MONMOUTH, Ore. – The final homestand of the 2021 season is here for the Western Oregon University volleyball team when they will face Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday with both games starting at 7 p.m. inside NPE Gym. Saturday's game will also be Senior Day for Delaney Smith.
WOU (3-18, 1-13 GNAC) is coming off of a road trip where they took Simon Fraser to four and then battled nationally-ranked Western Washington before falling in three. Aubrey Stanton recorded a double-double at Simon Fraser, while Laney O'Neil posted a double-double at Western Washington.
Before Saturday's game, the Wolves will honor their only senior in Delaney Smith. Smith transferred to WOU from Chemeketa CC prior to the start of the 2019 season. The middle blocker from nearby Salem has put together a strong couple of years on the court for the Wolves. So far this year, Smith has played in 38 sets, tallying 41 kills, 26 blocks, nine digs, three assists and three service aces. She posted four blocks in a match on three different occasions and has a high in kills with seven occur twice. During the shortened spring 2021 season, Smith played in 13 sets, coming away with five blocks, four kills, two digs and an assist. In her first season with the Wolves in 2019, Smith saw time in 73 sets, posting 51 blocks, 101 kills, nine digs and both a service ace and assist. For her career entering this week, Smith has played in 124 sets, posted 82 blocks, tallied 146 kills, collected 20 digs, five assists and four service aces.
Isabel Hurliman leads the Wolves with 273 points off of 231 kills, 25 service aces and 33 blocks in playing all 78 sets this season. Bailee Hartsook is second in points with 164.5, posting 151 kills and 22 blocks. Lauren Smith gives the Wolves three with at least 100 points sitting at 148. She has 129 kills and 30 blocks. Emily Olson with 90.5 points and Bella MacLellan at 83 points are closing in on 100 on the season. Stanton leads the team with 395 assists, followed by 260 from O'Neil. Stanton and Hurliman are tied for the team lead in service aces with both coming away with 25. On defense, Sophie Matlock leads the way with 312 digs, while Hurliman adds 214, Stanton at 134 and O'Neil with 118. MacLellan leads the team in blocks with 50, while Makenzie York's 46 blocks are second and Hurliman's 33 blocks are third.
For the season, WOU has 849 kills, 787 assists, 114 service aces, 1,165 digs and 140 blocks. Opponents have 1,040 kills, 946 assists, 112 service aces, 1,287 digs and 153 blocks.
Individually, WOU has several players ranked in the top-10 in the GNAC including Stanton who is seventh in service aces per set (0.36), ninth in assists per set (5.64) and ninth in total assists (395). Matlock is eighth in the GNAC in digs per set (4.0). Hurliman is eighth in the GNAC in kills per set (2.96), seventh in points per set (3.50), and 10th in total kills (231).
WOU will open the week against Northwest Nazarene on Thursday. During the first meeting between the teams on Oct. 16 in Idaho the Nighthawks took a tight 3-0 victory as the Wolves nearly forced a fourth set going 25-23 in the third set.
NNU is 5-17 overall and 2-12 in GNAC play, holding a 2-12 record away from home and 1-12 in true road contests. This past week the Nighthawks hosted Alaska Anchorage falling in four sets and then in three sets to Alaska Fairbanks. Natalie Sullivan leads the way with 341 points and 315 kills. Anna Gable is second with 171 points and 137 kills. Six players have at least 100 kills on the season. Mckenzie Lee sets up the offense with 673 assists. On defense, Carolina McMahon has 378 digs and Gable has sent back 65 blocks.
On the season, NNU has 986 kills, 915 assists, 119 service aces, 1,458 digs and 127.5 blocks. Opponents have 1,144 kills, 1,063 assists, 155 service aces, 1,433 digs and 186.5 blocks.
WOU will then close the week for a Senior Day matchup with Central Washington on Saturday night. The Wildcats are 13-7 overall and 9-5 in GNAC play entering the week. CWU has gone 3-7 away from home and 2-5 in true road contests. This past week they swept both Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage in Ellensburg. During the first meeting between WOU and CWU back on Oct. 14, the Wildcats took the 3-0 victory.
Ashley Kaufman leads the way with 249.5 points on 222 kills. Marianna Payne adds 234.5 points on 204 kills and Tia Andaya adds 209 points with 161 kills. Two setters lead the offense with Sydney Remsberg dishing out 375 assists and Andaya with 374. On defense, Hannah Stires has 349 digs and Leanna Shymanski has sent back 86 blocks.
For the season, Central Washington has 907 kills, 859 assists, 128 service aces, 1,082 digs and 187 blocks. Opponents have 863 kills, 808 assists, 85 service aces, 1,031 digs and 166.5 blocks.
Following the home games this week, WOU will travel to Alaska next week to close the regular season against Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks.
Live video and stats will be available for both matches this week. Live video can be found here and live stats can be found here.
