Redshirt freshman Calley Heilborn, a former Auburn Riverside standout, delivered another double-double in leading the No. 2 nationally-ranked Western Washington University volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Simon Fraser in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Tuesday in Bellingham.
The Vikings remained perfect on the season, improving to 13-0 overall and 5-0 in GNAC play with the 25-17, 25-13, 23-25, 25-16 victory. The 13-0 start to the season is tied with the 2008 squad for the best in program history. WWU also extended winning streaks to 43 consecutive matches in GNAC play and 34 straight inside Carver Gym. Dating back to the start of last season, the Vikings have won 43 of their last 44 matches.
The Vikings recorded the home victory over their border rivals while dominating the stat sheet, outhitting Simon Fraser .279-.121, leading in blocks 11.0-6.0 and tallying seven service aces.
“At any given moment, someone was stepping up to make a play. It was great to see four players with double-digits in kills, Gabby was digging everything and we had 11 team blocks,” said WWU coach Diane Flick-Williams. “We had a lot of great individual performances, which lead to just an overall really great team performance. We served well, putting them in tough positions, and really executed our game plan well. SFU is a very good team and I thought we did a good job coming out with energy in front of another good home crowed in Carver Gym.”
Heilborn led the way for the Vikings with a 14-kill, 12-dig double-double. She also had a pair of blocks and two service aces to finish with a team-high 17.0 points. Heilborn has 10 double-double performances (kills-blocks) in her first 13 collegiate matches.
Senior All-American middle Kayleigh Harper (Oak Harbor) added 10 kills on a .400 attack percentage, and led all players with six blocks. Sophomore middle Chloe Roetcisoender (Duvall/Cedar Park Christian) contributed a career-high 10 kills on a .421 attack percentage and finished with 5 blocks for 12.5 points.
Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Gunterman (Lake Stevens) was a defensive wizard with a career-high 29 digs, and also recorded her eighth double-double with 11 kills.
Redshirt freshman Tupu Lologo (Federal Way) matched her career high with three service aces, all coming in the first set. Redshirt freshman setter Malia Aleaga (Burien/Kennedy), the GNAC’s leader in assists, had 46 assists, five digs and three blocks assists.
The Vikings (12-0, 4-0 GNAC) take back to the road with a Friday match vs. Montana State Billings (4-9, 2-2 GNAC) with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m. WWU returns to Carver Gym next week hosting Saint Martin’s (Thursday, Oct. 10) and Seattle Pacific (Saturday, Oct. 12) with both matches beginning at 7 p.m.
