Wednesday, November 13, 2019

A SHOWDOWN AWAITS BETWEEN SEAWOLVES, VIKINGS: With two weeks remaining in the regular season, there is no bigger match than the one that will take place in Bellingham on Thursday.

The top two teams in the conference, Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage, will meet in a match that will put the conference’s top-two offenses against each other. In addition, the Vikings will be looking to secure at least a share of the program’s third consecutive conference title.

Western Washington enters the week leading the conference in hitting percentage (.275), kills per set (13.98) and assists per set (13.20) and leads Division II nationally with 2.87 blocks per set. Alaska Anchorage is second to the Vikings in both hitting percentage (.233) and blocks per set (2.51).  The Seawolves also lead the conference and rank sixth in Division II with 2.22 aces per set.

ALL-AROUND ARTISTS: Volleyball teams do not usually look to their setters to be big in other parts of the game, but both the Vikings and Seawolves saw their setters be bigger contributors to the offense last week in more than just passing.

Western Washington sophomore setter Malia Aleaga not only finished with 73 assists in a pair of three-set sweeps of Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin’s, but she was also the conference’s top performer on Thursday night with nine blocks. Aleaga, as it happens, has performed well at the net all season as she enters the week averaging 0.64 blocks per set (54 total).

Alaska Anchorage sophomore Ellen Floyd seems to be everywhere as well, finishing with 70 assists, 24 digs, five kills, four aces and seven blocks in last week’s matches. She finished with a 40-assist day against Concordia on Saturday while also adding four blocks, four kills, 15 digs and three aces.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Vanessa Hayes, Alaska Anchorage
OH • 5-11 • Senior • Salem, Ore.

Hayes led the Seawolves to a pair of home victories with 34 kills and a .438 hitting percentage and carried the load thanks to two starters sitting out due to injury. Against Western Oregon on Thursday, Hayes finished with 17 kills, two aces and six digs in a three-set sweep. She then posted a career-high 19 kills, a .457 hitting percentage, two digs and two blocks in Saturday’s four-set win over Concordia.

Also Nominated: Bridgette Webb (Central Washington), Mackenzie Carter (Saint Martin’s), Kalyn Hartmann (Simon Fraser), Kayleigh Harper (Western Washington).

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

Heilborn paced the Western Washington defense with 33 kills and six blocks to go along with 18 kills in a pair of three-set sweeps on the road. Heilborn came up with 14 digs and four blocks to go with eight kills in Thursday’s win at Seattle Pacific. She then finished with 19 digs, two blocks and 10 kills in Saturday’s win at Saint Martin’s.

Also Nominated: Kyla Morgan (Central Washington), Callie Wilkins (Concordia), Kylie Alos (Saint Martin’s), Gabby Oddo (Seattle Pacific).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska swept the Oregon schools at home last week, scoring a four-set win over Concordia on Thursday and a three-set win over Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Lahra Weber led the Nanooks in the two matches with 21 kills, a .349 hitting percentage, 24 digs and four aces. Against Concordia, Weber had a double-double of 11 kills and 17 digs to go with four assists, two aces and a block. She then posted totals of 10 kills, two assists, two aces and seven digs against Western Oregon. Weber leads UAF with 2.67 kills per set. She leads the GNAC and ranks 12th in Division II with 0.53 aces per set.

• Junior outside hitter AveRee Reynolds appeared only against Concordia and led the way with 16 kills, a .342 hitting percentage and four blocks. Reynolds enters the week averaging 2.49 kills and 0.77 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitter Markie Miller also had 16 kills to go with six blocks in the two matches. She had eight kills and three blocks in both matches and hit .333 in the win over Western Oregon. Miller is averaging 1.96 kills and 0.32 blocks per set.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 11.99 kills and 15.17 digs per set with a .198 hitting percentage. The Nanooks rank third in the GNAC and 26th in Division II with 2.29 blocks per set while also ranking 36th nationally with 220 total blocks.

• The Nanooks take their final road trip of the season this week, traveling to Simon Fraser on Thursday and to Western Washington on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage won both matches and has now won six of their last seven with a three-set sweep of Western Oregon on Thursday and a four-set win over Concordia on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after she finished with 36 kills, a .438 hitting percentage, two aces, eight digs and two blocks. She opened with 17 kills, a .417 hitting percentage, two aces and six digs against Western Oregon on Thursday, Hayes then notched a career-high 19 kills with a .459 hitting percentage against Concordia. Hayes is averaging 2.93 kills per set. She is second in the GNAC and 20th in Division II with 0.51 aces per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Hannah Pembroke came off the bench to finish with 12 kills in the two matches along with seven digs. After posting five kills against Western Oregon, Pembroke added seven kills and four digs against Concordia. Pembroke is averaging 1.53 kills per set.

• Sophomore setter Ellen Floyd not only had 70 assists last week, but also finished with four aces, 24 digs and seven blocks. She opened the week with 30 assists, nine digs and three blocks against Western Oregon. Floyd then posted a double-double of 40 assists and 15 digs to go with three aces and four blocks against Concordia. Floyd is second in the GNAC with 10.16 assists per set.

• Alaska Anchorage is second in the GNAC and seventh in Division II with 2.77 blocks per set. The Seawolves added 21 team blocks last week. Junior middle blocker Vera Pluharova is third in the GNAC and 12th in Division II with 1.27 blocks per set.

• Alaska Anchorage is third among teams receiving votes in the ACA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll, earning 32 points. The Seawolves are also fourth in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week averaging 12.28 kills and 15.14 digs per set. The Seawolves led the GNAC and are sixth in Division II with 2.22 aces per set and is second in the GNAC and 44th in Division II with a .233 hitting percentage.

• Alaska Anchorage hits the road this week to face Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington is now on a four-match win streak after scoring a three-set win at Northwest Nazarene on Tuesday and a four-set win at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Bridgette Webb paced the Wildcats’ offense with 25 kills, six blocks and a .455 hitting percentage. Webb opened the week with nine kills, three blocks and a .727 hitting percentage at Northwest  Nazarene and then posted totals of 16 kills and three blocks at Montana State Billings. Webb is averaging 2.33 kills and 0.81 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitter Makala Swart came up with 24 kills, 23 digs and three blocks in the two wins. She finished with 12 kills, seven digs and a .320 hitting percentage at Northwest Nazarene before notching a double-double of 12 kills and 16 digs with two blocks at Montana State Billings. Swart is seventh in the GNAC with 3.26 kills per set.

• Senior libero Kyla Morgan posted 44 digs in the two matches, finishing with 16 digs at Northwest Nazarene and 28 digs at Montana State Billings. Morgan leads the GNAC and ranks 20th in Division II with 5.66 digs per set.

• The Wildcats received votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll for the first time in three weeks, picking up two votes. Central is also ranked No. 6 in the first NCAA Division II West Region Rankings.

• Central Washington is third in the GNAC with 13.08 kills and 12.24 assists per set while ranking fourth with 17.70 digs and 2.12 blocks per set. The Wildcats are 46th in Division II in digs per set.

• The Wildcats make their final regular-season road trip this week, playing at Concordia on Thursday and at Western Oregon on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia dropped both matches on its final trip outside of Oregon this season, falling in four sets to Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Jessica Wheeler once again led the Cavaliers as she finished with 21 kills and 25 digs in the two matches. Wheeler posted a double-double of 12 kills and 10 digs along with an ace and a block at Alaska. She then finished with nine kills and 15 digs at Alaska Anchorage. Wheeler is 10th in the GNAC with 3.05 kills per set while also averaging 2.99 digs per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Zoe DiNardo added 18 kills to go with two blocks. She finished with 10 kills at Alaska and posted eight kills, two digs and two blocks at Alaska Anchorage. DiNardo is averaging 2.20 kills per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Katelyn Brandenburg and junior middle blocker Elyssa Rose each had seven blocks last week. Brandenburg has four blocks at Alaska while Rose topped her week with five kills against the Nanooks. Rose is seventh in the GNAC with 1.02 blocks per set.

• Concordia is averaging 11.77 kills per set. The Cavaliers are second in the GNAC and 31st in Division II with 17.91 digs per set. Concordia also ranks 23rd in Division II with 38.63 team attacks per set. Individually, sophomore libero Callie Wilkins is 26th in Division II with 5.53 digs per set.

• Concordia is home for three of its final four matches of the season. The Cavaliers host Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings is in the throes of a six-match losing streak after a three-set loss to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and a four-set loss to Central Washington on Saturday in the Yellowjackets’ season finale.

• Junior outside hitter Maddi Vigil paced MSUB with 24 kills and seven digs in the two matches. She opened with 11 kills, four digs and a block against Northwest Nazarene before closing out with 13 kills and three digs against Central Washington. Vigil is averaging 2.26 kills and 2.65 digs per set.

• Junior middle blocker Joelle Mahowald added 17 kills and 10 blocks with a .368 hitting percentage. Against NNU, Mahowald finished with nine kills, four blocks and a .381 hitting percentage. She closed out with eight kills, six blocks and a .353 hitting percentage against Central Washington. Mahowald is averaging 2.09 kills and 0.86 blocks per set.

• Freshman setter Hannah Hashbarger had another solid week, finishing with 70 kills and 11 digs. Her best effort came against Central Washington where she finished with 39 assists, six digs and an ace. Hashbarger is fifth in the GNAC with 9.41 assists per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.27 kills and 15.38 digs per set with a .178 hitting percentage.

• The Yellowjackets will play their final four matches of the season on the road. The trip begins with matches at Seattle Pacific on Thursday and at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• After opening the week with a three-set loss on Tuesday to Central Washington, Northwest Nazarene bounced back to score a three-set win over Montana State Billings on Thursday and snapped a four-match losing streak.

• Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Foster led the Nighthawks again with 30 kills, 20 digs and three aces in the two matches. Foster finished with 16 kills, four digs and two aces against Central Washington before notching a double-double of 14 kills and 16 digs at Montana State Billings. Foster is second in the GNAC with 3.54 kills and 4.16 points per set.

• Junior outside hitter Abbey Blum added 19 kills, 18 digs and three aces in the two matches. After posting totals of seven kills and nine digs against Central Washington, Blum poured in 12 kills, nine digs and three aces at Montana State Billings. Blum is averaging 2.71 kills and 2.96 digs per set.

• Senior setter Megan Nelson had all but 12 NNU assists for the week, finishing with 61 assists to go with 19 digs and two blocks. She opened the week with 27 assists and eight digs against Central Washington and then closed with 34 assists, 11 digs and two aces at Montana State Billings. Nelson is fourth in the GNAC with 9.51 assists per set.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week averaging 11.93 kills per set. The Nighthawks are third in the GNAC and 45th in Division II with 17.71 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene plays its final home matches in the Willamette Valley this week, taking on Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s took a pair of three-set losses last week, losing at home to Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday. The Saints opened this week with a four-set loss at Seattle Pacific.

• Junior outside hitter Mackenzie Carter continues to lead the Saints offensively, finishing with 44 kills, 24 digs and five blocks in the three matches. Carter opened last week with 16 kills, four digs and two blocks against Simon Fraser and then added 11 kills and five digs against Western Washington. Carter posted a double-double of 17 kills and 15 digs at Seattle Pacific. Carter is fifth in the GNAC with 3.36 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Emily Gooding finished with 19 kills and four blocks over the three-match stretch. After opening the run with six kills and a block against Simon Fraser, Gooding ended it with 10 kills, two digs and three blocks at Seattle Pacific. Gooding has played in 10 matches this season and is averaging 2.24 kills per set.

• Sophomore setter Alyssa Bartlett added 90 assists, 27 digs and four blocks. Bartlett opened with 32 assists, eight digs and a block against Simon Fraser. She then had 22 assists, seven digs and a block against Western Washington and opened this week with 36 assists, 12 digs, two blocks and three kills at Seattle Pacific. Barlett is 10th in the GNAC with 6.69 assists per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 9.72 kills and 14.79 digs per set.

• The Saints play their home finale on Saturday, hosting Montana State Billings.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific saw its six-match win streak end last week with a three-set loss to Western Washington on Thursday and a five-set loss to Simon Fraser on Saturday. The Falcons rebounded, however, to open the week with a four-set win over Saint Martin’s on Tuesday.

• Senior outside hitter Gabby Oddo hit a milestone with her 1,000th dig on Thursday against Western Washington, making her third player in SPU history with 1,000 career digs, kills and points. She finished the three-match run with 44 kills, 32 digs, six assists, eight aces and three blocks. Oddo had just four digs against WWU to go with 11 kills. She then had a double-double of 16 kills and 14 digs to fo with two assists and three aces against Simon Fraser before adding 16 kills, 14 digs, three assists and four aces against Saint Martin’s. Oddo is fourth in the GNAC with 3.44 kills and 4.02 points per set.

• Junior outside hitter Maddie Batiste paced the SPU offense in the three matches with 53 kills, 50 digs, five aces and five blocks. She notched double-doubles in two of the three matches, finishing with 22 kills, 20 digs, four blocks and two aces against Simon Fraser to go along with 20 kills, 22 digs, three assists and two aces against Saint Martin’s. Batiste is second in the GNAC with 3.60 kills per set and third with 4.04 points per set.

• Freshman setter Lindsey Lambert provided another solid all-around performance with 112 assists, four aces, 32 digs and six blocks. After posting 22 assists against Western Washington, Lambert finished with 51 assists, 10 digs, two blocks and three aces against Simon Fraser. Against SMU, Lambert had 39 assists, 16 digs, two blocks and three kills. Lambert is eighth in the GNAC with 8.40 assists per set.

• Seattle Pacific is averaging 12.26 kills and 15.70 digs per set. The Falcons are second in the GNAC and 43rd in Division II with 1.87 aces per set.

• Seattle Pacific closes out the home schedule on Thursday, hosting Montana State Billings.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser has now won its last three matches and 10 of its last 11 matches with a three-set win at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and a five-set win at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Betsie deBeer paced the Clan with 32 kills and 15 digs over the two matches. After a quiet start with seven kills and five digs at Saint Martin’s, deBeer put together a strong match with 25 kills, 10 digs, three aces and three blocks at Seattle Pacific. deBeer is averaging 2.98 kills and 2.86 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Kirsten Pinkney put together two solid matches with 26 kills and 21 digs. She opened the week with a double-double of 16 kills and 12 digs with a .455 hitting percentage at Saint Martin’s She then put together 10 kills, nine digs and three blocks at Seattle Pacific. Pinkney is 11th in the GNAC with 3.05 kills per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann finished with 24 kills, nine blocks and a .353 hitting percentage in the contests. At Saint Martin’s, Hartmann finished with 10 kills and five blocks with a .421 hitting percentage. She then posted 14 kills and four blocks at Seattle Pacific. Hartmann is averaging 1.92 kills and 0.68 blocks per set.

• Simon Fraser enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and 50th in Division II with 12.57 kills per set and is third with a .215 hitting percentage. The Clan leads the GNAC and is 29th in Division II with 18.06 digs per set.

• For the first time this season, Simon Fraser received six votes in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll. The Clan is also ranked seventh in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Simon Fraser plays its final home matches of the season this week, hosting Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon dropped both matches on its final road trip of the season, taking a pair of three-set losses at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and at Alaska on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Lauren Smith led the Wolves once again with 16 kills in the two matches. Smith opened with 10 kills and three digs at Alaska Anchorage before finishing the trip with six kills, two digs and two aces at Alaska. Smith is averaging 2.20 kills and 1.39 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Sianna DeCarli added 14 kills and six digs on the road trip, finishing with eight kills and a dig at Alaska Anchorage along with six kills and five digs at Alaska. DeCarli leads the Wolves with 2.75 kills per set.

• Sophomore setter Aubrey Stanton finished with 39 assists as she led the WOU passing. Stanton finished with 22 assists and six digs at Alaska Anchorage before adding 19 assists and four digs at Alaska. Stanton is ninth in the GNAC with 7.71 assists per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.81 kills and 12.62 digs per set with a .173 hitting percentage.

• Western Oregon closes the season with four straight home matches. The Wolves will host Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington’s win streak is now at six matches after posting three-set road wins over Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday. Of the six wins, five have come in three-set sweeps.

• Freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after she finished with 33 digs in the six sets with 18 kills and five blocks. She opened the road trip with 14 kills at Seattle Pacific to go with eight kills and four blocks. At Saint Martin’s, Heilborn finished with 19 digs and two blocks along with 10 kills. Heilborn is fifth in the GNAC with 3.32 kills per set and ninth with 3.89 digs per set.

• Senior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper led the WWU offense with 22 kills, 11 blocks and a massive .636 hitting percentage over six sets. She had just one attack error in 33 attempts. Harper opened the week with 13 kills, eight blocks, two aces and a .600 hitting percentage at Seattle Pacific. She then posted totals of nine kills and three blocks with a .692 hitting percentage at Saint Martin’s. Harper leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with a .386 hitting percentage. She also leads the GNAC and is fourth in Division II with 1.39 blocks per set.

• Freshman setter Malia Aleaga finished with 73 assists in the two matches and also got into the blocking game with her 5-foot-7 frame with 10 blocks. Most of those blocks came at Seattle Pacific where Aleaga finished with nine to go along with 33 assists. She then added 40 assists to go with three digs, a service ace and a block at Saint Martin’s. Aleaga leads the GNAC and is sixth in Division II with 11.79 assists per set and is also averaging an impressive 0.64 blocks per set.

• Western Washington remained at No. 4 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll. The Vikings were ranked second in the first NCAA West Region rankings of the season.

• The Vikings lead the GNAC and are ranked fifth in Division II with a .275 hitting percentage. Western Washington is the Division II leader in blocks, averaging 2.87 per set. The Vikings lead the conference with 13.98 kills per set, 13.20 assists per set and a .131 opponent hitting percentage. In addition to blocking, the Vikings are 12th in Division II in assists per set, 21st in opponent hitting percentage and 25th in kills per set.

• Western Washington will host the Alaska schools in its regular-season home finale, welcoming Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.