BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Isabel Hurliman led the offense in both matches on Saturday which included posting a double-double in the second match as the Western Oregon University volleyball team fell in the first match to Western Washington (25-9, 25-16, 25-22), but then won their first set of the season in the second match before falling 3-1 (25-14, 25-15, 27-29, 25-21) inside Carver Gym.

In the first match, Hurliman tallied a match-high 13 kills, while Lauren Smith added 10. Laney O'Neil dished out 15 assists and Allie Spear collected 12 digs. O'Neil nearly picked up a double-double with nine digs.

Hurliman and Smith each tallied kills in the early parts of the opening set to keep WWU (3-0) with a 4-3 lead. The Vikings then went on a 9-1 run to open up a 13-4 advantage. WWU didn't let up, winning 12 of the final 17 points to take the first set 25-9.

In the second set, points from Smith and Hurliman kept WOU (0-5) within striking distance at 11-7. An 8-2 spurt pushed the lead to 19-9 and despite solid points down the stretch from Carly Cox, Hurliman, Aubrey Stanton and Bella Maclellan, WWU claimed set two at 25-16.

It was a tight third set with a service ace by Makenzie York bringing WOU to within one at 13-12. Trailing by two, the Wolves pushed back in front with a pair of kills from Hurliman and a service ace by Spear had WOU with a 17-16 lead. After the Vikings came back to reclaim a 19-18 lead, a kill by Hurliman and an error by WWU had the Wolves ahead again at 20-19. A Smith kill tied the set at 21 before WWU scored four of the final five points for the 25-22 third set win and 3-0 match victory.

WWU held the edge in kills (33-30), blocks (13-1), assists (31-30), while WOU held the edge in service aces (4-3) and digs (39-35).

Calley Heilborn led the Vikings with nine kills, Olivia Fairchild added seven blocks, Malia Aleaga had 26 assists and both Heilborn and Gabby Gunterman tallied eight digs.

In the second match, Hurliman again led the offense with a match-high 15 kills and she made it a double-double with 17 digs. York and Smith added 12 kills apiece. Stanton and O'Neil tallied 22 assists. Spear led the way in digs with 24, which were a match-high.

In the first set, WWU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. A kill by Smith and service ace from Carly Cox had the Wolves back to within one at 8-7. After the Vikings went on a run to push the lead to 19-10, WOU tallied three straight points before WWU closed the opening set on a 6-1 run for the 25-14 first set win.

WOU moved out to an 8-6 lead early in the second set with York tallying a kill and Stanton recording a service ace. Still ahead 10-8, the Vikings stormed back to put the set out of reach going on a 12-3 run to then eventually take the set at 25-15.

The third set had several twists and turns. WOU opened up a 6-3 lead with York and Emily Olson tallying kills. The Wolves pushed the lead out to five at 17-12 as around an attacking error by the Vikings, York posted a kill. WOU moved to set point at 24-22 on a double-block from York and Olson. WWU surged back to claim the next three points and moved to set point at 25-24. After the teams kept trading ties and leads, WOU was able to claim the final two points when Hurliman and Maclellan combined for a double-block and a bad set by the Vikings gave WOU the 29-27 third set win.

WOU carried the momentum into the fourth set and held a 12-8 lead with Hurliman, O'Neil and York all tallying points during a 5-0 stretch. Still ahead at 15-14 on a kill by Smith, WWU reclaimed the lead and moved in front 21-18. Stanton, York and Hurliman all tallied kills down the stretch, but the Vikings were able to just hold off the Wolves for the 25-21 fourth set win and 3-1 match victory.

WOU held the advantage in service aces (9-6) and were tied in assists (47). WWU just held the edge in kills (51-50) and were also ahead in blocks (16-5) and digs (66-60).

Heilborn led the Vikings with 14 kills, four service aces and 22 digs. Fairchild had 10 blocks and Aleaga tallied 40 assists.

WOU will travel back to Washington State this coming week when they will play at Saint Martin's in Lacey on Sunday, Apr. 25 with another doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.