The Seattle University volleyball team could not sustain the momentum from winning its two previous matches, as GNAC leader Western Oregon swept the Redhawks, 3-0 (30-24, 30-27, 30-19), Saturday night at the New PE Building.
Senior Nikole Thompson (, ) again led with 12 kills and 11 digs, but unlike Thursday night, when she was one of five Redhawks to reach double figures in kills, she was the only one to earn over ten kills in this match. Having moved into third place on Seattle’s all-time kills list at Saint Martin’s, Thompson now has 1,120 career kills, just 13 behind Lizzy Safranski’s mark of 1,133 career kills which is second-most in SU history.
Kelly Benson (, ) continued her strong hitting off the bench, finishing with seven kills, and Janet Beckerman () collected five kills and three total blocks. Taking over the setting duties, junior Tori Ross (Shoreline, ) notched 23 assists, nine digs, and five total blocks, while Josie Christiansen (Coquille, Ore.) earned six kills, four digs, and six total blocks. Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, ) contributed ten digs, with Heather Gerke () totaling eight defensive digs in the match.
For (13-5, 10-1 GNAC), Stacey Bennett earned 19 kills, hitting .485 in the match. Kayla Mainer earned 14 kills, four service aces, and 16 digs, while Amy Herron finished with 37 assists and 12 digs and Haley Kostrba contributed seven kills and a match-high 18 digs to the winning effort.
Western Oregon finished ahead of in almost every category, including kills (52-35), service aces (7-1), and digs (80-59). The Redhawks did earn ten team blocks, three more than the Wolves’ seven team blocks, but Seattle hit only .113 while allowing Western Oregon to post a .188 hitting percentage.
(8-11, 5-6 GNAC) will look to get back to the .500 mark in conference play Thursday, Oct. 18, hosting Alaska Fairbanks at the beginning at 7 p.m. The Redhawks defeated the Nanooks 3-2 on Sept. 22 in .