The Western Oregon University volleyball team is gearing up for their upcoming matches against Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. The Wolves are coming off a split of their last two home games, with senior Madison Hornback earning GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week honors. The team is currently fifth in the nation in aces per set and fourth in total aces, with Samantha Darby leading the way.
Northwest Nazarene had a tough week, dropping both road games, while Central Washington is currently in first place in the GNAC standings. Central Washington’s Hannah Stires leads the conference in hitting percentage and digs per set.
In terms of historical matchups, Western Oregon has a winning record against Northwest Nazarene but has struggled against Central Washington recently. The Wolves have achieved their best win total since 2012 and broke a 21-match losing streak against Alaska Anchorage.
Key players for Western Oregon include Kealani Rosa and Maela Honma, who have both set career highs this season. The team also set a new program record for total team aces in a single season.
Despite being picked eighth in the preseason coaches’ poll, Western Oregon has shown improvement under third-year coach Kaiao Nahale-a, with their best start in program history since 1999. With strong performances from key players like Madison Hornback, the Wolves are looking to finish the season strong.
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Photo credit wouwolves.com