GNAC Sports

Volleyball: UAA's Burton, NNU's Tuholski Set GNAC Records During 2011 Season


Burton	Tuholski

Alaska Anchorage middle blocker Robyn Burton set four Great Northwest Athletic Conference records during the 2011 volleyball season. Her records were among seven set by conference athletes or teams during the season.

Burton set a GNAC single-season record for the highest hitting percentage (.434) in conference matches. She also moved into first-place on the GNAC all-time career list in blocking assists per set for all matches (0.98) and conference matches (1.06) and for most total blocks per set (1.31) for conference matches.

With two seasons of eligibility remaining, she will have to maintain those averages to permanently etch her name in stone in the GNAC career record book.

The only other individual conference records set were by Kaitlyn Tuholski of Northwest Nazarene who set marks for most single-season triple-doubles for all matches (5) and conference matches (4).

The Crusaders set the lone team record, establishing a GNAC single-match record by hitting .694 in a 3-0 win over Walla Walla on Oct. 21.

In addition to setting four records, Burton also won a pair of GNAC statistical titles leading the conference in hitting percentage and blocks per set (1.12). She became just the second player in the 11-year history of the conference to hit .400 or better for the entire season ranking third nationally with her .416 percentage. Her block title was her second in two seasons.

Marlayna Geary of Western Washington also won two stat titles leading the GNAC in points per set (4.61) and kills per set (4.24).

Other conference statistical champions included Shelby Swanson and Anna Herold of Seattle Pacific and Nikkie Viotto of Alaska Anchorage. Swanson led the conference in assists for the second straight year averaging 11.25 per set and Herold was the dig leader with a 6.20 average. That mark ranked her sixth nationally.

While it was Herold's first overall dig title, she did lead the league in digs for conference matches only for the third time averaging 6.52. She was also the conference-match leader in 2008 and 2009.

She also joined Courtney Schneider of Western Washington (2004-07) as the only players in GNAC history to have 100 or more career 10-dig performances and 50 or more career 20-dig performances finishing with totals of 102 and 53. Schneider had 107 and 76, respectively. Herold also finished second to Schneider (2,695) on the all-time career dig list with a total of 2,316.

Viotto was the GNAC ace leader with 39. Her per set average of 0.40 is the lowest for the GNAC leader in that category in the 11-year history of the conference. The previous low was 0.51 by Mandy Veley of Western Oregon in 2004.

In conference matches only, Jackie Matthisen of Alaska Anchorage was the point (4.78) and kill (4.45) leader, Laurie Yearout of Western led the GNAC in assists (11.56) and Becky Blees of Western Oregon led in aces (0.38). Burton swept the hitting percentage (.434) and blocking titles (1.33) adding the conference-match crowns to her all-match titles.

2011 GNAC RECORDS SET

INDIVIDUAL (ALL MATCHES): Blocking Assists Per Set, Career (min. 150 sets) – 0.98, Robyn Burton, Alaska Anchorage, 197-194 (old, 0.97, 317-307, Rachael Schurman, CWU, 2005-08). Most triple doubles, season – 5, Kaitlyn Tuholski, Northwest Nazarene (old, Mindy Swanson, NNU, 2002 & 2003)

INDIVIDUAL (CONFERENCE MATCHES): Hitting Percentage , season - .434, Robyn Burton, Alaska Anchorage, 212-42-392 (old, .426, 298-49-585, LeAnne McGahuey, Central Washington, 2004). Blocking Assists Per Set, career (min. 100 sets) – 1.06, Robyn Burton, Alaska Anchorage, 128-136 (old, 1.01, 201-204, Rachael Schurman, Central Washington, 2005-08). Total Blocks Per Set, career (min. 100 sets) – 1.31, Robyn Burton, Alaska Anchorage, 128-168 (old, 1.25, 129-161, Alicia Denny, Saint Martin's, 2001-02). Most triple doubles, season – 4, Kaitlyn Tuholski, Northwest Nazarene (old, 3, Mindy Swanson, Northwest Nazarene, 2002)

TEAM (ALL MATCHES): Hitting Percentage - .694, Northwest Nazarene, 34-0-49 vs., Walla Walla, 10-21-11 (old, .465, Seattle Pacific, 50-3-101 vs. Edinboro, 8-25-01).