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Volleyball team spikes awareness

Western faced off against rival Central Washington University on Saturday, Oct. 24. Going into the game, the Vikings were 10-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. After four sets, Western fell to the Wildcats, 3-1.

Western trailed the Wildcats, 22-24 in the first set. Redshirt freshman and middle blocker Michaela Hall’s quick return kept the Vikings in the game.

Western was unable to overcome Central in the first set, ending 26-24.

The loss seemed to fire up Western. Before the first timeout, the Vikings  put up six points to Central’s one.  Though the Wildcats attempted to push back, senior opposite hitter Jennica McPherson and sophomore setter Kristina Tribley managed to fake-out Central, who wasn’t able to return the ball. Western won the second set 25-14.

Despite the Vikings starting off with a lead, Central beat Western in the third set. Though the Vikings tried to fight back, briefly evening the score 18-18, the Wildcats took the game 25-19.

Game four was much the same, with Western leading early on. Central once again bypassed them at 16-15, and eventually took the game and the match with a final score of 25-19.

Head coach Diane Flick said they need to take a step back.

“We need to go back to playing steady ball,” she said. “We were typically a low-error team, and we’ve become a little bit higher-error.”


DIG PINK

The Vikings hosted the annual Dig Pink volleyball game, a match dedicated to breast cancer awareness, on Saturday, Oct. 24. Prior to the game, Marguerite Turner was announced as the honorary coach for the match.

About a year ago Turner was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two of her siblings are fighting cancer as well.

“It’s touching because my niece was All-American for volleyball,” Turner said.  “Western volleyball has been a big part of my life for the past eight years or so.”

Turner was also given a pink rose by every Viking player.

“It was really nice, especially because of how far I’ve come. I get to play volleyball again, and now I get to play my senior season on a great team,” said senior opposite hitter Jennica McPherson, who beat lung cancer six years ago.

Head coach Diane Flick thought highly of the Dig Pink event.

“We get to honor and play for those who don’t necessarily get to play,” she said.

The Vikings honored 28 members of the community struggling with breast cancer during the last timeout of the game.

Despite the final score, there was a positive note to go out on. The team raised $505 dollars from the Dig Pink event, which will be donated to Peacehealth St. Joseph Medical Center.

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Senior Rachel Roeder spikes a ball past a Central Washington University player on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Whatcom Community College Pavillion. Western lost 3-1. // Photo by Jake Tull

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