WWU STATISTICAL LEADERS VS. CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL
Kills – Oestreich (10), Speer (10), Tri (9)
Aces – Oestreich (4), Speer (2), Tri (1)
Blocks – Tri (3), Oestreich, Devyn (2), Speer, Delaney (2)
Assists – Holland (30), Hansen (17)
Digs – Oestreich (12), Speer (10), Claeys (9)
Points – Oestreich (15.0), Speer (13.0), Tri (11.5), Kepley (8.5), Vossenkuhl (8.0)
WWU STATISTICAL LEADERS VS. FERRIS STATE
Kills – Kepley (8), Oestreich (5), Tri (4)
Aces – VanderYacht (1), Claeys (1)
Blocks – Vossenkuhl (3), Oestreich (2), Kepley (1)
Assists – Holland (14), Hansen (4)
Digs – Speer (6), Kepley (5), May (5)
Points – Kepley (8.5), Oestreich (6.0), Tri (4.0), Vossenkuhl (3.5)
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2023 season:
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2023 RECORD BREAKDOWN
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Overall Record
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0-6
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Streak
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L6
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Home
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0-0
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Away
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0-1
|
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Neutral
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0-5
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GNAC Record
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0-0
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Non-Conference
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0-6
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3-Set Matches
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0-4
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4-Set Matches
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0-2
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5-Set Matches
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0-0
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Ranked Opponents
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0-5
|
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Winning First Set
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0-1
|
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Dropping First Set
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0-5
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Record by Jersey
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White
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0-1
|
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Light Blue
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0-2
|
|
Dark Gray
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0-1
|
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Navy Blue
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0-2
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HOW TO SEE THE VIKINGS IN PERSON
After opening the 2023 season with 10 consecutive matches on the road, the Vikings will make its debut on WECU Court in Carver Gym on Thursday, September 21 hosting defending GNAC champion Alaska Anchorage. 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! The complete 2022 WWU Volleyball schedule can be viewed online and bookmarked for easy access at wwuvikings.com/23_VB.
Here is a match-by-match look at the 2023 season with current results and the schedule:
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Date
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Opponent
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Score
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Score-by-set
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Yotes Classic Showcase (San Bernardino, CA)
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8/31
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Regis (#18)
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L
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3-1
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22-25,25-20,15-25,20-25
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8/31
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Cal State San Bernardino (#19)
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L
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3-0
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22-25,11-25,17-25
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|
9/1
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Cal State LA (#9)
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L
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3-0
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17-25,15-25,18-25
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|
9/2
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MSU Denver (#3)
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L
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3-0
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19-25,11-25,15-25
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|
Colorado Premier (Denver, CO)
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|
9/8
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Ferris State (RV)
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L
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3-0
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13-25,22-25,11-25
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|
9/8
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Concordia St. Paul (#2)
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L
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3-1
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25-16,15-25,20-25,23-25
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9/9
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Colorado Premier Pool Play
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|
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TBD – Denver, CO
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9/9
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Colorado Premier Pool Play
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|
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TBD – Denver, CO
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Great Northwest Athletic Conference
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9/14
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@Central Washington (GNAC)
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|
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7:00 pm – Ellensburg, WA
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|
9/16
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@Northwest Nazarene (GNAC)
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|
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1:00 pm MT – Nampa, ID
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|
9/21
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Alaska Anchorage (GNAC)
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|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
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|
9/23
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Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
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|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
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|
9/30
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@Simon Fraser (GNAC)
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|
|
7:00 pm – Burnaby, BC
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|
10/5
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@Seattle Pacific (GNAC)
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|
|
7:00 pm – Seattle, WA
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|
10/7
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@MSU Billings (GNAC)
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|
|
1:00 pm MT – Billings, MT
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|
10/12
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Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
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|
10/14
|
Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm – Carver Gym
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|
10/19
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@Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 pm AKT – Fairbanks, AK
|
|
10/21
|
@Alaska Anchorage (GNAC)
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|
|
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
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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.
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 1,012 all-time wins (1012-584-7). 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 23rd-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams (506-129) the Vikings have posted a 257-59 record over the last 11 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).
