Volleyball | 11/17/2012 10:29:00 PM

Box Score

LACEY, Wash. – Samantha Ward led the Western Oregon volleyball team with 12 kills as the Wolves closed out the regular season with a straight-set, 3-0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-14) victory over Saint Martin's pm Saturday. With the win, the Wolves finish the regular season with a mark of 21-6 overall and tied for second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 14-4 mark. Saint Martin's finishes the year with a record of 6-18 overall, 3-15 in league play.

Unlike the meeting on Thursday that saw the Wolves lead almost from start to finish, WOU found itself trailing, 19-16 in the first set. Ward spurred a 10-5 run to win the set as the senior had three kills and WOU closed out the set when the Wolves forced an attack error by Saint Martin's

WOU would trail late in the second set as well; however, down 21-20, the Wolves would win five of the next six points to take a commanding two-set lead. Hannah Deede put the finishing touches on the set with a pair of kills as the Wolves would take a 2-0 advantage into the third set.

The Wolves would leave little doubt about the match in the third set as WOU jumped out to a 16-6 lead in the set en route to sweeping the Saints for the second consecutive match.

Once again, WOU excelled on the defensive side of the ball as the Wolves posted 14 team blocks, led by Becky Blees with nine while Ward added five. The Saints managed to hit only .104 for the match as WOU defensive specialist Megan Triggs led all players with 16 digs.

Deede and Kemper each had seven kills for WOU while Blees added 11 points for the Wolves. Kristyn Ross led the way for Saint Martin's with 11 kills.

The win gave WOU 21 victories for the season, the most for the program since the Wolves went 22-3 during the 2008 season.

WOU will now await word on if it receives a berth into the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship as the field will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 18th, at 7:00 p.m. Eight teams will be selected from the West Region as the Wolves entered the weekend ranked No. 9 in the regional polls.