ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team concluded its tough non-conference schedule falling to No. 10 nationally-ranked Cal Poly Pomona Saturday to wrap up play in the CWU Invitational.

The Vikings dropped the three-set match to the Broncos by set scores of 25-12, 25-12, 25-22 inside Nicholson Pavilion. After dropping the first two sets, the Vikings tested CPP in the third set using a mid-set 9-1 run to take a four-point lead at 18-14. The Broncos rallied for a 7-1 run to end the set to gain the 3-0 victory.

WWU dropped its fifth consecutive match to fall to 1-5 on the season, with four of the six non-conference opponents ranked nationally in the AVCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll.

The Vikings now turn their attention to the 18-match Great Northwest Athletic Conference slate that begins next week with home matches on WECU Court in Carver Gym against the Alaska schools on Thursday and Saturday, both featuring a 7 pm first serve.

Sophomore outside hitter Delaney Speer led the Vikings with five kills and eight digs, followed by four kills, five digs and three blocks by junior Devyn Oestreich.

Junior Asia Stewart made her season debut with four kills in two sets of action, recording a .286 hitting percentage. Redshirt freshman setter Ayla Grant had 10 assists for the Vikings.

Cal Poly Pomona improved to 6-1 on the season with a team hitting percentage of .383 leading the way. Madison Novak led the Broncos with 10 kills and 11.0 total points.

The Vikings (1-4) return home next week opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference play hosting the Alaska schools on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The GNAC-opening week features WWU taking on Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday (9/19) and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (9/21) with both matches set for a 7 pm first serve. Tickets for all home matches can be purchased in advance at wwuvikings.com/Tickets. All current WWU students will again receive free admission for all home regular-season athletic events in 2024-25.

Kills – Speer (5), Stewart (4), Oestreich (4)

Aces – Grant (2), Speer (1), Claeys (1), Oestreich (1)

Blocks – Oestreich (3), Grant (3), Tri (3)

Assists – Grant (10), Holland (5), Hansen (4)

Digs – Speer (8), Claeys (7), Oestreich (5)

Points – Oestreich (7.0), Speer (6.0), Stewart (4.0), Grant (3.5)

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Cal Poly Pomona:

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2024 season:

Here is a match-by-match look at the 2024 season with current results and the schedule:

Fans can follow WWU Volleyball online at WWUVikings.com/VB, and via social media on 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 54th season as a varsity intercollegiate sport in 2024, rising to an elite level by advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships in 10 of the last 11 seasons and 16 of the last 22 dating back to the 2001 season. The program has recorded 1,025 all-time wins (1025-597-7). The winner of 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Vikings have four of the last seven 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 25th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams (519-142) the Vikings have posted a 270-72 record over the last 13 seasons and played in the NCAA II West Region championship match five out of the last eight 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 eight seasons (2015, 2018, 2021).