MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University volleyball team will wrap-up their three-game homestand this Saturday when they host Saint Martin's in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play starting at 7 p.m. inside NPE Gym.
The Wolves played the Alaska schools last week with Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage each claiming 3-0 victories. While WOU (2-7, 0-2 GNAC) didn't secure a set, they were close in each match. Against the Nanooks, the Wolves lost the second set by a tight score of 26-24. Then against the Seawolves, WOU pushed the second set to 25-21 and the third set to 25-22.
Isabel Hurliman leads the team in points at 127, collecting 106 kills, 12 service aces and 18 blocks. Bailee Hartsook is second on the team in points with 72.5, coming away with 68 kills and five blocks. Makenzie York (56 points), Madison Hornback (55.5) and Lauren Smith (53.5) all add over 50 points this year. Hornback has 52 kills, while Smith has 46. York leads the team in blocks with 34, including six solo. Aubrey Stanton leads the team in assists with 176, with Laney O'Neil sitting at 93. Outside of Hurliman's 12 service aces, Stanton is second on the team with 10. On defense, Sophie Matlock leads the back row with 151 digs and Hurliman adds 91. Bella MacLellan is third on the team in blocks with 13, followed by 12 from Emily Olson and 11 from Smith.
In the GNAC rankings, WOU is fourth in service aces per set (1.66) and fifth in team service aces (58). Individually, Stanton is sixth in the GNAC in assists per set (6.52), seventh in aces per set (0.37) and eighth in total assists (176). Hurliman is sixth in the GNAC in points per set (3.63), eighth in total kills (106) and ninth in both kills per set (3.03) and service aces (12). York is ninth in the GNAC in blocks per set (0.97). Matlock is fourth in the GNAC in digs per set (4.31) and ninth in total digs (151).
This will be the first meeting between WOU and Saint Martin's since Nov. 2019 in Monmouth. The Wolves swept both meetings in 2019 and have gone 8-2 over the past 10 meetings. WOU is 17-3 at home against the Saints since 2000.
Saint Martin's is off to a 6-5 start this season and 0-2 mark in GNAC play. They opened the season with five straight wins and snapped a five-game losing streak this past Tuesday with a 3-1 home win over Linfield. The Saints played their first home matches of the season this past week, falling in five sets to Alaska Anchorage and being swept by Alaska Fairbanks before the win over Linfield.
Tia Allen leads the team in points with 165.5, tallying 140 kills, 15 service aces and 18 blocks. Emily Gooding adds 104.5 points, recording 93 kills and leads the team with 41 blocks. Kylie Coon (77 points) and Maddy Gooding (75) give the Saints four players with at least 75 points. Coon is third on the team in kills with 70 and Maddy Gooding has 10 service aces. Analise Hitchcock and Mahina Pescaia have both seen time at setter with Hitchcock dishing out 245 assists and Pescaia with 136. On defense, Kylie Alos leads the back row with 172 digs and Giselle Bennetti adds 142. Allen is third on the team with 129 digs. Gracie Brenner and Emily Gooding are tied for second on the team in blocks with 20.
Fans are allowed to attend and remember to wear a mask. Live video and stats will also be available for the game. Live video can be found here and live stats can be found here.
