Wednesday, October 23, 2019

ALL GOOD THINGS...: It had been 763 days since Western Washington had lost to a GNAC team, winning 47 consecutive conference matches during that time. That all ended at the Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday.

In a hard-fought match that looked statistically even according to the box score, Alaska Anchorage succeeded in stopping a Vikings’ team that opened the season with 17 straight victories with a four-set win.

The Seawolves finished hitting .233 in the match with 56 kills while the Vikings hit .229 with 51 kills. The only statistical difference came in service errors where WWU had 14 compared to the Seawolves’ eight.

Senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes was the individual difference in the win for Alaska Anchorage. She finished with 18 kills and had a .381 hitting percentage in the victory. Sophomore outside hitter Eve Stephens had 15 kills and 13 digs.

While the loss stopped the win streaks and dropped Western Washington four spots in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll, it is unlikely that the loss will affect the team much. The Vikings continued to lead the conference with a 9-1 mark, a game ahead of Alaska Anchorage at 9-2. The Vikings continue to lead the conference in hitting percentage (.280), opponent hitting percentage (.149), kills (14.11 per set), assists (13.29) and blocks (2.65 per set).

WHO’S HOT: As teams make the turn into the second half of the GNAC schedule, the conference’s second and third-place teams are just as hot as Western Washington.

Alaska Anchorage has won two straight and nine of their last 11 matches following Tuesday’s win over Alaska. The Seawolves lead the conference in aces per set (2.24) and are second in hitting percentage (.230), opponent hitting percentage (.162) and blocks per set (2.48).

Simon Fraser, who sits in third with a 7-3 conference mark, has won its last five matches. Three of those victories came in five-set matches. The Clan is second in the GNAC in assists per set (12.35), aces per set (1.83) and digs per set (17.76) and third in hitting percentage (.207), opponent hitting percentage (.166), kills per set (13.01).

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Maddie Batiste, Seattle Pacific
OH • 6-0 • Junior • Portland, Ore.

Batiste led the Falcons in a pair of road wins with 32 kills and 24 digs, averaging 4.57 kills and 5.14 points per set. She opened by registering 13 kills, two aces and seven digs in a three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s on Tuesday. Batiste then had a double-double of 19 kills and 17 digs with an ace and a block in Saturday’s four-set win at Montana State Billings.

Also Nominated: Vanessa Hayes (Alaska Anchorage), Ashley Kaufman (Central Washington), Jessica Wheeler (Concordia), Joelle Mahowald (Montana State Billings), Abbey Blum (Northwest Nazarene), Ililani Kamaka (Saint Martin’s), Camryn Vosloh (Simon Fraser), Kayleigh Harper (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Kyla Morgan, Central Washington
DS/L • 5-4 • Senior • Graham, Wash.

Morgan earned the award for the second week in a row after she finished with 42 digs in a pair of three-set sweeps, averaging seven digs per set. Morgan opened with 20 digs to go with three assists and two aces in Thursday’s sweep of Western Oregon before ending the week with 22 digs and two assists in a three-set win over Concordia on Saturday.

Also Nominated: Talia Leauanae (Alaska Anchorage), Elyssa Rose (Concordia), Emily Gooding (Saint Martin’s), Farnaaz Johal (Simon Fraser), Kayleigh Harper (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska dropped both weekend matches, taking a three-set loss to Western Washington on Thursday and a five-set loss to Simon Fraser on Saturday. The Nanooks opened the second half of GNAC play with a five-set loss at Alaska Anchorage on Tuesday.

• Junior outside hitter Lahra Weber led the Nanooks in the three matches with 31 kills, three aces, 29 digs and nine blocks. Weber has 11 kills and five digs against Western Washington and then posted a double-double of 13 kills and 14 digs to go with five blocks against Simon Fraser. Against UAA, Weber finished with seven kills, 10 digs and three blocks. Weber is 10th in the GNAC with 3.38 points per set while averaging 2.68 kills per set. Weber is third in the GNAC and 15th in Division II with 0.55 aces per set.

• Junior outside hitter Markie Miller added totals of 30 kills and four blocks in the three matches. She finished with 12 kills and three blocks against Simon Fraser before coming up with 16 kills, a .378 hitting percentage and three digs against Alaska Anchorage. Miller enters the week averaging 1.97 kills per set.

• Junior middle blocker Emily Moorhead had 21 blocks in the three matches, including eighth against both Simon Fraser and Alaska Anchorage. She ranks eighth in the GNAC with 1.03 blocks per set while senior middle blocker Kim Wong is sixth with 1.06 blocks per set (10 in the previous three matches).

• Alaska enters the week averaging 11.83 kills and 15.01 digs per set. The Nanooks rank third in the GNAC with 2.29 blocks per set and entered the week ranked 26th in Division II.

• The Nanooks will finish off the week with a Saturday match at Montana State Billings.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• After taking a five-set loss to Simon Fraser on Thursday, Alaska Anchorage rebounded to hand Western Washington its first loss in four sets on Saturday. The Seawolves opened the second half of GNAC play with a five-set win over Alaska.

• Sophomore right-side hitter Eve Stephens led the way with 44 kills, 39 digs and 12 blocks. She had a double-double in all three matches. She has 16 kills, 14 digs and five blocks against Simon Fraser and added 15 kills, 13 digs and three blocks against Western Washington. Stephens then notched 13 kills, 12 digs and four blocks against Alaska. Stephens leads the GNAC with 3.73 kills and 4.44 points per set. She ranks 26th in Division II in points per set.

• Junior middle blocker Kayla McGlathery scored 39 kills and 20 blocks in the three matches. After finishing with 17 kills, seven digs and eight blocks against Simon Fraser, McGlathery added nine kills and four blocks against Western Washington and 13 kills and eight blocks against Alaska. She had a .354 hitting percentage in the three matches and is third in the GNAC with a .334 percentage.

• Senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes added 35 kills in the three matches. She led the Seawolves with 18 kills, two blocks and a .381 hitting percentage against Western Washington before adding 10 kills and three aces against Alaska. Hayes is averaging 2.76 kills per set. She leads the GNAC and is eighth in Division II with 0.58 aces per set.

• For the second week in a row, Alaska Anchorage is among teams receiving votes in the ACA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll, earning 25 points.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week averaging 12.20 kills and 14.49 digs per set. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and rank 10th in Division II with 2.24 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage ends the week at Montana State Billings on Thursday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington is on a three-match win streak after notching three-set wins over Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

• Senior libero Kyla Morgan was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week after she finished with 42 digs in the two matches. She finished with 20 digs, three assists and two aces against Western Oregon and then had 22 digs and two assists against Concordia. Morgan leads the GNAC and is 18th in Division II with her 5.69 digs per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Ashley Kaufman led the offense with 19 kills and 28 digs last week. She finished with nine kills and 15 digs against Western Oregon before notching a double-double of 10 kills and 13 digs against Concordia. Kaufman is averaging 2.63 kills and 2.81 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Makala Swart also had 19 kills in the two matches to go along with 10 digs. She finished with 11 kills and three digs against Western Oregon and added eight kills and seven digs against Concordia. Swart is fifth in the GNAC with 3.36 kills per set and sixth with 3.84 points per set.

• Central Washington enters the week second in the GNAC with 13.09 kills per set while ranking third in the GNAC and 42nd in Division II with 17.62 digs per set. The Wildcats are fourth in the GNAC and 42nd in Division II with 2.19 blocks per set.

• After a four-match homestand, Central Washington opens the second half of the GNAC season on the road with matches at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia dropped both matches on the road last week, taking a five-set loss at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and a three-set loss to Central Washington on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Jessica Wheeler led the Cavaliers with 26 kills, 35 digs and six blocks in the two matches. She posted a double-double of 16 kills and 22 digs to go with four blocks at Northwest Nazarene before adding 10 kills and 13 digs against Central Washington. Wheeler is 10th in the GNAC with 3.02 kills per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Zoe DiNardo added 22 kills in the two matches. She came up big against Northwest Nazarene with 18 kills and four digs before finishing with four kills at Central Washington. DiNardo enters the week averaging 2.35 kills per set.

• Sophomore libero Callie Wilkins finished with 36 digs last week to go with nine assists. She came up with 24 digs and six assists at Northwest Nazarene before registering 12 digs and three assists at Central Washington. Wilkins is second in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with her 5.61 digs per set.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 11.90 kills per set. The Cavaliers lead the GNAC and rank 22nd in Division II with 18.24 digs per set while ranking fifth in the conference with 1.85 blocks per set.

• Concordia continues a four-match road trip with matches at Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• The Yellowjackets split to end the first half of GNAC play, beating Saint Martin’s in three sets on Thursday before falling to Seattle Pacific in four sets on Saturday. On Tuesday, MSUB completed a sweep of crosstown rival Rocky Mountain with a four-set win.

• Junior right-side Bayli Monck led MSUB once again with 31 kills, 39 digs and 13 blocks in the three matches. After posting five kills and 12 digs against Saint Martin’s, Monck scored a double-double of 11 kills and 13 digs against Seattle Pacific. She added 15 kills, 14 digs and five aces against Rocky Mountain. Monck is averaging 2.68 kills and 3.11 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Maddi Vigil posted totals of 30 kills and 31 digs in the three matches. She finished with seven kills against Saint Martin’s before notching nine kills and 12 digs against Seattle Pacific along with 14 kills and 15 digs against Rocky Mountain. Vigil is averaging 2.66 kills and 2.72 digs per ser.

• Sophomore outside hitter Skylar Reed also had 30 kills in the three matches. She slammed home eight kills with a .533 hitting percentage against Saint Martin’s, nine kills against Seattle Pacific  and 13 kills against Rocky Mountain. Reed is averaging 2.42 kills per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.42 kills and 15.62 digs per set. The Yellowjackets are fifth in the GNAC with a .187 hitting percentage.

• The Yellowjackets open the second half of the GNAC season at home, hosting Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene beat the Oregon schools to complete the first half of GNAC play, knocking off Concordia in five sets on Thursday and Western Oregon in three sets on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Abbey Blum led the Nighthawks with 30 kills and 31 digs in the two wins. She opened with a huge double-double of 20 kills and 21 digs against Concordia before adding 10 kills and 10 digs against Western Oregon. Blum is averaging 2.80 kills and 2.84 digs per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Foster added totals of 27 kills, eight aces and 21 digs in the two matches. She finished with a big double-double of 20 kills and 15 digs against Concordia before registering nine kills and six digs against Western Oregon. Foster had four aces in both matches and enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with 0.43 aces per set. Foster is also third in the GNAC with 3.43 kills and 4.087 points per set.

• Senior libero Kayla Sale finished with 44 digs in the two matches, posting 29 digs against Concordia and 15 against Western Oregon. Sale ranks eighth in the GNAC with 3.89 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week averaging 11.93 kills per set and ranks fourth in the GNAC with 17.22 digs per set.

• The Nighthawks open the second half of the conference schedule on the road, playing at Seattle Pacific on Thursday and at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s took a pair of losses to end the first half of the GNAC season, dropping three-set affairs to Seattle Pacific on Tuesday and Montana State Billings on Thursday.

• Senior outside hitter Ililani Kamaka paced the SMU offense with 18 kills and 15 digs in the two matches. She finished just short of a double-double with 11 kills and eight digs with a .364 hitting percentage against Seattle Pacific and then added seven kills and seven digs at Montana State Billings. Kamaka is averaging 0.98 kills and 2.15 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Mackenzie Carter added 13 kills and nine digs in the two matches. Carter finished with totals of six kills, four digs and three aces against Seattle Pacific and then added seven kills and five digs at Montana State Billings. Carter is ninth in the GNAC with 3.02 kills per set and is also averaging 2.09 digs per set.

• Sophomore libero Kylie Alos led the Saints with 20 kills in the two matches, finishing with nine digs against Seattle Pacific and 11 against MSUB. Alos ranks fourth in the GNAC with 4.63 digs per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 9.17 kills and 14.43 digs per set.

• The Saints opens the second half of GNAC play at home, hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific picked up a pair of wins to close the first half of the conference season, scoring a three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s on Tuesday and a four-set win at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Maddie Batiste was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for her 32 kills and 22 digs in the two victories. She opened the week with 13 kills, seven digs and two aces at Saint Martin’s and then notched a double-double of 19 kills and 17 digs at Montana State Billings. Batiste is fourth in the GNAC with 3.37 kills per set and seventh with 3.70 points per set.

• Senior outside hitter Gabby Oddo posted solid numbers of 29 kills and 13 digs in the two matches. Oddo finished with 12 kills, six digs and two aces at Saint Martin’s and then posted 17 kills, seven digs and three blocks at Montana State Billings. Oddo is sixth in the GNAC with 3.33 kills and 0.43 aces per set while also ranking fourth with 3.91 points per set.

• Freshman setter Lindsey Lambert posted 69 assists, 11 digs and four aces in the victories. She opened with totals of 22 assists, four digs and three aces at Saint Martin’s before posting 47 assists, four kills, seven digs and five blocks at Montana State Billings. Lambert enters the week ranked eighth in the GNAC with 7.81 assists per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 12.15 kills and 14.82 digs per set.  The Falcons are fifth in the GNAC with 1.73 aces per set.

• Seattle Pacific returns home this week, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser is now on a five-match win streak with a pair of five-set victories over Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

• Sophomore middle blocker Farnaaz Johal led the Clan with 29 kills, a .367 hitting percentage and six blocks in the two matches. She opened the week with 12 kills and four digs against Alaska Anchorage before closing the week with 17 kills, five blocks and a .438 hitting percentage at Alaska. Johal is averaging 1.71 kills and 0.86 blocks per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Camryn Vosloh also had 29 kills and six blocks in the two wins. She finished with 17 kills, two digs and a block at Alaska Anchorage and then added 12 kills at Alaska. Vosloh is averaging 1.65 kills per set.

• Senior Kirsten Pinkney finished with 23 kills, 27 digs and six blocks in the two matches. She opened the week with 13 kills, nine digs and three blocks at Alaska Anchorage and then posted a double-double of 10 kills and 18 digs with three blocks at Alaska. Pinkney leads the Clan with an average of 2.86 kills per set.

• Junior libero Bianca Te had 61 digs in the two matches, 38 at Alaska Anchorage and 23 at Alaska. Te is third in the GNAC with 4.85 digs per set.

• Simon Fraser is third in the GNAC with 13.01 kills per set. The Clan is second in the conference with 12.35 assists per set, 1.83 aces per set and 17.76 digs per set. Simon Fraser ranks 39th in Division II in digs per set and 48th in assists per set.

• Simon Fraser opens a four-match homestand against Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon dropped a pair of three-set losses on the road last week, falling to Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Lauren Smith led the Wolves with 18 kills, eight digs and a .203 hitting percentage in the two matches. She opened with 11 kills, four digs and a .300 hitting percentage at Central Washington and then added seven kills and four digs at Northwest Nazarene. Smith is averaging 2.04 kills and 1.46 digs per set.

• Senior middle blocker Allyson Crisp and junior outside hitter Sianna DeCarli each had 13 kills in the two matches. Crisp posted a high of 10 kills with a .400 hitting percentage at Northwest Nazarene while DeCarli also had her high of seven kills at NNU. DeCarli leads the Wolved with 2.70 kills per set while Crisp is averaging 1.63 kills per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Delaney Smith registered 10 blocks in the two matches to go along with nine kills and a .471 hitting percentage. Smith finished with two kills and four blocks at Central Washington and then finished with seven kills, six blocks and a .400 hitting percentage at Northwest Nazarene. Smith is second in the GNAC with a .361 hitting percentage and averages 1.43 kills and 0.75 blocks per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.77 kills and 11.88 digs per set.

• The Wolves heads north to open the second half of the GNAC season, playing at Simon Fraser on Thursday and at Western Washington on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• The season-opening win streak for Western Washington ended at 17 matches. The Vikings posted a three-set sweep at Alaska before taking their first loss of the season in four sets to Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• The loss was the first for Western Washington against a GNAC team since losing to Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 16, 2017, snapping a 47-match conference win streak.

• Senior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper led the Vikings with 22 kills, 10 blocks and a .395 hitting percentage in the two matches. She finished with 12 kills, four blocks and a .579 hitting percentage at Alaska and then added 10 kills and six blocks at Alaska Anchorage. Harper leads the GNAC with a .363 hitting percentage. She also leads the league and is fifth in Division II with 1.37 blocks per set while ranking eighth in the GNAC with 3.10 kills per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn also finished with 22 kills to go along with 32 digs. Heilborn finished with six kills and 15 digs at Alaska and then led the Vikings with 16 kills, 17 digs and a .350 hitting percentage at Alaska Anchorage. Heilborn is second in the GNAC with 3.46 kills and 4.12 points per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Gunterman added 19 kills and 28 digs. She finished with a double-double of 10 kills and 13 digs at Alaska before finishing with nine kills and 15 digs at Alaska Anchorage. Gunterman is seventh in the GNAC with 3.14 kills per set and eighth with 3.61 points per set.

• With the loss, Western Washington dropped four spots to No. 6 in the latest AVCA Division II Top-25 Coaches Poll.

• The Vikings lead the GNAC and are ranked fifth in Division II with a .280 hitting percentage. Western Washington also leads the conference with 14.11 kills per set, 13.29 assists per set and 2.65 blocks per set. The Vikings rank third in Division II in blocks per set, 10th in assists per set and 16th in kills per set.

• Western Washington opens the second half of conference play at home, hosting Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.