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vs. MSU Billings (7-18, 0-15 GNAC), 7 p.m. 

Monmouth, Oregon | New PE Building

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The Wolves are headed into this week after sweeping Saint Martin's at home in WOU's only match of the week. The Wolves are led in kills by senior Madison Hornback, who is fourth in the conference with 3.13 kills per set and third in total kills with 285. The Wolves as a team are sixth in Division-II in aces per set at 2.46 and fifth in total aces at 231 - also leading the conference in both categories. Sophomore Samantha Darby leads the Wolves in aces per set at 0.51 (third in GNAC, 48th in nation) and total aces at 48 (second in GNAC, 28th in nation).

Montana State Billings is headed into this week after losing both its home matches last week. The Yellowjackets dropped their match against Western Washington 3-1 and their match against Simon Fraser 3-0 on Saturday. Jordin Taulua leads MSUB in kills per set at 2.99 (sixth in the GNAC) and in total kills at 251 (fourth in GNAC). The Yellowjacks' Christine Funk leads both the team and the conference in total digs at 251. 

Seattle Pacific is coming off a win and a loss last week, both at home. SPU swept Simon Fraser Thursday before losing to Western Washington 3-2 Saturday. The Falcons led the GNAC and our seventh in the nation in blocks per set (2.65) and our first in conference, 11th in Division-II in total blocks at 244. SPU is led in blocking by Hannah Hair, who has 1.60 blocks per set and 147 total blocks - both good for first in GNAC and lead the nation.

ALL-TIME: 21-12

STREAK: Won 5

LAST WOU WIN: Oct. 19, 2024 – 3-1 in Billings, Montana

LAST WOU WIN AT HOME: Sept. 16, 2023 - 3-2

LAST WOU LOSS: Oct. 30, 2021– 3-1 in Monmouth, Oregon

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 previous record of 191 was set in 2004. Heading into Thursday, WOU has 221 aces, which is fourth in NCAA D-II. WOU also ranks sixth in D-II in aces per set at 2.43. Samantha Darby leads WOU with 46 aces - 20th in the nation and tied for the top spot in the GNAC.

Winning Wolves: WOU reaches best win total since 2012

With WOU's road win against Saint Martin's on Oct. 12, the Wolves have 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 11 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 10th 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 13th 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. 

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.

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).

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.

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