Chloe Roetcisoender, Viking volleyball middle, jumps to spike a ball onto the Western Oregon team on Saturday, Oct. 26. Vikings won the game against Western Oregon three sets to zero. // Photo by Alex Moreno By Jordan Shepherd The 11-1Viking’s volleyball team swept the Western Oregon University Wolves Saturday, Oct. 26, in Sam Carver Gymnasium to stay No. 6 nationally and hold onto the first-place spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. “I was really happy with how balanced we were tonight and how we did well on the things we worked on in practice all week,” head coach Diane Flick-Williams said. This win, which included a clean sweep of 25-20, 25-12, 25-16, helps to bring the Vikings to a 19-1 overall record. The Wolves now drop to a 1-11 record in conference play and 3-16 in season. Western has now won 38 consecutive matches at Carver Gym which starts all the way back in the 2014 season. The Vikings had a well-balanced offensive match that included five players having six or more kills and nine service aces. Sophomore pin hitter Gabby Gunterman led the team with nine kills and 15 digs, while holding a .292 hitting percentage average in the match. “I think over this past week we have been training really hard on working on our offensive and making sure that our first ball contacts are solid, and I think it really translated,” said Gunterman. “We were just saying in our circle that everything we have done this past week has shown up in this game, and I think it feels really fulfilling to put in so much work into that and have it show itself in this competition.” Sophomore middle Chloe Roetcisoender had six kills and a match-high five blocks, with senior middle Joslyn Bopray recording six kills on a .308 hitting percentage and three blocks. Sophomore pin hitter Tess Biscup added six kills and three blocks. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn had six kills, 13 digs and two aces. Freshman defensive specialist Tupu Lologo had three aces and led the Vikings while Senior Setter Malia Aleaga had 26 assists. Senior libero Mae Thungc had two aces and 15 digs to tie for the team high. “I just think we are not easily satisfied, and we are always ready to come into the gym, always ready to continue working, and it’s all about perfection and getting better,” said Thungc. “We have our great teammates along with us as we continue getting better.” Western will play Simon Fraser University Thursday, Oct. 29, on the road in Burnaby, BC. The Vikings will then have some home action as they play Montana State Billings at home in Carver Gym on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m.
