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Aug. 31, 2009

AVCA Poll in pdf format

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Off to a solid start, the nationally ranked Western Washington University volleyball team travels to Ellensburg this week, competing in the Central Washington University Invitational Tournament on Thursday and Friday at Nicholson Pavilion.

The Vikings moved up two spots to No.21 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll after opening their season last week by winning three of four matches at the Southern California Classic. They defeated No.20 Cal State L.A., 3-2; Ashland, 3-1; and Cal State Dominguez Hills, 3-1, with their only loss being to No.2 Cal State San Bernardino, 3-0.

The victories put Western coach Diane Flick within one of career victory No.200. In just her 10th season of directing the Vikings' program, she has a 199-51 record and a 79.6 winning percentage.

On Thursday, Western meets Walla Walla at 11 a.m. and BYU Hawaii at 5 p.m., followed Friday by Academy of Art at 11 a.m. and No.24 Sonoma State at 5 p.m. It is the season opener for Walla Walla, while the Vikings' other three foes have lost just once in 11 matches overall. Sonoma State is 4-0, BYU Hawaii 3-0 and Academy of Art 3-1.

Western freshman outside hitter Marlayna Geary (Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) made a standout collegiate debut last week, having a team-best 64 kills (4.0 avg. per set) and 38 digs in the four matches. Outside hitter Megan Amundson (Jr., Stanwood) had 45 kills and 34 digs, and middle blocker Emily Jepsen (So., Kennewick/Kamiakin) had 41 kills and a team-high 13 blocks.

Libero Allison Gotz (Jr., Bothell/Archbishop Murphy) paced Western in digs with 73 and service aces with seven, and setter Laurie Yearout (R-Fr., Spokane/Lewis & Clark) averaged 9.31 assists (149) along with 25 digs, five aces and five blocks. Western finished 21-3 last year after being the NCAA II national runner-up in 2007.