Volleyball | 10/2/2008 3:26:59 PM
Box Score MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Western Oregon University volleyball team collected its ninth straight victory with a 3-1 win over Alaska Thursday, Oct. 2.
The Wolves improved to 11-1 on the season and 4-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with the 20-25, 25-16, 25-15 and 25-15 victory. Western Oregon remains tied atop the GNAC standings with Western Washington. The loss drops Alaska to 9-5 on the season and 3-2 in conference.
Laura Sakala played a critical role for WOU throughout the night as she recorded a .667 hitting percentage (six kills, zero errors on nine attempts) and helped WOU control the net with four blocks. Setters Amy Herron and Jorden Burrows each recorded double-doubles as Herron had 22 assists and 15 digs while Burrows had 15 assists and 10 digs. Kayla Mainer led the team in digs with 26. Lisa Martini and Stephanie Beeler added four blocks apiece as WOU outblocked Alaska 10.5-9 on the evening and limited the Nanooks to a .043 hitting percentage compared to a .137 mark for the Wolves.
"Any win in this conference is a good win," said head coach Brad Saindon. "Alaska is a very good team and they played very well tonight. We didn't play great out of the gate but we made adjustments and were able to put together a very good stretch of volleyball."
The first set looked promising for WOU as the Wolves took 10 of the first 12 points including eight straight to open the set with a 10-2 lead but the Nanooks then stormed back. Alaska went on a 23-10 run to take the first set 25-20. The Wolves only received consecutive points in the first set during its 8-0 run when Beeler was serving but otherwise could not hold serve. WOU was also outblocked 5-0 and were outhit .200-.000 in the set.
Western Oregon's defense responded in the second set as it was able to limit Alaska to just eight kills and a .000 hitting percentage. The Wolves also held the 5.5-2 advantage in blocks during the set. The volleyball team found itself down 11-9 in the set but it would go on to take 16 of the 21 pints en route to the 25-16 second set victory. Herron orchestrated the main scoring run for the Wolves during the set as she rattled off seven straight serves to lead WOU to eight unanswered points and a 17-11 lead.
The Western Oregon finally put together its offense and defense in the third set as it won 25-15. The Wolves used an 11-5 run to close out the set and take the 2-1 advantage in the match. The set's final point came on a 17-possession change rally, which the Wolves closed out on a block by Burrows and Sakala. Western Oregon held the Nanooks to a -.029 (10-12-69) hitting percentage while posting a .178 (10-2-45) hitting percentage of their own. This was the third straight set ended by a block.
The fourth set was all Western Oregon. After falling behind 4-3 the Wolves used a 9-1 run to go up 12-5 and never look back as they cruised to the 25-15 deciding set victory.
"We play solid tonight but we could still be better," said Saindon. "We will be back in the gym tomorrow getting better one day at a time."
The Western Oregon volleyball team will host its second GNAC match of the weekend as it faces Alaska Anchorage Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7:00 p.m., at the PE Building.
