Monday, October 12, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Episode 70 of the conference radio show – GNAC Insider – aired Tuesday night at 7 p.m. PT. Joining the program was Alaska Anchorage head volleyball coach Chris Green and UAA outside hitter Katelynn Zanders, Saint Martin’s golfer Jennifer Liedes and Western Washington midfielder Emily Webster.

Green is in his eighth season as Alaska Anchorage head volleyball coach. He enters the week with a 147-67 overall record with the Seawolves after a 15-1 start to 2015. The Seawolves began the season with 14-straight wins before dropping their first match of the season Thursday to Northwest Nazarene. Alaska Anchorage is ranked No. 10 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-25 Poll. Green has led UAA to NCAA Tournament berths in five of the past six seasons. Green spoke about the team's hot start to the season, the atmosphere for when the Seawolves host Western Washington and the play and leadership of Zanders.

Zanders is a junior outside hitter for the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team. A two-time AVCA All-American, Zanders leads the conference in kills (225) and kills per set (3.95) and is second in service aces (23) and aces per set (0.40). The Seawolves host No. 16-ranked Western Washington on Thursday in a match between top-25 opponents. Zanders spoke about her overall play to start the season and the upcoming match against Western Washington.

Liedes is a senior golfer for Saint Martin’s. She was named GNAC Co-Golfer of the Year as a junior and GNAC Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore. Liedes led Saint Martin’s at the Rose City Intercolleigate on Sept. 28 and 29 with a three-round score of 237, tying her for 55th among Division I and II golfers. Liedes also placed seventh at the Saint Martin’s Invitational with a 12-over-par 158. Liedes and the Saints are currently at the Western Washington Invitational. They wrap-up their fall season at the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate on Oct. 26 and 27 in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Liedes spoke about her recent victory at the Western Washington Invitational, the difference between longer and shorter tournaments and her goals as a senior.

Webster is a sophomore midfielder for the Western Washington women’s soccer team. She has three goals and two assists on the season and was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 12. Webster has helped lead a balanced Western Washington team that has won nine matches in a row and are 6-0-0 in conference play. The Vikings are also 11-1-0 overall and undefeated at home. They lead the GNAC in both goals scored (28) and goals allowed (5). The Vikings ranked No. 3 in the nation in the most recent National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top-25 Poll. As a freshman, Webster was named to the Second Team All-GNAC with two goals and five assists. This season, she is fourth on the Vikings in points and third in total minutes played. Liedes talked about the team's great start to the season, the upcoming week against rivals Central Washington and Seattle Pacific and her reason to stay in her hometown of Bellingham to play soccer.

GNAC Insider is hosted by Rob Lowery airing live at 7 p.m. Pacific every Tuesday and is produced by the conference office. All episodes become available as free podcasts via iTunes. To listen to archived episodes go to GNAC.TV.