Seattle Pacific University’s women’s volleyball team went against Western Washington University on Thursday, Oct. 10, to obtain their second conference win, taking three sets out of five.

Western Washington won the first two sets 19-25 and 20-25. SPU scored first in each set, but Western Washington soon gained and held onto the lead. Western Washington gained the lead almost immediately in the first set but had to fight harder for it in the second set. SPU managed to gain 20 points before losing the second set.

SPU won the third set 25-23. Western Washington had the lead for most of the set, but SPU fought to close the five-point gap and stay just enough ahead to take the win.

The fourth set started with Western Washington on a 0-4 lead. SPU caught up 6-8 after a kill from fifth-year outside hitter Sydney Perry but still trailed by two points for most of the set.

After another kill from Perry, assisted by senior setter Emily Tulino, SPU overtook Western Washington within four plays, a kill from freshman outside hitter Eva LaRochelle giving them the lead. SPU won the set 25-21.

The fifth set put SPU on a four-point lead ahead of Western Washington. SPU held their lead for the rest of the set, winning 15-12.

Tulino was proud of her teammates for pulling through against a tough opponent.

“It was fun. We got a lot of energy from that third set period to the fourth,” Tulino said. “The last two sets were a grind, so that was fun to see how much the team put in to work hard and really want to win and have the confidence to do it.”

This was SPU’s first win against Western Washington since 2021 and their first win on Western Washington’s home court since 2013. The victory also serves as SPU’s second conference win after four consecutive losses.

Perry struggled to describe the feeling after defeating Western Washington for the first time in her SPU career.

“I can’t even describe it. We’ve been dying to beat them for years and years and to beat them on their home court, I couldn’t ask for anymore,” Perry said.

The celebration was cut short when SPU lost three sets out of four against Simon Fraser on Saturday, Oct. 12.

SPU held a 15-9 lead in the first set, but Simon Fraser quickly caught up. The score was tied 12 times before Simon Fraser won the set 28-30. SPU gained a 7-0 lead at the start of the second set. Simon Fraser failed to catch up closer than a five-point difference, and SPU won the set 25-16.

The third set started with SPU in the lead. Simon Fraser tied the score six times before pulling ahead. SPU stayed close but could not regain the lead and lost the set 19-25. Simon Fraser controlled the fourth set, clearing two ties and staying ahead six to eight points. SPU lost the final set 20-25.

Head Coach Jason Rhine said the team will focus on protecting their leads and taking control of sets early.

“Both teams were playing well, and it was really, really close,” Rhine said. “Something that we’ve been working on is trying to hold on to leads and finish sets, even if the other team is struggling a little bit. It’s a temptation to relax a little bit if you have the lead, but you still have to keep playing just as hard.”

SPU is tied for sixth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with Saint Martin’s University. Both teams’ conference records are 2-5, but Saint Martin’s overall 4-11 record beats SPU’s 2-13.

Women’s volleyball’s next game is against Western Oregon University on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. SPU will return home to Royal Brougham Pavilion.