BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team celebrated it remarkable senior class with a 3-0 sweep over Concordia on Senior Night on Saturday night on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
The Vikings recorded the 3-0 victory in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with set wins of 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 to extend the winning streak to 23 consecutive matches. The No. 2 nationally-ranked Vikings improved to 23-3 overall and remained perfect in GNAC play at 18-0 after having already secured its second straight GNAC championship. WWU completed the regular season with a 10-0 record in Carver Gym, extending its winning streak in the on-campus facility to 28 straight.
WWU’s senior class was celebrated prior to the match, with Taylor Lyall, Aubrey Stephens, Michaela Hall, Brette Boesel and Abby Phelps honored on Senior Night while playing their last regular-season match in Carver Gym.
“I am so proud of this senior group and all they have meant to this program,” said head coach Diane Flick-Williams. “They are a special group who have made a huge impact on everyone they have been in contact with.”
The senior class, all in their fifth year in the program after redshirting as true freshmen, have compiled a 100-21 record during their four seasons on the court.
Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps (Manson, WA/Chelan) led the Vikings with a 13-kill, 10-dig double-double for her 22nd double-double of the season. She pulled to within one kill of the all-time GNAC record for kills in a career, with her 1,512 career kills trialing the record 1,513 set by Sam Harthun (Alaska Fairbanks). With 14.5 points (13 kills, 1 ace, 1 block assist) became the GNAC’s all-time leader in points in a career (Kills + Aces + Solo Blocks + ½ Block Assists), passing the old mark of 1,723.5 by Northwest Nazarene’s Louise Free (1999-02).
The combination of Michaela Hall (Centralia, WA) and Kayleigh Harper (Oak Harbor, WA) were again dominating in the middle, with each recording 12 kills in the match. Harper added 8 blocks to finish with match-high 16.0 points.
“Our middles were great and a constant force for us during the times we had to grind out,” said Flick-Williams.
The Vikings recorded a season-high 10 service aces, with junior defensive specialist Mae Thungc (Kent, WA/Kentridge) recording a career-high 4 aces. Senior Taylor Lyall (Bellingham, WA/Sehome) added a pair of aces while starting her first career match.
Thungc led the Vikings with 18 digs, followed closely by senior libero Aubrey Stephens (Colville, WA) who added 13 digs.
Concordia dropped to 10-15 overall and are 7th in the GNAC with a 7-11 conference record.
