MONMOUTH, Ore. – While the Western Oregon University volleyball team played a shortened 2021 spring season and have played the first couple of weeks this fall season, all of that was on the road. For the first time since Nov. 21, 2019, the Wolves will be at home this week against Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday to open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
Going clear back to 2019, WOU closed the year with a thrilling five-set win over Montana State Billings for Senior Day to cap the year. Since then, there was no fall 2020 season and all seven matches in the spring of 2021 were on the road. So far this fall, the Wolves have also played seven matches, all away from Monmouth.
This past week, WOU traveled to Ellensburg for the CWU/SPU Crossover playing a total of 14 sets and falling just short in all three matches. The Wolves opened against nationally-ranked St. Cloud State falling in four sets. Then a pair of five-set matches followed against Hawaii Pacific and Biola.
Bailee Hartsook led the offense with 45 kills and added a pair of double-doubles last week to help her to be named to the All-Tournament Team.
Isabel Hurliman is approaching 100 kills already this season sitting at 89 following the first seven matches and is second on the team in digs with 72 following a 21-dig effort in the most recent match against Biola.
Following her three-match total of 45 kills, Hartsook is now tied with Madison Hornback for second on the team in kills with both sitting at 45. Lauren Smith is fourth with 40.
Aubrey Stanton leads the team in assists with 148 after tallying 110 over the three matches this past week.
Sophie Matlock leads the team in digs with 119, reaching double-digits in digs in all but one match this year. Makenzie York leads the team in blocks with 27, as she concluded the Crossover with 9 total blocks against Biola that included two solo.
This will be the first time WOU has faced Alaska Fairbanks since the 2019 season when they play Thursday night in Monmouth at 7 p.m. During the 2019 season, the Nanooks swept the season series, winning 3-0 in Alaska and 3-1 in Oregon. Alaska Fairbanks has won the past six meetings in the series with the last win for the Wolves coming in 2016 in Monmouth as WOU completed the sweep.
The Nanooks are 7-5 overall on the season having played in Hawaii, Anchorage and this past week at home in Fairbanks. They opened the season going 2-2 in Hawaii, winning both against Hawaii Pacific and dropping both to Chaminade. During the tournament in Anchorage, UAF lost to Central Missouri and Biola, while defeating Texas A&M-International and Indianapolis. They played three matches in Fairbanks this last week defeating Drury and CSU-Pueblo, while falling to Cal State LA.
AveRee Reynolds leads the team with 123 kills and Lahra Weber adds 104. Cate Whiting sets the offense up with 397 assists. On defense, Dani Dodge has 190 digs and Whiting adds 160. Sophie Schilling has sent back 48 blocks and Emily Moorhead with 43 blocks.
WOU finishes the home opening GNAC week series against Alaska Anchorage on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Seawolves have won the previous 15 meetings in the series with the last win for the Wolves coming in 2012 when they swept both meetings that year. They played each other last year in Ellensburg with UAA taking the 3-0 victory. During the 2019 season, WOU nearly snapped the streak when they took the Seawolves to five sets in Monmouth before UAA escaped with the victory.
UAA has the exact same record as Fairbanks going 7-5 after trips to Hawaii, home in Anchorage and to Fairbanks. The Seawolves opened the season in Hawaii taking three of four winning both from Hawaii Pacific and splitting with Chaminade. During the tournament in Anchorage, UAA defeated Biola, Texas A&M-International and Indianapolis, with their only loss coming to Central Missouri. This past week in Fairbanks, they went 1-3 defeating Ursuline before falling to CSU-Pueblo, Cal State LA and Drury.
They will play in Lacey against Saint Martin's on Thursday before traveling to Monmouth.
Eve Stephens leads the way with 165 kills and Lisa Jaunet adds 103. Ellen Floyd sets up the offense with 427 assists. On defense, a trio of players have over 100 digs led by 141 from Talia Leauanae. Floyd adds 135 and 105 from Stephens. Vera Pluharova has sent back 37 blocks and Stephens has 34.
A look around the GNAC through the first few weeks of the season has Simon Fraser off to a 6-1 start. Saint Martin's is 5-3, followed by Central Washington (4-2), Alaska Fairbanks (7-5), Alaska Anchorage (7-5), Seattle Pacific (4-3), Western Washington (4-3), Montana State Billings (3-5), Western Oregon (2-5) and Northwest Nazarene (1-5).
Live video and stats will be available for both matches. Fans will also be allowed to attend and will need to wear a mask. Live video can be found here and live stats can be found here.
