Dec. 3, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Having enjoyed the best post-season run in school history, the national runner-up Western Washington University volleyball team will be honored in a ceremony at halftime of the Vikings' men's basketball game against Multnomah Bible College on Wednesday.

Western reached the championship match of the NCAA Division II National Tournament last Saturday against Concordia-St. Paul, coming within a point in the fourth game of sending it to five games.

The Vikings, who were making their first Elite Eight appearance, upset No.4-rated Washburn KS in the semifinals after sweeping Dowling NY in a quarterfinal match.

Western, which finished 26-5, won the Pacific Regional title by sweeping No.3-ranked Cal State San Bernardino in the final. The Vikings took the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship with a 17-1 record.

Senior libero Courtney Schneider (Snohomish) set a NCAA II tournament record with 44 digs against Washburn. A two-time All-American, she established NCAA II records for digs per game in a season (7.74) and career (7.00).

Schneider was one of four Vikings named to the national all-tournament team along with junior middle blocker Angie Alvord (Laurel/Meridian), senior outside hitter Jaime Anderson (SeaTac/Mount Rainier) and senior setter Katie Robinson (Everson/Nooksack Valley).

Anderson and junior middle blocker Tiana Roma (Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) were honorable mention AVCA All-Americans.

Selected to the Pacific Regional all-tourney team were Alvord, Anderson, Schneider and senior outside hitter Emily Castro (Bellingham/Meridian).

Earning AVCA Pacific Region and GNAC Coach of the Year honors was Western's Diane Flick, who has posted a 175-47 (.788) record in eight seasons.