Abby Phelps and Kayleigh Harper helped the Vikings to a 4-0 record last week. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
Pair of Vikings Named to All-West Region Showcase Team
September 4, 2018
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University volleyball players Abby Phelps and Kayleigh Harper have been named to the 2018 D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase All-Tournament Team.
The duo helped lead the Vikings to a perfect 4-0 record in the toughest pod of the West Region Showcase, defeating No. 9 Cal State San Bernardino (3-2), tournament host Azusa Pacific (3-0), Sonoma State (3-1) and Biola (3-0). WWU head into Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 5-3 record, including a current five-match winning streak. The Vikings preseason scheduled included five ranked opponents and seven teams that played in last season’s NCAA Championships.
“Abby and Kayleigh are certainly deserving of this as they were consistent throughout the whole tournament,” said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. “I’m sure they would be the first to say, though, that their successes came from a solid team effort. Good passing, great choices by Brette (Boesel), and solid defense to give us second and third chances were very important to have the weekend that we did.”
Phelps (Manson, WA/Chelan) recorded a double-double in each of the four matches, averaging 4.33 kills, 4.87 digs and 0.73 blocks per set, while leading the team with 74.5 total points. Her best performance of the weekend was a 21-kill, 25-dig effort in the five-set victory over No. 9 Cal State San Bernardino.
Harper (Oak Harbor, WA) amassed a .355 hitting percentage while averaging 3.40 kills and a GNAC-leading 1.67 blocks per set. She too had her best performance against Cal State San Bernardino, finishing with 18 kills and 12 blocks.
Seven players from the GNAC were named to the D2 West Region Showcase All-Tournament Team, with two players each from WWU and Central Washington, and one each from Simon Fraser, Montana State Billings and Western Oregon. As a conference, the GNAC went 22-22 in the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase.
A total of 24 players were named to the All-Tournament Team, which was selected by sports information directors and media at each pod.
AZUSA POD (host: Azusa Pacific)
Alexis Cardoza, Cal State San Bernardino
Jayann DeHoog, Cal State San Bernardino
Kayleigh Harper, Western Washington
Abby Phelps, Western Washington
IRVINE POD (host: Concordia-Irvine)
Deja Thompson, Cal State East Bay
Lindsey Ray, Cal State East Bay
Makala Swart, Central Washington
Shelby Mauritson, Central Washington
SAN RAFAEL POD (host: Dominican)
Daisy Portillo, Cal State LA
Jeshmarie Suarez, Cal State LA
Erica Chapa, Cal State Monterey Bay
Rachael Schlect, Point Loma
FRESNO POD (host: Fresno Pacific)
Alana Handy, Chaminade
Rachel Reedy, Chaminade
Kim Wright, Chico State
Tessa May, Simon Fraser
SAN FRANCISCO POD (host: San Francisco State):
Leafatiaituliagi "Tati" Yandall, Cal State Dominguez Hills
Payton Jensen, San Francisco State
Eavan Taylor, Montana State Billings
Mina Grant, Hawai`i Hilo
OAKLAND POD (host: Holy Names)
Mariella Vandenkooy, Western Oregon
Kristen Hamlin, Cal Poly Pomona
Ramey Gardner, Stanislaus State
Jenna Goldsberry, Cal Poly Pomona
The Vikings enter conference play as the defending GNAC Champions after going 19-1 in league play last season. WWU hosts Seattle Pacific (Thursday, 7 pm) and Saint Martin’s (Saturday, 7 pm) in its home debut this weekend on WECU Court in Carver Gym in Bellingham. Tickets are available in advance at WWUVikings.com/Tickets or in person at the box office beginning one hour before the match. Parking is free on the WWU campus in the 12A and C lots for all home matches with a shuttle provided to Carver Gym.
-- @WWUVolleyball --
