Friday, December 2, 2016

ANCHORAGE, Alaska  – Outside hitter Abby Phelps notched 12 kills and 23 digs Friday and 3rd-seeded Western Washington used a big edge in the serving game to record a 25-20, 25-22, 26-24 sweep of 2nd-seeded Cal State San Bernardino in the NCAA Div. II West Regional Volleyball Championships semifinals at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The nationally 16th-ranked Vikings (23-7) also got 10 kills and eight digs from Arielle Turner as they earned a chance to defend their West Region crown on Saturday night. WWU’s victory sets up an all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference final against the winner of the late regional semi between 5th-seeded Northwest Nazarene and top-seeded Alaska Anchorage.

The nationally 14th-ranked Coyotes (25-5) – champions of the California Collegiate Athletic Association – were led by 17 kills and 13 digs from outside hitter Lauren Nicholson, while setter Jayann DeHoog tallied 34 assists and 28 digs. Middle blocker Hailey Jackson had nine kills on .450 hitting and five block assists as CSUSB’s 16-match winning streak came to an end.

In a rematch of the 2015 West Region final, the Vikings had to work extra hard to win a third set in which they led 18-13. Following a timeout, the Coyotes roared back with the next eight points and led 22-20 before WWU recovered. After a Nicholson kill tied it 24-24, the Coyotes hit the ensuing serve long, and Nicholson’s last attack sailed out of bounds on the final rally.

Setter Brette Boesel finished with 19 assists, four aces and no service errors to propel the Vikings’ big advantage in that category. WWU finished with nine aces and only four service errors, while CSUSB had one ace and eight errors.