Vikings bring youth to regional quarterfinal
If anyone had told Western Washington University volleyball coach Diane Flick months ago that her young team would be making a fourth consecutive journey to the West Regional this year, she would have been skeptical. But that is exactly what the Vikings are doing.
Earning the No. 2 seed following the regular season, the Vikings will face No. 7 seed Point Loma at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, in Anchorage, Alaska in the NCAA Division II West Region quarterfinals.
“I think that if we play the style of play that we have been recently, good things will come,” Flick said in a phone interview. “But we can’t just show up. We are going to have to bring the focus and energy and play a solid game in every aspect.”
One reason for the unexpected success is the precedent set by players over recent years, Flick said. Many starting players have never been to regionals before because they are freshmen, but are following in the footsteps of successful players.
As a result, the freshmen majority have taken the Vikings to new heights.
Redshirt freshman middle blocker Kayleigh Harper earned all-region honors and is also sixth in NCAA Division II with 1.40 blocks per set.
“Kayleigh is still a freshman. She has still got a lot of learning and growing to do, but she has done a really great job of being a student of her craft,” Flick said. “That’s what puts her up there for blocks because you really have to be someone who is looking at the right things.”
Freshman outside hitter Abby Phelps has also taken on a leading role for her team and was named GNAC Freshman of the Year.
“Abby has done a great job,” Flick said. “Her role has increased throughout the year as he has been able to be consistent in certain areas beyond the kills and the digs that she gets. She provides a fire on our court that is pretty special to have in a freshman, but it is something that everyone responds to.”
The entire team has exceeded expectations. The Vikings began the season ranked No. 24 in the nation, peaked at No. 10 and entered the postseason No. 16 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 poll.
The team’s only senior, outside hitter Rachael Roeder also earned volleyball all-region honors.
“Rachael has been a staple for us this whole year, she’s in her senior year and has provided great leadership, something that you can’t see in the stats,” Flick said. “She has just been someone we can rely on, she’s one of our go-to players and I’m really happy for her to have the kind of senior year that she’s having.”
The Vikings finished the regular season with a 17-3 conference record and a perfect road record of 10-0.
Postseason and following seasons for this young team are completely up to them, Flick said.
“If they decide to rest on their laurels we are going to have long falls but if we decide to get better and continue to push the envelope every single day that we have a chance to practice, or train, then they will be able to see good things when the fall rolls around,” she said.
The Western vs. Point Loma winner will go on to play the UC San Diego vs. Sonoma State winner at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. The NCAA Division II West Regional Championship will take place at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 and the winner there will advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Dec. 10-12, in Tampa, Florida.
This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 10:53 PM with the headline "Vikings bring youth to regional quarterfinal."