The University of Alaska Fairbanks    

Unbeaten Vikings sweep by Nanooks

By RICHARD LARSON, Staff Writer

Western Washington completed its third consecutive unbeaten conference season with a 30-22, 30-19, 30-22 sweep of the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday in Bellingham, Wash.

The Vikings won their 54th straight league match and finished 18-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference this year. After losing its first match of the season, Western Washington finished the regular-season 24-1.

"They just don't make mistakes," UAF coach Phil Shoemaker said. "You can start creeping up on them, but as soon as you have a moment's hesitation, they are all over you. They are an extremely good team and they are playing extremely well right now."

The conference winning streak is the fourth longest in NCAA Division II history. The longest streak is 77 set earlier this season by West Texas A&M University.

Western Washington coach Diane Flick said in a school release, "I'm so impressed with how the team had handled the pressure of the conference streak. I was sitting on the bench for the last point and I was speechless."

Senior setter Liz Bishop had 38 assists and senior libero Nicola Parker had a match-high 17 digs for the Vikings. Bishop was a first-team All-American last year and is sixth nationally in assists this season. Parker leads the NCAA in digs.

Brianna Murray added 16 kills and nine digs and Meghan Evoy had 12 kills and eight digs for the Vikings. Kristy Carstensen had 11 kills and six total blocks.

Junior Mallory Bergstrom led the Nanooks with 12 kills and 10 digs. Freshman Danielle Hitzeman added seven kills and 10 digs. Freshman Jessica Clemons had 23 assists. UAF finished the year 13-10 overall and 10-8 in the GNAC.

"We wanted to win, but we just didn't have the energy we needed," Shoemaker said. "We've got a great young team and have a good group to build with. Our performance this year was below our standards, below our expectations. We are young, but we felt we could win this year."

The match was the final one of her college career for the Nanooks lone senior, Candice Smith, who had four kills, four digs, two assists and two blocks.

"It's always difficult when you have a senior who has done a good job for you that has to move on," Shoemaker said. "Candice was my first recruit at UAF and I feel strongly about her as a person and as a player. We really enjoyed having Candice with us, she has made a positive impact on the program."