WOU VOLLEYBALL (13-7, 5-6 GNAC)
GNAC STANDINGS | GNAC STATS | WOU STATS | WOU STAT RANKINGS
 
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
at Western Washington (7-9, 6-4  GNAC), 7 p.m.
Bellingham, Washington | WECU Court at Carver Gym

SATURDAY
at (RV) Simon Fraser (13-4, 9-1 GNAC), 7 p.m.
Burnaby, B.C., Canada | West Gym
Live Stream & Stat Links
 
THE WOLVES HEADING INTO THIS WEEK
The Wolves are headed into this week after splitting last week's home games. WOU swept Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, beating the Seawolves at home for the first time since 2012.  On Saturday the Wolves dropped their match against Alaska 3-2, but during the match set a new program NCAA-era record for total team aces in a season. The previous record of 191 (set in 2004) was beat when Kealani Rosa recorded WOU's first ace of the match.

Western Oregon is seventh in NCAA Division-II in aces per set with 2.43 and second in total team aces at 202. WOU is first in the GNAC in both categories. Chloe Asciutto is leading the Wolves and second in the GNAC in aces per (0.48) and total aces (39).

THE OPPONENTS HEADING INTO THE WEEK
Both Western Washington and Simon Fraser - who received votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll - are heading into this week after only playing each other Saturday. In that match, SFU took down WWU 3-1 in Burnaby, B.C. Simon Fraser enters this week atop of GNAC standings, with Western Washington currently fourth.

SFU is also leading the GNAC in assists per set (12.30), hitting percentage (.240), kills per set (13.30) and opponent hitting percentage (0.162).

SERIES HISTORY (Since 2000)
Western Washington
ALL-TIME: 4-45
STREAK: Loss 24
LAST WOU WIN: Oct. 25, 2012 – 3-0 in Monmouth, Oregon
LAST WOU LOSS: Oct. 5, 2024 – 3-0 in Monmouth, Oregon

Simon Fraser
ALL-TIME: 8-19
STREAK: Loss 4
LAST WOU WIN: Oct. 6, 2022 – 3-2 in Monmouth, Oregon
LAST WOU WIN IN BURNABY: Nov. 9, 2013 – 3-2
LAST WOU LOSS: Oct. 3, 2024 – 3-1 in Monmouth, Oregon
 
NOTES
Record Aces: Wolves set new program NCAA-era record in single-season total team aces
With WOU's first aces against Alaska on Oct. 26 – served by sophomore setter Kealani Rosa – the Wolves set a new WOU NCAA-era record in total team aces. The pervious record of 191 was set in 2004. Going into the week of Oct. 27 the Wolves have a total of 202 aces, which is second in all of NCAA Division-II. WOU also ranks seventh in D-II in ace per set at 2.42.

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 – 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 already 13 in 2024 - the most wins in 12 years for WOU.

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