Tiana Roma

July 31, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Eight home matches, all against Great Northwest Athletic Conference schools, highlight the Western Washington University 2008 volleyball schedule announced by Viking head coach Diane Flick.

Western, which was the NCAA Division II national runner-up last season, makes its first appearance on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium on Sept. 20 against Montana State Billings.

The Vikings host arch-rival Central Washington on Sept. 25, Seattle Pacific on Oct. 2, Northwest Nazarene on Oct. 16, Saint Martin's on Oct. 18, Western Oregon on Oct. 25, Alaska Fairbanks on Nov. 13 and Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 15.

All of Western's home matches have 7 p.m. starts, except for a 2 p.m. opening serve against Alaska Anchorage.

Western, which returns two starters and 10 letter winners, opens the season on the road with two tournaments. The Vikings meet William Jessup CA, Cal State Monterey Bay, Barry FL and Cal State Stanislaus on Sept. 5-6 at the Cal State Monterey Bay Tournament; and they take on Minnesota State Mankato, Bemidji State MN, New Haven CT and Minnesota Duluth on Sept. 12-13 at the Minnesota State Duluth Classic.

Eight league road matches complete the Vikings' schedule. They travel to Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 27, Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 9, Alaska Fairbanks on Oct. 11, Montana State Billings on Oct. 23, Seattle Pacific on Oct. 30, Central Washington on Nov. 1, Western Oregon on Nov. 6 and Saint Martin's on Nov. 8.

Western is coming off the finest season in school history, placing second at nationals after winning the GNAC (17-1) title for the fourth time and taking its first NCAA II Pacific Regional crown. The Vikings finished 26-5 and were ranked No.2 in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association/NCAA II Top 25.

The top returnees for Flick (8th year, 175-47) are senior middle blockers Angie Alvord (Laurel/Meridian) and Tiana Roma (Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway). Roma was an honorable mention AVCA All-American last fall and Alvord was a NCAA Elite Eight and Pacific Regional Tournament all-star.