Compiled by Alex BarnesWomen’s SoccerWomen’s soccer advanced to the NCAA Division II West Regional finals on Saturday after a 3-2 win over Concordia University. The Vikings came back from a 2-0 deficit, with senior defender Hattie North and senior forward Gabriela Pelogi scoring in the 86th and 87th minute to send the match into extra time. With only minutes remaining in extra time, junior forward Emily Bunnell was able to glance home a header off of a cross from Pelogi to win the match for the Vikings. Up next, the No. 3 seed Vikings will face No. 1 seed University of California, San Diego on Thursday, Nov. 15.Women’s BasketballWomen’s basketball overcame a 76-66 loss in their season opener against Humboldt State University by winning a nail-biter against Fresno Pacific University that finished 66-65 in favor of the Vikings. Junior center Anna Schwecke recorded a double-double in the loss to Humboldt, scoring 17 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Schwecke also came up big, scoring the game-winning layup with 3.3 seconds left on the clock. Up next, the Vikings will tip-off against UC San Diego at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, and Azusa Pacific University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Royal Brougham Pavilion in Seattle.
Western Washington University women's basketball player Dani Iwami takes a shot during a game against Humboldt State University on Nov. 9, 2018 at Carver Gym. The Vikings lost the game 66-76. // Photo by Oliver Hamlin
Men’s BasketballMen’s basketball started out the season strong with a 84-78 win against California State University, before a close one slipped through their fingers in a 92-97 loss against UC San Diego. The win against California State University, Dominguez Hills saw three Vikings players hit double figures in scoring, with junior forward Trevor Jasinsky scoring a career high of 32 points, alongside seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Jasinsky also led the Vikings in scoring against UC San Diego with 23 points, but the Vikings fell just short of their first road win of the season. Up next, the Vikings will play Minnesota State University Moorhead at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, and Humboldt State University at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Simon Fraser University’s West Gym in Burnaby, British Columbia.Women’s VolleyballThe No. 1 seed women’s volleyball team set a program record of 25 consecutive wins and capped off their perfect 20-0 season with a five-set win against Seattle Pacific University on Saturday, Nov. 10. The Vikings dropped their opening set 25-17, won their second set 25-22, and dropped their third set 26-24, before closing out sets four and five with 25-20 and 15-13 wins respectively. They became only the sixth team to go undefeated in Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball conference play and the first to do so under the 20-match format. Up next, the Vikings will face California State University, East Bay in the NCAA Division II West Regional Quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
Western Washington volleyball players celebrate a win against Central Washington University on Oct. 11, 2018 in Bellingham, Washington. // Photo by Oliver Hamlin
Cross CountryBoth cross country teams will be competing in the NCAA Division II West Regional finals at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17 at Amend Park in Billings, Montana with the goal of a top three finish. The Vikings will be looking to improve upon a third-place men’s finish, and a fourth-place women’s finish at the GNAC Championships earlier in November. The top three teams in each of the eight NCAA regional meets will automatically advance to the NCAA Division II Championships in December. Another 10 teams will be chosen by the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Committee to round out the 34 teams competing in the championship event.
Runners from the Western Washington University cross country team compete at the WWU Invitational on Oct. 20, 2018 at Sudden Valley Golf Course. // Photo by Oliver Hamlin
GolfBoth men’s and women’s golf will return to action in 2019, after they finished their fall schedules in late October. The men’s team finished in second-place at the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate Invitational on Oct. 31, and the women’s team finished in eighth-place at the California State University San Marcos Fall Classic on Oct. 30. The men’s team next tee-off on Feb. 25, at the Bay Area Invitational in San Francisco, while the women’s team will take part in the Sea Lion Invitational on Feb. 4, in San Diego.
