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Sept. 10, 2009

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Middle blocker Emily Jepsen (So., Kennewick/Kamiakin) had match highs of 14 kills and four blocks as nationally ranked Western Washington University bounced back from an earlier loss with a sweep of Notre Dame de Namur University, 25-19, 25-14, 25-13, on Thursday night at the Viking Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

Western, ranked No.24 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, improved to 6-3. NDNU fell to 2-8.

On Thursday morning, the Vikings lost to the two-time defending Canadian national champion University of British Columbia, 25-18, 25-15, 25-21, in a non-counting match to open the tourney.

Against NDDU, Jepsen had a .545 attack percentage with just one error in 22 attempts.

Outside hitter Marlayna Geary (Fr., Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) had 12 kills and Kathryn Mertens (Jr., Olympia) added 12 for the Vikings. Libero Allison Gotz (Jr., Bothell/Archbishop Murphy) had match highs of 15 digs and three service aces.

The Vikings scored nine of the last 12 points in taking the first set. Jepsen had three kills, including set point, and Jordyn Bailey (Jr., Wenatchee) and Mertens each had service aces.

Jepsen had six kills in set two, Western finishing it with a 12-3 run. Ahead by two, 13-11, outside hitter Marlayna Geary (Fr., Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) got the Vikings going with two consecutive kills. Later in the stretch Gotz served two straight aces.

In the third set, Western went out to an 8-1 lead and NDDU never got closer than six as the Vikings closed out the match.

Western all-star outside hitter Megan Asmundson (Jr., Stanwood) did not play against NDNU because of a groin injury.

Against UBC, Geary had a match-high 12 kills for Western.

The Thunderbirds never trailed in the first two sets, posting a .615 attack percentage and not committing an error in 26 attempts in the second frame.

In the third set, Western used a run of five straight points that included two service aces by Bailey to take an 8-6 lead, and eventually led by four points on three occasions.

A kill by Geary, who had seven in the final set, gave the Vikings a 20-18 advantage, but the Thunderbirds closed out the match with a 7-1 run that included three kills by Nicky Osborne, who was 6-of-6 on attacks in the match.

Rayel Quiring led UBC with 10 kills. Jepsen had six kills and three blocks for Western.

In other action Thursday, Seattle Pacific defeated NDNU, 3 games to 1, and British Columbia swept Central Washington.

The eight-team tournament continues through Saturday with 9 a.m. starts both days.

The Vikings face Grand Canyon on Friday (7 p.m.) and No.7-ranked West Texas A&M on Saturday (7 p.m.).

Vikings split on first day of WWU Invite

JOE SUNNEN - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

It's still pretty early in the season for the Western Washington University volleyball team to start pushing the panic button, but after a lackluster start to the WWU Invitational coach Diane Flick might be tempted.

As it is a lengthy discussion in the locker room following a 25-18, 25-15, 25-21 loss to the University of British Columbia on Thursday, Sept. 10, will have to suffice.

"We're coming to a crux in the road and we have to choose the right path," Flick said. "Hopefully we're going to choose the path that allows us to move forward from here."

In the evening match, Western swept Notre Dame de Namur University 25-19, 25-14, 25-13.

The tournament continues on Friday, Sept. 11, with six more matches. Western meets Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. at Carver Gym. The tourney wraps up on Saturday when the Vikings face No.7 West Texas A&M.

"We have a lot of potential and a lot of passion," junior Allie Gotz said. "What we're trying to do now is figure out our heart. We have a lot of talent; we just need to bring it to the court."

After a slow start in the match against UBC, the No.24 Vikings showed plenty of fire in the third game. Western held a 15-11 lead at one point before the Thunderbirds crept back into it and pulled out the win for the sweep. Freshmen Marlayna Geary finished with 12 kills and Emily Jepsen added six to pace the Vikings.

Junior Jordyn Bailey also provided a big boost off the bench against the two-time defending Canadian national champions.

"We're just trying to figure it all out," Flick said. "We're young and that showed. It's going to be a process that's going to take us a little time. I don't know if we'll figure it out this weekend, but hopefully everyday we'll keep growing and getting better."

With just one senior on the roster and several young players seeing extensive playing time, the Vikings started the season braced for some growing pains. So far things have been a little more uncomfortable than they anticipated.

The team also knows there's still plenty of time left to make some fixes.

"It's taking a lot longer than we thought, but we'll get there," Gotz said. "We have some people in new positions and it takes time, not only to figure out your role at that position, but within the bigger system. Everybody is starting to figure out their jobs. We're learning what works and what didn't work with each match."

In the Vikings' evening match Jepsen match highs of 14 kills and four blocks and had a .545 attack percentage with just one error in 22 attempts.

Geary had 12 kills and Kathryn Mertens added 12 for the Vikings. Libero Allison Gotz had match highs of 15 digs and three service aces.