Wednesday, September 25, 2019

FOUR EMERGE FROM OPENING CONFERENCE WEEKEND UNDEFEATED: The first week of the conference season provided for some exciting matches as four GNAC squads emerged from that first week with perfect 2-0 records.

The first, as you might expect, was Western Washington. Playing in Carver Gym for the first since winning the 2019 NCAA West Region championship, the Vikings proceeded to beat Northwest Nazarene in four sets on Thursday before sweeping rival Central Washington in three sets on Saturday. It marked the 40th straight match that the Vikings have won in conference play dating back to the 2017 season.

Western Washington is firing well on all cylinders, leading the conference through the first three weeks in hitting percentage (.289), kills per set (14.41) and assists per set (13.68) while also ranking second in blocks per set (2.45). The Vikings are ranked among the Division II top-50 in all those categories.

Alaska and Alaska Anchorage traveled to the Puget Sound and came home with a pair of 2-0 marks. The Nanooks cruised past both Saint Martin’s and Seattle Pacific in three sets while the Seawolves prevailed in three sets over the Falcons and four over the Saints. The Nanooks became the first team to reach 3-0 when they stopped the Seawolves in four sets on Tuesday night in Fairbanks.

The conference’s other 2-0 team is Montana State Billings, who defeated Concordia in four sets on Thursday and Western Oregon in three sets on Saturday. The Yellowjackets followed that up with a big five-set win over crosstown rival Rocky Mountain, who is ranked No. 23 in the NAIA.

The coming week will see Western Washington test itself on the road, playing at Western Oregon on Thursday and at Concordia on Saturday. Montana State Billings will do the same, playing at Alaska on Thursday and at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Eve Stephens, Alaska Anchorage
RS • 6-1 • Sophomore • Palmer, Alaska

Stephens led the Seawolves to conference-opening road wins in the Puget Sound region with 30 kills, averaging 4.29 kills per set, with a .361 hitting percentage. Stephens finished with seven kills, seven digs, an ace and two blocks in the Seawolves’ three-set sweep of Seattle Pacific on Thursday. She then led UAA with 23 kills, a .392 hitting percentage, nine digs and two blocks in Saturday’s four-set win at Saint Martin’s.

Also Nominated: Cate Whiting (Alaska), Gabrielle Aihara (Central Washington), Katelyn Brandenburg (Concordia), Maddi Vigil (Montana State Billings), Britney Duvall (Saint Martin’s), Betsie de Beer (Simon Fraser), Gabby Gunterman (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Calley Heilborn, Western Washington
OH • 6-1 • Freshman • Auburn, Wash.

Heilborn finished with 32 digs and eight blocks to go along with 21 kills as the Vikings improved to 10-0 with a pair of home wins. She finished with 19 digs and four blocks to go with 11 kills in Thursday’s four-set win over Northwest Nazarene. Heilborn then came up with 13 digs and four blocks to go with 10 kills in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Central Washington.

Also Nominated: Makena Overbey (Alaska), Vera Pluharova (Alaska Anchorage), Julia Mellander (Central Washington), Kahua Tilton (Concordia), Marissa Logozzo (Montana State Billings), Kiana Pel (Saint Martin’s), Bianca Te (Simon Fraser).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska has opened the GNAC season 3-0. The Nanooks took a pair of three-set road wins from Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday before knocking off Alaska Anchorage at home on Tuesday.

• Senior outside hitter Lahra Weber led Alaska led the Nanooks in all three matches. She finished with 23 kills and 23 digs in last week’s matches, registering 11 kills and 12 digs at Saint Martin’s and 12 kills, 11 digs and two aces at Seattle Pacific. Weber then added nine kills, four aces and six digs against UAA. Weber is averaging 3.08 kills and 2.36 digs per set. She is second in the GNAC with 0.64 aces per set.

• Senior middle blocker Kim Wong notched 21 kills and five blocks in the two matches last week. She finished with 10 kills, three blocks and a .429 hitting percentage at Saint Martin’s along with 11 kills, two blocks and a .500 hitting percentage at Seattle Pacific. Wong then added six kills and two blocks against Alaska Anchorage. Wong leads the Nanooks with a .254 hitting percentage and is eighth in the GNAC with 0.95 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitter AveRee Reynolds led the Nanooks off the bench to beat Alaska Anchorage, finishing with 13 kills and a .357 hitting percentage. Junior setter Cate Whiting came close to a triple-double with eight kills, 34 assists, five aces and eight digs.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 12.21 kills and 14.90 digs per set. The Nanooks rank third in the GNAC with 1.79 aces per set and fourth with 2.21 blocks per set.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage opened conference play with a road sweep, taking out Seattle Pacific in three sets on Thursday and Saint Martin’s in four sets on Saturday. The Seawolves then took their first GNAC loss to Alaska in four sets on Tuesday.

• Sophomore right-side hitter Eve Stephens was named the GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she finished with 30 kills, 16 digs, four blocks and a .361 hitting percentage in the two matches last week. She finished with seven kills, seven digs and two blocks at Seattle Pacific and then surged for 23 kills, nine digs, two blocks and a .392 hitting percentage at Saint Martin’s. Stephens also led UAA with 17 kills at Alaska. Stephens leads the GNAC with 3.93 kills per set. She also leads the GNAC and ranks 24th in Division II with 4.64 points per set.

• Junior middle blocker Kayla McGlathery added 18 kills in the two road matches, topped by her 12 kills and .348 hitting percentage at Saint Martin’s. She then posted totals of 10 kills, three blocks and a .571 hitting percentage at Alaska. McGlathery is averaging two kills per set and ranks ninth in the GNAC with 0.93 blocks per set.

• Senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes also had 18 kills on the road matches, topped by her 11 kills and .321 hitting percentage at Seattle Pacific. She finished with six kills at Alaska. Hayes enters the week averaging 2.83 kills per set. She leads the GNAC and is 13th in Division II with 0.64 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week averaging 11.60 kills and 12.90 digs per set. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and are second in Division II with 2.56 blocks per set. They also lead the GNAC and rank 14th in Division II with 2.21 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage will close out the week on Saturday when they host Montana State Billings.

• Alaska wraps its week with a rare Thursday morning match against Montana State Billings. First serve is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split on the road in its first week of GNAC play, beating Simon Fraser in five sets on Thursday before dropping a three-set match to Western Washington on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Makala Swart led the Wildcats with 29 kills and 22 digs in the two matches, notching double-doubles in both. She opened with a 15-kill, 12-dig performance at Simon Fraser and ended with a 14-kill, 10-dig match at Western Washington. She also had three blocks in both matches. Swart is seventh in the GNAC with 3.32 kills per set.

• Senior libero Kyla Morgan continues to defend well, finishing with 46 digs in the two matches. Morgan finished with 34 digs at Simon Fraser to go along with an ace and an assist. She then posted 12 digs and two assists at Western Washington. Morgan is second in the GNAC and 19th in Division II with 5.75 digs per set.

• Junior middle blocker Julia Mellander had 11 blocks in the two road matches, averaging 1.38 blocks per set. Her ledger included nine blocks at Simon Fraser to go along with eight kills. She then had two blocks and six kills at Western Washington. Mellander is second in the GNAC and 23rd in Division II at 1.27 blocks per set. She is also ninth in Division II with 51 total blocks.

• Central Washington enters the week third in the GNAC with 12.62 kills per set. The Wildcats are second in the GNAC and 46th in Division II with 17.50 digs per set. The Wildcats are also 25th in Division II with 2.28 blocks per set.

• Central Washington continues to rank among teams receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll. They are fourth on the list with 53 points.

• The Wildcats play their first home matches of the season this week, hosting Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia split its opening week of GNAC play. The Cavaliers scored a three-set sweep of Western Oregon at home on Tuesday before taking a four-set loss to Montana State Billings on Thursday.

• Sophomore middle blocker Katelyn Brandenburg led the Cavs with 20 kills in the two matches and her .500 hitting percentage led all GNAC players for the week. Brandenburg registered nine kills, two aces and two blocks with a .643 hitting percentage against Western Oregon and then finished with 11 kills and a .400 hitting percentage at Montana State Billings. Brandenburg is third in the GNAC with a .313 hitting percentage and is averaging two kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Camille Guerrero added 17 kills and 28 digs in the two matches. She opened with seven kills, two assists, 10 digs and two blocks against Western Oregon before notching the double-double of 10 kills and 18 digs at Montana State Billings. Guerrero is seventh in the GNAC with 4.03 digs per set and is averaging 2.20 kills per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Zoe DiNardo added 19 kills in the first week, paced by her 10 kills at Montana State Billings. DiNardo is averaging 2.13 kills per set.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 11.77 kills per set and ranks fourth in the GNAC with 17.11 digs per set. The Cavaliers have moved up to second in the GNAC and 47th in Division II with 1.94 aces per set.

• Concordia will enjoy two more home matches this week, hosting Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• The Yellowjackets are on a three-match win streak, opening GNAC play with a four-set win over Concordia on Thursday and a three-set sweep of Western Oregon on Saturday. They followed those wins up with a five-set win at crosstown rival Rocky Mountain on Monday.

• Junior right-side hitter Bayli Monck led MSUB in the three matches with 37 kills, 33 digs and 15 blocks. She opened the week with 22 kills, 13 digs and three blocks against Concordia on Thursday. Monck came up big against Rocky Mountain, finishing just short of a triple-double with 22 kills, 12 digs and nine blocks. Monck is averaging 2.61 kills, 2.37 digs and 0.71 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitter Maddi Vigil finished with 36 kills and 45 digs in the three matches. She notched a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs against Concordia and again with 14 kills and 26 digs at Rocky Mountain. Vigil also posted an 11-kill performance against Western Oregon. Vigil leads the Yellowjackets with 2.78 kills and 3.05 digs per set.

• At the net, sophomore middle blocker Eavan Taylor had 14 blocks in the three matches while junior middle blocker Joelle Mahowald had 11 blocks. Taylor’s week was topped by her eight blocks at Rocky Mountain while Mahowald had a high of five against Concordia.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 10.27 kills and 16.12 digs per set.

• The Yellowjackets head to Alaska for two matches this week, playing at Alaska for a rare Thursday morning match and then at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene took a pair of hard-fought losses to open GNAC play, dropping four-set matches at Western Washington on Thursday and at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Foster led the Nighthawks with 23 kills and 21 digs in the two matches. She opened the trip with 14 kills and 11 digs at Western Washington and followed that up with nine kills and 10 digs at Simon Fraser. Foster enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with 3.34 kills per set while also averaging 3.17 digs per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Natalie Sullivan added 19 kills in the two matches, paced by her 12 kills and nine digs at Simon Fraser. Sophomore middle blocker Tayler Markland added 17 kills, topped by her nine against Western Washington, while junior outside hitter Abbey Blum also had 17 kills with a high of nine kills at Simon Fraser.

• Senior setter Megan Nelson added 70 assists to her season total, finishing with 35 apiece against both Western Washington and Simon Fraser. Nelson is sixth in the GNAC with 9.06 assists per set.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week averaging 11.60 kills per set and ranks third in the GNAC with 17.37 digs per set.

• The Nighthawks will play their first home matches of the season this week, hosting Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped both matches at home to begin the conference season, taking a three-set loss to Alaska on Thursday and a four-set loss to Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Ililani Kamaka led the Saints in the two matches with 15 kills and 16 digs. She opened conference play with six kills and nine digs against Alaska and then added nine kills and seven digs against Alaska Anchorage. Kamaka enters the week averaging 1.07 kills and 2.10 digs per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Britney Duvall finished with 14 kills and six blocks in the two matches, headlined by her eight kills and three blocks against Alaska Anchorage. Duvall enters the week averaging 1.85 kills per set.

• Freshman libero Kiana Pel led the Saints with 38 digs in the two matches, paced by her 25 digs against Alaska Anchorage. Sophomore libero Kylie Alos added 11 digs in the two matches and she continues to lead the GNAC and rank 13th in Division II with six digs per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 9.23 kills and 15.36 digs per set.

• The Saints will look for its first win of the season on the road, playing at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and at Central Washington on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific dropped its opening two GNAC matches at home last week, taking a pair of three-set losses to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Maddie Batiste led the Falcons with 21 kills and 13 digs in the two home matches. She opened with a 10-kill performance against Alaska Anchorage and finished with a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs against Alaska. Batiste is fourth in the GNAC with 3.50 kills per set.

• Senior outside hitter Gabby Oddo posted identical numbers of 19 kills and 19 digs in the opening week. She finished with seven kills and six digs against Alaska Anchorage and finished with a double-double of 12 kills and 13 digs against Alaska. Oddo is 10th in the GNAC with 3.13 kills per set and is averaging 2.89 digs per set.

• Freshman setter Lindsey Lambert posted 34 assists in the two matches, topped by her 21 against Alaska. Lambert currently ranks ninth in the GNAC with 7.06 assists per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 12.24 kills per set and is also averaging 14.21 digs per set. The Falcons rank fourth in the GNAC in both assists (11.45 per set) and aces (1.74 per set).

• The Falcons will hit the road for their next two matches, playing at Central Washington on Thursday and at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser split its opening week of GNAC matches at home. After taking a five-set loss to Central Washington on Thursday, the Clan rebounded for a four-set win over Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Betsie de Beer led the Clan in the two home matches with 38 kills, 30 digs and six blocks. She opened with a huge double-double against Central Washington of 22 kills and 22 digs. Against Northwest Nazarene, de Beer finished with totals of 16 kills, eight digs and four blocks. de Beer is 11th in the GNAC with 3.11 kills per set and is also averaging 3.05 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Kirsten Pinkney had another big week offensively with her 34 kills. She posted a 19-kill performance against Central Washington and followed that up with 14 kills and a .244 hitting percentage against Northwest Nazarene. Pinkney is eighth in the GNAC with 3.21 kills per set.

• Junior setter Julia Tays finished with 98 assists in the two matches. She finished with 51 assists to go with 17 digs and three kills against Central Washington before adding 47 assists, four kills, four digs and three aces against Northwest Nazarene. Tays ranks second in the GNAC and 29th in Division II with 10.45 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser is second in the GNAC and 36th in Division II with 13.39 kills per set. The Clan also ranks second in the GNAC and 22nd in Division II with 12.74 assists per set. Simon Fraser leads the conference and is 30th in Division II with 18.13 digs per set.

• Simon Fraser is in the Willamette Valley for its next two matches, playing at Concordia on Thursday and at Western Oregon on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon dropped both matches in its start to conference play, losing three-set affairs to Concordia on Tuesday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Freshman Sarah Crowell came up big at the net for the Wolves, leading the team with 22 kills and a .340 hitting percentage in the two matches. She opened with 13 kills, a .300 hitting percentage and three digs against Concordia before finishing with nine kills and a .412 percentage at Montana State Billings. Crowell enters the week averaging 2.90 kills per set.

• Junior outside hitter Sianna DeCarli added 17 kills in the two matches. She finished with 12 kills and a .250 hitting percentage against Concordia and then added five kills at Montana State Billings. DeCarli enters the week leading the Wolves with 2.90 kills per set.

• Sophomore setter Aubrey Stanton added 56 assists to her totals last week. She finished with 33 assists and three kills against Concordia before adding 23 assists and two kills against Montana State Billings. Stanton enters the week ranked eighth in the GNAC with 7.59 assists per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.66 kills and 10.93 digs per set.

• The Wolves are home for their next two matches, hosting Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington ran its record to 10-0 and ran its conference winning streak to 40 matches with a pair of home wins, beating Northwest Nazarene in four sets on Thursday and sweeping Central Washington in three on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn was named the GNAC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week after she finished with 32 digs and eight blocks to go along with 21 kills. She finished with 19 digs and four blocks to go with 11 kills against Northwest Nazarene. Heilborn then came up with 13 digs and four blocks to go with 10 kills against Central Washington. Heilborn is second in the GNAC with 3.59 kills per set and ranks 10th with 3.43 digs per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Gunterman led the WWU offense with 28 kills, 29 digs and three blocks in the two matches. She posted double-doubles in both matches, finishing with 14 kills and 16 digs against Northwest Nazarene along with 14 kills and 13 digs against Central Washington. Gunterman ranks fifth in the GNAC with a .302 hitting percentage, 3.43 kills per set and 4.32 digs per set.

• Senior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper added 23 kills and 10 blocks in the two victories. She compiled 14 kills and six blocks against Northwest Nazarene before finishing with nine kills and four blocks against Central Washington. Harper leads the GNAC and ranks 14th in Division II with her .411 hitting percentage. She is third in the GNAC with 3.53 kills per set and also ranks third in the GNAC and 26th in Division II with 1.26 blocks per set.

• Western Washington remained at No. 2 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll, picking up five first-place votes.

• The Vikings enter the week leading the GNAC and ranked seventh in Division II with a .304 hitting percentage. The Vikings also lead the league with 14.41 kills per set and 13.68 assists per set. Western Washington is seventh in Division II in assists per set, ninth in kills per set and eighth with 2.45 blocks per set.

• Western Washington comes to Oregon for two matches this week, playing at Western Oregon on Thursday and at Concordia on Saturday.