WOU VOLLEYBALL (7-1)
GNAC STANDINGS | GNAC STATS | WOU STATS | WOU STAT RANKINGS
 
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
vs. Central Washington (2-4), 7 p.m.
Monmouth, Oregon | New PE Building

SATURDAY
vs. Northwest Nazarene (3-5), 1 p.m. 
Monmouth, Oregon | New PE Building
Tickets* | Live Stream & Stat Links 
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THE WOLVES HEADING INTO THIS WEEK
The Western Oregon volleyball team is coming off of an impressive non-conference slate where the Wolves started the season 7-1 for the first time since 1999 when they started 17-1. At the Cougar Classic in San Marcos, California, this past weekend, the Wolves defeated Azusa Pacific, Cal State Monterey Bay and Westmont College (starting the season 7-0 – it's best undefeated start since starting 9-0 in 1998) before dropping the tournament finale to host Cal State San Marcos. 

WOU junior Chloe Asciutto is leading the GNAC in aces per set at 0.77 (12th in NCAA Division II) after adding 13 aces in 17 sets played at the Cougar Classic. When the ball is in play, the Wolves' setters are proving invaluable for the offense, coming into this week second in the GNAC in assists per a set at 11.66. Madison Hornback is leading the Wolves in both kills per set (2.97) and total kills (95) after she added 47 kills in 17 sets played this past weekend.

THE OPPONENTS HEADING INTO THE WEEK
Central Washington may be heading into GNAC play at 2-4, but the record is deceiving as the Wildcats have played four ranked teams (and a team receiving votes in the poll) already this season. This includes playing three this past weekend at their own event as CWU defeated No. 10 Cal Poly Pomona in five, lost to No. 16 Cal State San Bernardino in five and lost to No. 11 Cal State Los Angeles in five.

Northwest Nazarene is coming off a 2-2 weekend at its own event - defeating Augustana and Biola in five sets and falling to Point Loma in four and Westminster in five.
 
SERIES HISTORY (Since 2000)
Central Washington

• ALL-TIME: 10-38
• STREAK: Loss 14
• LAST WOU WIN: Sept. 17, 2016 – 3-2 in Monmouth, Oregon
• LAST WOU LOSS: Oct. 28, 2023 – 3-0 in Monmouth, Oregon

 
Northwest Nazarene

• ALL-TIME: 19-27
• STREAK: Loss 1
• LAST WOU WIN: Sept. 30, 2023 – 3-2 in Nampa, Idaho
• LAST WOU WIN AT HOME: Nov. 11, 2021 - 3-1
• LAST WOU LOSS: Oct. 26, 2023 – 3-2 in Monmouth, Oregon

 
NOTES
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 undfeated 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