Wednesday, September 5, 2018

ANOTHER GREAT SHOWING FOR THE GNAC AT THE SHOWCASE: The D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase has been a great non-conference weekend for the GNAC ever since the tournament’s inception and the 2018 edition was no different.

The conference went 22-22 in the three-day event, which was hosted this season by the PacWest Conference. Western Washington and Central Washington led the way with a pair of four-match weekends. The Vikings, in the top-ranked Azusa pod, finished with wins over Cal State San Bernardino, Azusa Pacific, Sonoma State and Biola. It is the second time in the five-year history of the Showcase that WWU has finished 4-0.

The Wildcats, playing in the Irvine pod that featured the third and fourth-place teams in last year’s standings, scored wins over Notre Dame de Namur, Cal State San Marcos, Concordia-Irvine and Cal State East Bay. It is the third time in five years that Central Washington has finished 4-0.

Both Alaska Anchorage and Western Oregon went 3-1. The Seawolves competed in the Irvine pod while the Wolves played in the Oakland pod.

SEVEN PLAYERS MAKE SHOWCASE ALL-TOURNEY TEAM: Led by two players each from pods featuring the top teams in the West Region, a total of seven GNAC players were selected to the All-Tournament Team for the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, which concluded Saturday at sites in California.

Western Washington senior outside hitter Abby Phelps and junior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper were selected from the Azusa pod. Central Washington senior middle blocker Shelby Mauritson and sophomore outside hitter Makala Swart were selected from the tournament’s Irvine pod.

Simon Fraser senior middle blocker Tessa May was the conference’s lone selection from the Fresno pod while Montana State Billings freshman middle blocker Eavan Taylor was named from the San Francisco pod. Western Oregon senior opposite Mariella Vandenkooy was selected from the Oakland pod.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Abby Phelps, Western Washington
OH • 5-10 • Senior • Manson, Wash.

Phelps was named to the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase All-Tournament Team after leading the Vikings to a 4-0 week with 65 kills (4.33 per set), 73 digs (4.87 per set), 11 blocks and a .268 hitting percentage. Her best effort came in Thursday’s five-set opening win over No. 9 Cal State San Bernardino, finishing with 21 kills and 25 digs. Phelps added 20 kills, 16 digs and seven blocks in Friday’s four-set victory over Sonoma State.

Also Nominated: Eve Stephens (Alaska Anchorage), Gabrielle Aihara (Central Washington), Eavan Taylor (Montana State Billings), Megan Vernoy (Saint Martin’s), Betsie de Beer (Simon Fraser), Mariella Vandenkooy (Western Oregon).

DEFENSIVE
Kayleigh Harper, Western Washington
MB • 6-2 • Junior • Oak Harbor, Wash.

Harper was named to the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase All-Tournament Team after leading all GNAC players with 28 blocks in four matches (1.87 blocks per set) to go along with 51 kills. She opened the weekend with 18 kills and eight blocks in Thursday’s five-set win over Cal State San Bernardino and then had 18 kills and seven blocks in Friday’s four-set win over Sonoma State.

Also Nominated: Kyla Morgan (Central Washington), Izela Alvarez (Montana State Billings), Emily Gooding (Saint Martin’s), Jayme Bratsberg (Simon Fraser), Sierra Stultz (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• After going 2-1 in the UAA Invitational, the Nanooks took four losses in the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. Alaska Dropped three-set matches to Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday and Point Loma on Saturday and four-set defeats to Dominican (Calif.) on Friday and Cal State LA on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Lahra Weber led the Nanooks offensively with 47 kills, averaging 3.36 kills per set. More than half of those kills came Friday against Dominican (Calif.), where she finished with 24 kills, 12 digs, four blocks and two aces. Weber enters the week averaging 2.96 kills and 2.42 digs per set with a .150 hitting percentage.

• Sophomore setter Cate Whiting posted 118 assists in the Showcase, averaging 8.43 per set. She posted her high of 44 assists to go along with nine digs against Dominican (Calif.). Whiting is fifth in the GNAC with 8.69 assists per set.

• Freshman libero Makena Overbey averaged 4.93 digs per set in the tournament. She is second in the GNAC and 40th in Division II with 5.27 digs per set.

• Alaska enters conference play averaging 11 kills and 15.38 digs per set with a .149 hitting percentage. The Nanooks are fifth in aces with 1.58 per set.

• The Nanooks open GNAC play home, hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• The Seawolves went 3-1 at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. Alaska Anchorage collected a five-set win over Cal State San Marcos and a three-set sweep of Concordia-Irvine on Friday and ended with a four-set win over Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday. The team’s first loss of the season came on Saturday in a three-set sweep by Cal State East Bay.

• Senior outside hitter Chrisalyn Johnson led the Seawolves offensively, averaging 3.20 kills per set. Johnson posted double-digit kills in all four matches, topped by highs of 13 against Concordia-Irvine and Notre Dame de Namur. Johnson enters the week tied for eighth in the GNAC with three kills per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Eve Stephens finished her first Showcase averaging 3.07 kills and 0.80 blocks per set. She finished the tournament strong, posting highs of 19 kills and four blocks against Notre Dame de Namur. Stephens enters the week sixth in the GNAC with 1.07 blocks per set.

• Senior middle blocker Tara Melton surged for 19 blocks in the tournament. Eight of those blocks came in Friday’s five-set win over Cal State San Marcos. Melton is fourth in the GNAC and 27th in Division II with 1.26 blocks per set. Sophomore middle blocker Vera Pluharova had 15 blocks in the tournament and enters the week second in the GNAC and seventh in Division II with 1.50 blocks per set.

• Alaska Anchorage enters conference play leading the GNAC and 42nd in Division II with a .130 opponent hitting percentage. The Seawolves are averaging 12.37 kills and 16.11 digs per set with a .196 hitting percentage. Alaska Anchorage also leads the GNAC and is second in Division II with three blocks per set.

• Alaska Anchorage is one of two GNAC teams among those receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll, picking up 20 points.

• The Seawolves open GNAC play at home, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday. Alaska Anchorage will host Alaska for the first of two in-state battles next Tuesday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington succeeded in going 4-0 at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, improving to 6-1 overall. The Wildcats beat both Notre Dame de Namur and Concordia-Irvine in three sets and beat Cal State San Marcos and Cal State East Bay in four sets.

• Senior outside hitter Shelby Mauritson and sophomore Makala Swart were named to the All-Tournament Team from the Irvine Pod. Mauritson led all GNAC players by averaging 4.64 kills per set while also averaging 3.79 digs per set with a .283 hitting percentage. She finished with 22 kills and 12 digs against Cal State San Marcos and then had 19 kills and 10 digs against Cal State East Bay. Mauritson leads the GNAC and is 25th in Division II with 4.13 kills per set. She also leads the GNAC and is 28th in Division II with 4.54 points per set.

• Swart finished the tournament averaging 4.21 kills per set with a .293 hitting percentage. She led the Wildcats with 18 kills against Concordia-Irvine and added 15 kills against Cal State East Bay. Swart ranks third in the GNAC with 3.83 kills per set.

• Junior setter Gabrielle Aihara led all GNAC players with 13.50 assists in the Showcase. She posted a tournament-high of 53 assists against Cal State San Marcos. Aihara leads the GNAC and is seventh in Division II with 11.83 assists per set.

• Senior right side Sara Joffs added 18 blocks to her total in the Showcase, topped by her seven blocks against Cal State East Bay. Joffs is 13th in Division II with 1.36 blocks per set.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC and is 37th in Division II with a .248 hitting percentage. The Wildcats also lead the GNAC and are seventh in Division II with 14.54 along with leading the GNAC and ranking 12th in Division II with 13.42 assists per set.

• Central Washington is one of two teams among those receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25, picking up 17 points.

• Central Washington opens GNAC play on the road at Alaska on Thursday and at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• The Cavaliers went 1-3 at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. Their one win was in the team’s final match on Saturday, beating Dominican (Calif.) in four sets. Concordia then opened the GNAC schedule on Tuesday with a four-set win at Western Oregon.

• Junior outside hitter Jessica Wheeler led the Cavaliers with 29 kills and 32 digs, averaging 2.07 kills per set. Her Showcase was topped by an 18-kill effort against Dominican. She opened conference play with eight kills and eight digs against Western Oregon. Wheeler enters the week averaging 2.14 kills per set.

• Freshman libero Callie Wilkins led all GNAC players in the Showcase with 5.86 digs per set. Her week was capped by a 33-dig performance against Dominican. Wilkins leads the GNAC and is 21st in Division II with 5.88 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Tori Johnson led Concordia offensively in the win over Western Oregon with 15 kills and a .367 hitting percentage. She is currently averaging 1.89 kills per set.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 11.43 kills and is ranked third in the GNAC with 17.61 digs per set. The Cavaliers are third in the league with a .176 opponent hitting percentage.

• Concordia finishes the opening week of conference play on Saturday, hosting Montana State Billings.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings splits its matches at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, taking its first losses on the season. The Yellowjackets won on Friday over Academy of Art in three sets and San Francisco State in five sets. They lost to Cal State Dominguez Hills in four sets and Hawaii Hilo in three sets.

• Freshman middle blocker Eavan Taylor was named to the Showcase All-Tournament Team after averaging 1.47 kills and 1.27 blocks in the four matches. Her best match of the week came against San Francisco State where she finished with six kills and eight blocks. Taylor enters the week seventh in the GNAC with 1.06 blocks per set and fourth with a .317 hitting percentage.

• Senior middle blocker Miranda McConnell averaged 2.27 kills per set and had 11 blocks in the Showcase. Her .373 hitting percentage was second best of all GNAC players in the tournament. She finished with 13 kills and four blocks against San Francisco State. McConnell leads the GNAC with a .371 hitting percentage.

• The Yellowjackets had 23 more service aces in the Showcase. They lead the GNAC and are ranked 30th in Division II with 2.19 per set. Sophomore libero Izela Alvarez led the way with nine aces in the matches. Sophomore right side Bayli Monck is second in the GNAC and 48th in Division II with 0.59 aces per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.62 kills and 14.22 digs per set. The Yellowjackets are fourth in the GNAC with a .196 hitting percentage.

• The Yellowjackets are on the road to open the GNAC season, playing at Western Oregon on Thursday and at Concordia on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• The Nighthawks dropped all four matches at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, falling to 0-7 on the season. The losses included a five-set setback to Sonoma State, a four-set loss to Biola and three-set losses to Cal State San Bernardino and Azusa Pacific.

• Sophomore outside hitter Abbey Blum led the Nighthawks as she averaged 2.80 kills per set. Her top performance came in Saturday’s match against Azusa Pacific with 13 kills and two blocks. Blum enters the week ranked 10th in the GNAC with 2.97 kills per set.

• Senior outside hitter Cami Heninger averaged 33 kills and 3.13 digs per set in the tournament. She registered a double-double of 10 kills and 16 digs against Biola and finished with 16 kills and 15 digs against Sonoma State. Heninger enters the week averaging 2.31 kills and 3.21 digs per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Tayler Markland finished with 15 blocks in the four matches as she started all four matches. She had seven of those blocks against Sonoma State on Friday.

• The Nighthawks enter the week averaging 10.69 kills and 15.86 digs per set. The Nighthawks have a .144 hitting percentage.

• Northwest Nazarene heads north to Alaska for its first two GNAC contests, playing at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and at Alaska on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s split its matches at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. The Saints scored a five-set win over Hawaii Hilo on Friday and a three-set sweep of Academy of Art on Saturday and took losses to San Francisco State and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

• Senior outside hitter Megan Vernoy led the Saints offensively as she averaged 3.50 kills per set. She came off the bench to finish with 17 kills and a .364 hitting percentage against Hawaii Hilo and exploded for 25 kills and a .550 hitting percentage against Cal State Dominguez Hills. Vernoy is fifth in the GNAC with 3.17 kills per set.

• Senior outside hitter Rachel Gondrezick averaged 2.69 kills per set. Her week was topped by her 16 kills and 16 digs in the win over Hawaii Hilo. Gondrezick enters the week averaging 2.70 kills and 2.52 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Ililani Kamaka averaged 2.60 kills and 2.40 digs per set in the Showcase. She led the Saints in the win over Hawaii Hilo with 19 kills and 13 digs and had nine kills against Academy of Art. Kamaka is averaging 2.41 kills and 2.55 digs per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 11.65 kills and 14.61 digs per set with a .186 hitting percentage.

• The Saints begin the GNAC season by playing at Simon Fraser on Thursday and at Western Washington on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific went 1-3 in the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. The win came on Saturday with a three-set sweep of Fresno Pacific. The Falcons took three-set losses to Chico State, Chaminade and UC San Diego.

• Junior outside hitter Gabby Oddo led the Falcons offensively with 2.67 kills per set to go with six aces. She topped her week with 11 kills and 16 digs against UC San Diego and nine kills each against Chaminade and Fresno Pacific. Oddo is tied for sixth in the GNAC with 3.12 kills per set and sixth with 3.77 points per set.

• Senior libero Amanda Ganete finished with 54 digs, an average of 4.50 per set, in the four matches. She finished with 16 digs each against Fresno Pacific and UC San Diego. Ganete enters the week ranked 10th in the GNAC with 4.21 digs per set.

• Senior middle blocker Shaun Crespi had 12 blocks in the Showcase while senior opposite Hailey Gaines and sophomore Gabi Stegemoller finished with 10 blocks each. Crespi had five of her blocks in the win over Fresno Pacific. As a team, SPU is sixth in the GNAC with 1.88 blocks per set.

• The Falcons enter the week averaging 10.29 kills and 15.12 digs per set with a .116 hitting percentage. The Falcons are fourth in the GNAC with 1.62 aces per set.

• Seattle Pacific opens the GNAC season on the road, playing at Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser split its matches at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. The Clan posted a four-set win over Fresno Pacific on Friday and a three-set sweep of UC San Diego on Saturday. Simon Fraser took five-set losses to Chico State and Chaminade.

• Junior outside hitter Betsie de Beer led the Simon Fraser offense as she averaged 3.38 kills per set with a .279 hitting percentage. She finished with 22 kills and 12 digs against Chico State and then had 17 kills and 13 digs against Chaminade. de Beer is fourth in the GNAC with 3.23 kills per set and 12th with a .255 hitting percentage.

• Senior middle blocker Tessa May was named the Showcase All-Tournament after averaging 3.12 kills per set with a .345 hitting percentage. She led the Clan with 16 kills against Fresno Pacific added 15 kills against UC San Diego. May enters the week averaging 2.87 kills per set while her .318 hitting percentage is third in the GNAC.

• Sophomore setter Julia Tays averaged 10.12 assists per set in the four matches, topped by her 46 assists against Chico State and a double-double of 46 assists and 10 digs against Chaminade. Tays enters the week third int he GNAC with 9.91 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser enters the week second in the GNAC and 49th in Division II with a .237 hitting percentage. The Clan is second in the GNAC with 12.22 assists per set and third with 13.04 kills per set.

• The Clan is home for its first two GNAC matches of the season, hosting Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon went 3-1 at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. The Wolves scored four-set wins over Holy Names and Humboldt State on Friday and a three-set win over Hawaii Pacific on Saturday. Western Oregon opened conference play on Tuesday with a four-set loss at home to Concordia.

• Senior opposite Mariella Vandenkooy was named to the Showcase All-Tournament Team after she averaged 3.07 kills and 3.64 digs per set in the four matches. She finished with 14 kills and 15 digs against Holy Names and 11 kills against Hawaii Pacific. Vandenkooy led the Wolves with 10 kills against Concordia. She is currently averaging 2.70 kills and three kills per set, leading WOU in both categories.

• Junior outside hitter Morgan Haskett finished with a .340 hitting percentage on 24 kills and 53 attempts. Her tournament high came with eight kills against Holy Names. Haskett currently ranks sixth in the GNAC with a .301 hitting percentage.

• Senior setter Leila Holt averaged 5.57 assists per set in the four Showcase matches. She also had seven aces in the tournament and leads the GNAC and ranks 28th in Division II with 0.60 aces per set.

• Western Oregon is averaging 11.30 kills and 15.50 digs per set while amassing a .173 hitting percentage. The Wolves are second in the GNAC and 47th in Division II with 2.04 aces per set.

• The Wolves wrap their opening week of GNAC play on Thursday, hosting Montana State Billings.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• The Vikings rolled to a 4-0 record at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase to improve to 5-3 overall. The Vikings posted three-set sweeps of Azusa Pacific and Biola, a four-set win over Sonoma State and opened with a five-set win over then No. 9 ranked Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday.

• With the wins, Western Washington moved up three spots to No. 12  in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25. All eight of WWU’s opponents this season have been ranked or among teams receiving votes at the time of the match.

• Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps was named to the Showcase All-Tournament Team and was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Vikings with 4.33 kills and 4.87 digs per set in the four matches. Her best effort against Cal State San Bernardino, finishing with 21 kills and 25 digs. Phelps added 20 kills, 16 digs and seven blocks in Friday’s four-set victory over Sonoma State. Phelps enters the week second in the GNAC and 31st in Division II with four kills per set. She is also seventh in Division II with 12.97 attacks per set and third with 389 total attacks.

• Junior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper also earned All-Tournament Team honors and was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after finishing with 28 blocks, averaging 1.87 blocks per set, while averaging 3.40 kills per set with a .355 hitting percentage. She opened the weekend with 18 kills and eight blocks against Cal State San Bernardino and then had 18 kills and seven blocks against Sonoma State. Harper leads the GNAC and is seventh in Division II with 1.50 blocks per set.

• Senior middle blocker Michaela Hall finished with 17 blocks in the four matches, led by her six against both Cal State San Bernardino and Sonoma State. Senior setter Brette Boesel registered 14 blocks, led by her seven against Cal State San Bernardino. As a team, Western Washington is second in the GNAC and sixth in Division II with 2.63 blocks per set.

• Western Washington enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with 13.27 kills per set and second in the GNAC and 37th in Divison II with 18 digs per set. The Vikings have a .255 hitting percentage and their 79 total blocks in fourth in Division II.

• The Vikings begin the GNAC title defense in earnest at home this weekend, hosting Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.