Tuesday, November 5, 2019

VIKINGS BUILD ON THEIR CONFERENCE LEAD: Western Washington’s loss to Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 19 appears to be but a speed bump in the Vikings’ quest for their second consecutive conference title.

Since taking the loss, the Vikings have built a new four-match win streak. Western Washington has been just as dominant as before, winning three of those matches in three sets. The only one to go more than three was a four-set victory last Tuesday at Simon Fraser.

The Vikings continue to lead the GNAC in hitting percentage (.271), assists per set (13.22), blocks per set (2.77), kills per set (14.01) and opponent hitting percentage (.139). The team is fifth in Division II in win percentage and eighth in blocks per set.

Western Washington went up two games on Alaska Anchorage with the Seawolves’ five-set loss to Central Washington on Saturday.

STREAKS CONTINUE: The hottest team in the conference continues to be Seattle Pacific. The Falcons have won six straight matches and have won seven of their last 10 after knocking off Western Oregon in three sets on Thursday and Concordia in four sets on Saturday.

In the six victories, Seattle Pacific is out-hitting opponents .224 to .152, is averaging two more kills per set and nearly a block per set more than its foes.

The Falcons will face a challenge to keep the streak alive with matches against Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

Simon Fraser, meanwhile, has now won eight of its last nine matches. A seven-match win streak ended with a four-set loss to Western Washington on Tuesday. The Clan rebounded, however, with a three-set sweep of Montana State Billings on Friday.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Jessica Wheeler, Concordia
OH • 5-10 • Senior • Estacada, Ore.

Wheeler led the Cavaliers with 33 kills, nine aces, 13 digs and a .326 hitting percentage in a 1-1 week. Wheeler finished with 11 kills, five aces, six digs and two blocks in a three-set win over Saint Martin’s on Thursday. She then came up with a career-high of 22 kills to go with four aces, seven digs and a block in Saturday’s four-set loss to Seattle Pacific.

Also Nominated: Kim Wong (Alaska), Eve Stephens (Alaska Anchorage), Bridgette Webb (Central Washington), Mackenzie Carter (Saint Martin’s), Aubrey Stanton (Western Oregon), Gabby Gunterman (Western Washington).

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

Morgan paced the CWU defense in a pair of five-set wins over Alaska and Alaska Anchorage with 51 digs to go with eight assists and three aces. Morgan finished with 28 digs, three assists and a pair of aces in Thursday’s win over Alaska before registering 23 digs, five assists and an ace in Saturday’s victory over Alaska Anchorage.

Also Nominated: Makena Overbey (Alaska), Talia Leauanae (Alaska Anchorage), Callie Wilkins (Concordia), Kylie Alos (Saint Martin’s), Allie Spear (Western Oregon), Mae Thungc (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska scored a split on its eastern road trip, falling to Central Washington in five sets on Thursday before picking up a three-set sweep over Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Senior middle blocker Kim Wong led the Nanooks with 31 kills and nine blocks in the two matches. She finished just short of a double-double with 21 kills and eight blocks with a .333 hitting percentage at Central Washington. She followed that up with 10 kills, one block and a .333 hitting percentage at Northwest Nazarene. Wong is seventh in the GNAC with a .297 hitting percentage and 1.04 blocks per set while averaging 2.48 kills.

• Junior outside hitter AveRee Reynolds added 21 kills and nine blocks with a .309 hitting percentage on the road trip. She also just missed a double-double at Central Washington with 10 kills and eight blocks. She then came up with 11 kills, one block and a .474 hitting percentage at Northwest Nazarene. Reynolds is averaging 2.43 kills and 0.76 blocks per set.

• Sophomore Makena Overbey finished with 36 digs and 10 assists in the two matches. She posted totals of 26 digs and seven assists at Central Washington and then contributed nine digs and three assists at Northwest Nazarene. Overbey is 11th in the GNAC with 3.74 digs per set.

• The Nanooks had 21 more team blocks last week, led by 10 blocks by junior middle blocker Emily Moorhead. The Nanooks are third in the GNAC and 34th in Division II with 2.24 blocks per set.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 12.03 kills and 14.98 digs per set.

• Alaska is home for two matches this week, hosting Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage split its road matches last week, scoring a four-set win over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday before taking a tough five-set defeat to Central Washington on Saturday.

• Sophomore right-side hitter Eve Stephens had another big week, finishing with 42 kills, 22 digs and eight blocks. She scored a double-double of 19 kills and 10 digs with three blocks at Northwest Nazarene and then finished with 23 kills, 14 digs and five blocks at Central Washington. Stephens leads the GNAC and is 21st in Division II with 4.57 points per set. She also leads the conference with 3.89 kills per set.

• Sophomore libero Talia Leauanae added 39 digs and 11 assists in the two matches. She finished with 21 digs and six assists at Northwest Nazarene before registering 18 digs and five assists at Central Washington. Leauanae is ninth in the GNAC with 3.95 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes finished with 25 kills on the road trip, paced by her 13 kills at NNU. Junior middle blocker Kayla McGlathery added 20 kills and 13 blocks with 10 kills in each match and a high of eight blocks at CWU.

• Alaska Anchorage is second in the GNAC and eighth in Division II with 2.77 blocks per set. Junior middle blocker Vera Pluharova is second in the GNAC and ninth in Division II with 1.28 blocks per set.

• For the fourth week, Alaska Anchorage is among teams receiving votes in the ACA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll, earning 23 points.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week averaging 12.28 kills and 15.21 digs per set while ranking second in the GNAC with a .227 hitting percentage. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and rank seventh in Division II with 2.21 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage returns home this week to host Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington came out on top of two five-set wins at home last week, beating Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Senior libero Kyla Morgan earned her third GNAC Defensive Player of the Week award of the season with her 51 digs in the two wins. Morgan finished with 28 digs to go with three assists and two aces against Alaska. She then added 23 digs, five assists and an ace against Alaska Anchorage. Morgan is second in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with 5.60 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Bridgette Webb led the CWU offense with 25 kills and eight blocks. She opened the week with seven kills and six blocks against Alaska and closed with 18 kills, five digs, two blocks and a .325 hitting percentage against Alaska Anchorage. Webb enters the week averaging 2.23 kills and 0.80 blocks per set.

• Central Washington’s week included 19 blocks. In addition to Webb’s eight blocks, junior middle blocker Julia Mellander had 11 blocks, which included six blocks against Alaska Anchorage. The Wildcats are fourth in the GNAC and 44th in Division II with 2.14 blocks per set.

• Central Washington is third in the GNAC with 12.95 kills, 17.79 digs per set and 12.12 assists per set. The Wildcats rank 36th in Division II in digs per set while also ranking 44th with 37.94 team attacks per set.

• The Wildcats are on the road for their next four matches. The trip begins with matches at Northwest Nazarene on Tuesday and continues at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia split a pair of home contests last week, collecting a three-set sweep over Saint Martin’s on Thursday before taking a four-set loss to Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Jessica Wheeler was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after she finished with 33 kills, a .326 hitting percentage, nine aces, 13 digs and three blocks in the two matches.  Wheeler opened with 11 kills, five aces and six digs against Saint Martin’s. She then posted a career-high of 22  kills against Seattle Pacific to go with four aces and seven digs. Wheeler is ninth in the GNAC with 3.12 kills per set.

• Junior middle blocker Elyssa Rose finished with 16 kills, a .378 hitting percentage and six blocks in the two matches. She had eight kills, a .389 hitting percentage and four blocks against Saint Martin’s before notching eight kills, a .368 hitting percentage and two blocks against Seattle Pacific. Rose enters the week sixth in the GNAC with 1.04 blocks per set while averaging 1.32 kills per set.

• Sophomore libero Callie Wilkins posted 36 digs, four assists and four aces in the two home matches. After finishing with 17 digs against Saint Martin’s, Wilkins finished with 19 digs, three assists and four aces against Seattle Pacific. Wilkins leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with 5.61 digs per set.

• Concordia is averaging 11.89 kills per set. The Cavaliers lead the GNAC and rank 24th in Division II with 18.35 digs per set. Concordia is also 26th in Division II with 38.65 team attacks per set.

• Concordia makes its Alaska road trip this week, playing in Fairbanks on Thursday and in Anchorage on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings took three-set losses in a pair of back-to-back road matches, falling at Simon Fraser on Friday and at Western Washington on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Maddi Vigil led the Yellowjackets with 14 kills and 18 digs. She opened the weekend with six kills and 10 digs at Simon Fraser before adding eight kills, eight digs and three blocks at Western Washington. Vigil is averaging 2.56 kills and 2.78 digs per set.

• Junior right-side hitter Bayli Monck finished with 13 kills, 19 digs and four blocks in the two matches. Monck finished with six kills and 10 digs at Simon Fraser before notching totals of seven kills and nine digs at Western Washington. Monck leads the Yellowjackets with 2.73 kills and 3.08 digs per set.

• Freshman setter Hannah Hashbarger added 51 assists, 16 digs and three aces to her totals. She finished just short of double-doubles in both matches with 22 assists, two aces, seven digs and two blocks at Simon Fraser along with 29 assists and nine digs at Western Washington. Hashbarger is sixth in the GNAC with 9.36 assists per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.32 kills and 15.46 digs per set with a .181 hitting percentage.

• The Yellowjackets play their final home matches of the season this week, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene dropped both matches to the Alaska schools at home last week, falling in four sets to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and three sets to Alaska on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Foster paced the NNU offense with 20 kills, 25 digs and five blocks in the two matches. Foster had her big match against Alaska Anchorage, finishing with a double-double of 18 kills and 20 digs to go with four blocks. She finished the week with two kills, five digs and a block against Alaska. Foster is third in the GNAC with 3.43 kills per set, is averaging 3.18 digs per set and ranks 22nd in Division II with 11.20 attacks per set.

• Junior outside hitter Abbey Blum finished with 13 kills and 27 digs last week. She also scored a double-double against Alaska Anchorage with 11 kills and 17 digs before finishing with two kills and 10 digs against Alaska. Blum enters the week averaging 2.67 kills and 2.95 digs per set.

• Senior libero Kayla Sale came up with 37 digs and four aces in the two sets. She finished with 25 digs, three aces and two assists against Alaska Anchorage and then added 12 digs, two assists and an ace against Alaska. Sale is seventh in the GNAC with 4.12 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week averaging 11.86 kills per set and ranks fourth in the GNAC with 17.55 digs and 1.76 aces per set.

• Northwest Nazarene will host Central Washington on Tuesday before hitting the road to play at Montana State Billings on Thursday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s continues to try to find the win column after taking a three-set sweep at Concordia on Thursday and a four-set loss at Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Mackenzie Carter had a solid week for the Saints, finishing with 32 kills and 16 digs. She just missed a double-double with 16 kills, nine digs and three blocks at Concordia before adding 16 kills and seven digs at Western Oregon. Carter is eighth in the GNAC with 3.19 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Emily Gooding added 24 kills in the two matches. She came up with 11 kills and one block against Concordia before finishing with 13 kills at Western Oregon. Gooding enters the week averaging 2.39 kills per set.

• Sophomore libero Kylie Alos surged to add 42 digs in the two matches. She finished with 17 digs and four assists at Concordia before finishing with 25 digs at Western Oregon. Alos is third in the GNAC with 4.86 digs per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 8.86 kills and 14.85 digs per set.

• The Saints will try to find the win column at home, hosting Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• The win streak for Seattle Pacific is now at six matches after the Falcons scored a three-set win at Western Oregon on Thursday and a four-set win at Concordia on Saturday.

• After going 3-7 in their first 10 matches of the season, the Falcons have rebounded to go 7-3 in their last 10 matches.

• Junior outside hitter Maddie Batiste led the way for the Falcons with 31 kills and 24 digs in the two matches. Batiste opened the week with 11 kills, nine digs and three aces at Western Oregon before notching a double-double of 20 kills and 15 digs at Concordia. Batiste is second in the GNAC with 3.48 kills per set and sixth with 3.88 points per set.

• Senior outside hitter Gabby Oddo added 24 kills and 22 digs in the two road wins. She started off with eight kills and nine digs at Western Oregon before scoring a double-double of 16 kills and 13 digs at Concordia. Oddo is fourth in the GNAC with 3.41 kills and 3.96 points per set. She is 29th in Division II with 11.07 attacks per set.

• Freshman setter Lindsey Lambert not only led the Falcons with 69 assists, but she also led the team with 10 blocks last week. Lambert finished with 28 assists, three digs and four blocks at Western Oregon and then had 41 assists, six blocks, four kills and an ace at Concordia. Lambert is eighth in the GNAC with 8.25 assists per set and is also averaging 0.49 blocks per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 12.32 kills per set while also averaging 15.67 digs per set. The Falcons are second in the GNAC and 43rd in Division II with 1.87 aces per set.

• Seattle Pacific opens a four-match homestand this week with matches against Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• After seeing a seven-match win streak end with a four-set loss to Western Washington on Tuesday, Simon Fraser made it eight wins in nine matches with a three-set sweep of Montana State Billings on Friday.

• Freshman middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann led the Clan with 23 kills, eight blocks and a .455 hitting percentage in the two matches. Hartmann finished with 10 kills, four blocks and a .455 hitting percentage against Western Washington and followed that up with 13 kills, three aces, four blocks and a .500 hitting percentage against MSUB. Hartmann is ninth in the GNAC with a .276 hitting percentage while averaging 1.79 kills per set.

• Senior outside hitter Kirsten Pinkney added 20 kills and 25 digs last week. She opened the week with eight kills and 17 digs against Western Washington before putting together 12 kills and eight digs against MSUB. Pinkney is 11th in the GNAC with 3.04 kills per set and is also averaging 1.49 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Betsie de Beer played only in the Western Washington match and finished with 18 kills and 15 digs. de Beer is averaging 2.87 kills and 2.96 digs per set.

• Simon Fraser enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with 13.14 kills per set and is third with a .213 hitting percentage. The Clan is second in the GNAC  and 30th in Division II with 18.02 digs per set while also ranking second in the GNAC and 40th in Division II with 12.467 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser takes to the road for a pair of matches this week, playing at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon took a three-set loss to Seattle Pacific on Thursday before seeing its eight-match losing streak end on Saturday with a four-set victory over Saint Martin’s.

• Freshman outside hitter Lauren Smith led the Wolves with 25 kills in the two matches. Smith finished with 10 kills and four digs against Seattle Pacific before coming up with 15 kills in the win over Saint Martin’s. Smith enters the week averaging 2.16 kills per set.

• Junior outside hitter Sianna DeCarli finished with 24 kills and a .224 hitting percentage in the two matches. She opened the weekend with 10 kills and two digs against Seattle Pacific before adding 14 kills and three digs against Saint Martin’s. DeCarli leads the Wolves with 2.96 kills per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Delaney Smith had 18 kills and a .515 hitting percentage last week, committing just one error on 33 attempts. She had nine kills in both matches while finishing with a .750 hitting percentage and three blocks against Saint Martin’s. Smith leads the GNAC with a .376 hitting percentage, but falls below the minimum of 3.33 attacks per set to qualify for NCAA rankings.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.93 kills and 12.63 digs per set with a .173 hitting percentage.

• The Wolves make their last road trip of the season this weekend, playing at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington is back on a four-match win streak after taking a four-set win at Simon Fraser on Tuesday and a three-set sweep at home over Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Gunterman paced the Vikings with 29 kills, 27 digs, five blocks and a .308 hitting percentage in the two wins. She opened the week with a double-double of 16 kills and 16 digs to go with four blocks at Simon Fraser and then registered 13 kills and 11 digs against MSUB. Gunterman is seventh in the GNAC with 3.18 kills per set and is eighth with 3.67 points per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn finished with 21 kills and 25 digs in the two matches. At Simon Fraser, Heilborn notched a double-double of 15 kills and 14 digs to go with an ace and a block. She then posted totals of six kills, 11 digs and four blocks against MSUB. Heilborn is third in the GNAC with 4.01 points per set and ranks fourth with 3.35 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper hit .500 in the two matches with 20 kills and six blocks. She posted quiet numbers of seven kills, one assist and one block against Simon Fraser before coming alive for 13 kills, five blocks and a .632 hitting percentage against MSUB. Harper is second in the GNAC and 26th in Division II with a .368 hitting percentage. She also leads the league and ranks eighth in Division II with 1.35 blocks per set.

• Western Washington climbed to No. 4 in the latest AVCA Division II Top-25 Coaches Poll, moving up one spot from last week’s No. 5 ranking.

• The Vikings lead the GNAC and are ranked fifth in Division II with a .271 hitting percentage. Western Washington also leads the conference with 14.01 kills per set, 13.22 assists per set, 2.77 blocks per set and a .139 opponent hitting percentage. The Vikings rank second in Division II in blocks per set, 10th in assists per set, 20th in kills per set and 31st in opponent hitting percentage.

• Western Washington is on the road for two matches this week, playing at Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.