Tuesday, October 28, 2014
PORTLAND, Ore. – Guests on Episode 41 of GNAC Insider included Jessica Pahkala, Alaska Anchorage cross country runner; Mike Johnson, Western Oregon’s cross country coach; Katlyn Lokay, Montana State Billings soccer midfielder; and Michelle Terpstra, Northwest Nazarene volleyball setter.
Pahkala is in her junior year running for the Seawolves. In 2013, the Seawolves placed higher than their program has ever finished before, placing fourth in the NCAA in Spokane. The UAA women will look return as they seek their sixth straight conference title heading into Saturday's championship. Pahkala discussed the championship and how she got to UAA.
Johnson is in his 11th year coaching cross country and track at Western Oregon. He took the men’s and women’s cross country programs to the national championships in 2010 and the men followed up with a 14th place finish the following year. Western Oregon will be the host of the 2014 GNAC Cross Country Championships that will be held on Saturday. Johnson talked about the challenges of the course and what went into building it.
Lokay is in her junior year at Montana State Billings. The women’s soccer team recently clinched a spot in the 2014 GNAC Championships with two shutouts last week. MSUB is currently tied for second in the conference with a 7-3-2 record. Lokay was asked about the last two matches of the season as MSUB tries to earn the two-seed at the 2014 championships .
Terpstra is in her senior year at Northwest Nazarene. The 2014 Crusaders have brought the volleyball program to new heights as they were ranked for the first time in school history in the AVCA poll a few weeks ago. The team is currently ranked 15th in the nation and sit atop the GNAC standings with a 12-1 conference record, going 19-2 overall. Terpstra commented on the Crusader volleyball resurgence and about playing college volleyball with her sister.
GNAC Insider airs live at 7 p.m. Pacific time every Tuesday and is produced by the conference office. All episodes become available as free podcasts via iTunes, and for archived listening via GNAC.TV.