WOU VOLLEYBALL (12-6, 4-5 GNAC)
GNAC STANDINGS | GNAC STATS | WOU STATS | WOU STAT RANKINGS
 
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
vs Alaska Anchorage (10-9, 4-5 GNAC), 7 p.m.
Monmouth, Oregon | New PE Building
Purple Out for Domestic Violence Awareness, Sponsored by WOU's Abby's House

SATURDAY
vs Alaska  (13-6, 5-4 GNAC), 7 p.m.
Monmouth, Oregon | New PE Building
Homecoming & Alumni Game
Tickets* | Live Stream & Stat Links
*Save $$$ and buy the WOU All-Sports Pass for $100 (excludes football)
 
THE WOLVES HEADING INTO THIS WEEK
The Wolves are headed into this week after splitting last week's road games. WOU fell in five at Seattle Pacific Thursday before bouncing back, taking their Saturday match at Montana State Billings in four. As the second half of the conference schedule gets underway, the Wolves are looking to ride their momentum against UAA after winning in four earlier this season, claiming victory over the Seawolves for the first time since 2012.

THE OPPONENTS HEADING INTO THE WEEK
Both Alaska and Alaska Anchorage are heading into this week after playing each other Thursday in Fairbanks - both team's only match of the week. Alaska claimed victory over Alaska Anchorage in four.

SERIES HISTORY (Since 2000)
Alaska Anchorage
ALL-TIME: 15-31
STREAK: Win 1
LAST WOU WIN: Sept. 28, 2024 – 3-1 in Anchorage, Alaska
LAST WOU WIN AT HOME: Sept. 20, 2012 in Monmouth, Oregon
LAST WOU LOSS: Nov. 2, 2023 – 3-1 in Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska
ALL-TIME: 23-22
STREAK: Loss 1
LAST WOU WIN: Nov. 4, 2023 – 3-0 in Fairbanks, Alaska
LAST WOU WIN AT HOME: Nov. 3, 2016 in Monmouth, Oregon
LAST WOU LOSS: Sept. 26, 2024 – 3-2 in Fairbanks, Alaska
 
NOTES
Winning Wolves: WOU reaches best win total since 2012
With WOU's road win against Saint Martin's on Oct. 12, the Wolves reached 11 wins on the season (now at 12) – the most wins for the program since they tallied 21 wins in 2012. It marks the third year in a row third-year coach Kaiao Nahale-a has improved the program's win total - going from nine wins in 2022, 10 in 2023 and now 12 in 2024 - the most wins in 12 years for WOU.

Ace! Wolves rank second in D-II
WOU heads into the week second in Division II in total aces with 182 - already just 10 off the Wolves' NCAA-era record (since 2000). Chloe Asciutto leads the Wolves with 37 aces - second in the GNAC and 28th in D-II. The Wolves have four players in the top seven in the conference in aces: Asciutto, Maela Honma (34 - third), Samantha Darby (32 - fifth) and Sidney Friesen (30 - seventh).

Wolves break 21-match losing streak against Seawolves
In Western Oregon's 3-1 win over the Alaska Anchorage on Sept. 28, WOU breaks its 21-match losing streak against UAA that dates back to 2012. The last time the Wolves beat Seawolves was Oct. 20^, 2012 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Rosa and Honma top career-highs on Alaska road trip
In WOU's 3-2 loss to Alaska on Sept. 26, redshirt-sophomore setter Kealani Rosa had a career-high 34 assists. Freshman outside hitter Maela Honma set her new career-high in kills at 17 in the Wolves 3-1 win over Alaska Anchorage on Sept. 28.

Wolves' aces with high national rankings with Asciutto leading the pack (Sept. 23)
Going into the week of Sept. 23, the wolves are ranked 10^th in the nation in aces per set (2.51) and fourth in total aces (108). Chloe Asciutto leads the Wolves – and the GNAC – in aces per set at 0.67 (29 aces in 43 sets played), good for 13^th in all of Division II. Her total 29 aces also top the GNAC rankings and rank fourth in the nation.

Hartsook named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week, Wolves named GNAC Team of the Week (Sept. 16)
WOU senior Bailee Hartsook was named the GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week by the conference on Sept. 16 after the senior averaged 3.07 kills per set in helping the Wolves go 3-1 at the Cougar Classic in San Marcos, California. The senior averaged 3.29 points per set and finished with 43 kills and a hitting percentage of .338. Hartsook, who missed the season-opening tournament in Hawaii for the Wolves last week, after easing into the first match Friday against Azusa Pacific was a force the rest of the weekend - racking up 14 kills in three sets against Cal State Monterey Bay, 12 kills in a three-set win over Westmont and 16 kills in a five-set loss to San Marcos. She helped the Wolves start the season 7-0 before Saturday's loss - the best undefeated start for WOU since starting 9-0 in 1998.

The Wolves were named the GNAC Team of the Week by the GNAC on Sept. 16 after going 3-1 at the Cougar Classic and starting the season 7-1 - their best start since starting 17-1 in 1999. 

Asciutto named Cougar Classic Tournament MVP, four others named to all-tournament team
Junior middle blocker Chloe Asciutto was named the Cougar Classic MVP on Sept. 14 after recording 13 aces, 28 kills and seven blocks. Fourth additional Wolves were named to the all-tournament team: seniors Bailee Hartsook and Madison Hornback, sophomore Kilinoelehua Helm and freshman Maela Honma. The team went 3-1 at the event.

Hottest start in a quarter century ...
The Western Oregon volleyball team started the season 4-0 for the second year in a row after sweeping play at the Hawai'i Fall Volleyball Challenge. Before last season, the Wolves hadn't started a season 4-0 since 1999. After the second weekend of play, the Wolves went 7-1, the team's best start since 1999 (when it started 17-1).

Hornback named Preseason All-GNAC
Western Oregon senior Madison Hornback was named to the GNAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team when the conference released the team Monday. Hornback, from Oregon City, Oregon, led the conference in kills per set (3.56) in 2023 and was second in points per set (4.05) on her way to being named All-GNAC First Team. She was also named GNAC All-Academic (3.62 GPA). Hornback had a GNAC high for kills in a three-set match (23 - tied for 10th most in D-II in 2023) and five sets/overall (27) and was twice named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Wolves picked eighth in GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll
The Western Oregon volleyball team was picked eighth in the 2024 GNAC preseason coaches' poll for 2024. WOU finished 4-14 in GNAC and 10-16 overall in 2023, good for ninth in conference standings. The Wolves in coach Kaiao Nahale'a's second season had their best start in program history since 1999, going 4-0 in the opening weekend of play and swept the 2023 Stanislaus State Tournament, while the 10 wins was the most for the program since 2016.
 
2024 GNAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
 

Rank	Team (1st Place Votes)	Points
1	Central Washington (2)	91
2	Seattle Pacific (6)	90
3	Western Washington	75
4	Simon Fraser (2)	74
5	Alaska Anchorage	59
6	Alaska Fairbanks	49
7	Northwest Nazarene	38
8	Western Oregon	33
9	Saint Martin's	29
10	Montana State Billings	12