Tuesday, November 18, 2014

PORTLAND, OR –  Northwest Nazarene University setter Michelle Terpstra has been voted the 2014 GNAC Player of the  Year.

Terpstra led the Crusaders this season to a 24-2 record and to the No. 1 seed in this week’s NCAA Division II West Regional volleyball tournament at Nampa.

She currently ranks second in the GNAC in assists (10.84).  Her setting has enabled NNU to lead the GNAC in hitting percentage with a .224 average.

Terpstra also has produced 100 kills, 267 digs and 69 blocks this season.

Terpstra won the Player of the Year award in perhaps the closest race in GNAC history, receiving four first-place votes.

Western Washington middle blocker Kayla Erickson, last year’s Player of the Year award winner, and outside hitter Katelynn Zanders of Alaska Anchorage each had three first-place votes.

WWU libero Samantha Hutchinson was voted the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year for the third year in a row. 

Hutchinson, who currently leads the nation in digs averaging 7.23 per set, is the only player to win the award which was initiated prior to the 2012 season

Also earning special awards were Alaska Anchorage middle blocker Kayla McGlathery who was voted the Newcomer of the Year and NNU middle blocker Madi Farrell who earned Freshman of the Year honors.

McGlathery currently ranks fifth in the GNAC in hitting percentage (.306) and seventh in blocks (0.99). 

Farrell is the GNAC leader in percentage (.332) and ranks fifth in blocks (1.09).

NNU second-year head coach Doug English was voted the GNAC Coach of the Year.  He received the maximum possible nine votes.

In two seasons at NNU, the 2004 Cal State Northridge graduate has a record of 42-8.

Three of his players – Michelle Terpstra, middle blocker Andrea Terpstra and outside hitter Elayna Rice - were named to the all-conference team.

Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington each also placed three players on the first team.

Central Washington had two first team selections and three teams – Alaska, MSU Billings and Simon Fraser – each had one. 

Four of the all-conference selections – Michelle Terpstra, Erickson, Hutchinson and Zanders – were unanimous selections.

Eight of the all-conference players were repeat selections including three – Erickson, Hutchinson and UAA outside hitter Julia Mackey for the third year in a row.

Other repeaters include the two Terpstra sisters, Zanders, Alaska outside hitter Sam Harthun and CWU setter Catie Fry.

Completing the first team were CWU outside hitter Linden Firethorne, Simon Fraser middle blocker Madeline Hait, McGlathery, WWU outside hitter Rachel Roeder and MSUB middle blocker Chelsey Walter.

2014 GNAC ALL-CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAM

GNAC Player of the Year – Michelle Terpstra, Northwest Nazarene (S, 5-9, Sr., Ripon, CA). GNAC Defensive Player of the Year – Samantha Hutchinson, Western Washington (L, 5-7, Sr., Tacoma, WA).  GNAC Newcomer of the Year – Kayla McGlathery, Alaska Anchorage (MB, 6-0, So., Coeur d’Alene, ID).  GNAC Freshman of the Year – Madi Farrell, Northwest Nazarene (MH, 6-2, Fr., Coeur d’Alene, ID).  GNAC Coach of the Year – Doug English, Northwest Nazarene.

FIRST TEAM: Outside Hitters – **Julia Mackey, UAA (5-11, Jr., Fairbanks, AK); *+Katelynn Zanders, UAA (5-9, Jr., Anchorage, AK); Elayna Rice, NNU (6-3, Jr., Billings, MT); Rachel Roeder, WWU (6-0, Jr., Issaquah, WA); Linden Firethorne, CWU (5-11, Jr., Clinton, WA); *Sam Harthun, UAF (6-0, Jr., Oregon City, OR).  Middle Blockers – **+Kayla Erickson, WWU (6-0, Sr., Gig Harbor, WA); *Andrea Terpstra, NNU (6-4, Jr., Ripon, CA); Madeline Hait, SFU (6-0, Sr., Burnaby, BC); Kayla McGlathery, UAA (6-0, So., Coeur d’Alene, ID);  Chelsey Walter, MSUB (6-2, Sr., Billings, MT).  Setters -  *+Michelle Terpstra, NNU (5-9, Sr., Ripon, CA);  *Catie Fry, CWU (5-11, Jr., Tacoma, WA). Liberos – **+Samantha Hutchinson, WWU (5-7, Sr., University Place, WA).  *Repeater  **Two-time repeater  +Unanimous

HONORABLE MENTION: Outside Hitters – Madi Cavell, SPU (6-0, Sr., Keizer, OR); Hannah Deede, WOU (6-3, Sr., Silverton, OR); Kelsey Moore, WWU (6-1, Sr., Newport, WA); Kiah Jones, CWU (5-11, Jr., Port Angeles, WA); Jessica Miller, SPU (6-3, Sr., Fife, WA); Kristyn Ross, SMU (5-10, Sr., Olympia, WA); Monica Grimsrud, MSUB (6-1, Sr., Montana City, MT).  Middle Blockers –  Madi Farrell, NNU (6-2, Fr., Coeur d’Alene, ID); Erin Braun, UAA (6-0, So., San Bernardino, CA).   Setter – Morgan Hooe, UAA (5-7, So., Anchorage, AK); Kristina Tribley, WWU (5-10, Fr.,  Wenatchee, WA); Kyndal Williams, MSUB (5-9, Jr., Helena, MT).  Libero –  Quinn Barker, UAA (5-4, Sr., Mission Viejo, CA); Taylor Roberts, NNU (5-5, Sr., Nampa, ID); Kaely Kight, CWU (5-9, Sr., Spokane, WA).