Wednesday, November 20, 2019

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS WEEKEND: For much of the season, it looked as if Western Washington would easily claim the GNAC volleyball championship. Alaska Anchorage made sure that the race will go into the final week of the regular season.

The Seawolves forces the fourth and fifth sets to extra points last Thursday and in doing so took a marathon thriller from the Vikings in Bellingham. Western Washington held the advantage offensively, hitting .250 to Alaska Anchorage’s .191, but 17 service errors and four ball-handling errors proved to be the difference in the match.

The battle yielded the conference’s two Players of the Week with UAA sophomore setter Ellen Floyd claiming the offensive honor and WWU senior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper receiving the defensive honor. In the process of the week, Harper claimed the GNAC all-time record for total blocks with 571, surpassing the previous mark of 559 set by Northwest Nazarene's Madi Farrell from 2014-17.

Even with the loss, Western Washington is in control of its own destiny in terms of claiming its third consecutive trophy. The Vikings need only win its two remaining matches, on the road at Central Washington on Thursday and at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, to win the title outright.

A tie in the standings between the two schools would not only mean Alaska Anchorage’s first title since 2016, but would also give the Seawolves the conference’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championships with the Seawolves owning a 2-0 record in the season series.

FLOYD EARNS NATIONAL PLAYER OF WEEK HONORS: After playing a key role in taking down nationally-ranked Western Washington in five sets and securing a road sweep in the penultimate week of the regular season, Alaska Anchorage sophomore setter Ellen Floyd has been named the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Player of the Week.

Floyd finished with 91 assists, 29 digs, nine blocks and seven kills as the Seawolves finished their regular-season road schedule with a five-set win at Western Washington on Thursday and a four-set win at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

Against the Vikings, Floyd finished with a double-double of 43 assists and 14 digs to go with four blocks, two kills and a service ace. She shared the team lead in a match that saw the Seawolves finish with 12.5 team blocks. At Simon Fraser, Floyd again notched a double-double with 48 assists and 15 digs to go with five blocks and five kills.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Ellen Floyd, Alaska Anchorage
S • 5-10 • Sophomore • Pensacola, Fla.

Floyd finished with 91 assists, 29 digs, nine blocks and seven kills in a pair of big road wins. Floyd finished with 43 assists, 14 digs, four blocks and two kills to help led the Seawolves to a five-set win at Western Washington on Thursday. She followed that performance up with 48 assists, 15 digs, five blocks and five kills in Saturday’s four-set win at Simon Fraser.

Also Nominated: Makala Swart (Central Washington), Jessica Wheeler (Concordia), Joelle Mahowald (Montana State Billings), Brooke Foster (Northwest Nazarene), Mackenzie Carter (Saint Martin’s), Calley Heilborn (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Kayleigh Harper, Western Washington
MB • 6-3 • Senior • Oak Harbor, Wash.

Harper finished with 14 blocks to go along with 22 kills and four digs for the Vikings. She finished with four blocks, 14 kills, two digs and two aces in Thursday’s five-set loss to Alaska Anchorage. Harper then fell just short of a double-double with 10 blocks, eight kills and two digs in a three-set sweep of Alaska on Saturday.

Also Nominated: Kyla Morgan (Central Washington), Callie Wilkins (Concordia), Kayla Sale (Northwest Nazarene), Kylie Alos (Saint Martin’s), Julia Tays (Simon Fraser).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska earned a split on its final road trip of the season, scoring a three-set win over Simon Fraser on Thursday before taking a three-set loss to Western Washington on Saturday. The loss snapped a four-match win streak.

• Junior outside hitter Lahra Weber led Alaska with 23 kills and 14 digs on the week. She opened with 13 kills, seven digs and two blocks at Simon Fraser before closing out with 10 kills and seven digs at Western Washington. Weber is 2.74 kills per set. While not adding an ace this week, Weber leads the GNAC and is 15th in Division II with 0.50 aces per set.

• Junior setter Cate Whiting had 55 assists on the road trip with 21 digs, six kills and four blocks. She had double-doubles in both matches, finishing with 28 assists, 10 digs and four blocks at Simon Fraser and then added 27 assists and 11 digs at Western Washington. Whiting is sixth in the GNAC with 9.33 assists per set while also averaging 2.92 digs and 0.74 blocks per set.

• Senior middle blocker Kim Wong finished with 16 kills on the trip, topped by her nine kills and three blocks at Simon Fraser. Wong is averaging 2.41 kills per set and is seventh in the GNAC with a .282 hitting percentage and 1.05 blocks per set.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 11.98 kills and 15.30 digs per set with a .198 hitting percentage. The Nanooks rank third in the GNAC and 27th in Division II with 2.27 blocks per set while also ranking 42nd nationally with 323 total blocks.

• The Nanooks close the season at home, hosting Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage kept its GNAC championship hopes alive with a five-set win at Western Washington on Thursday and a four-set win over Simon Fraser on Saturday. The Seawolves have won eight of their last nine matches.

• Sophomore setter Ellen Floyd was named both the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week and the AVCA Division II Player of the Week after finishing with 91 assists, 29 digs, nine blocks and seven kills in the wins. She opened the week with 43 assists, 14 digs, four blocks and two kills in the win over Western Washington. She then added totals of 48 assists, 15 digs, five blocks and five kills at Simon Fraser. Floyd is second in the GNAC with 10.16 assists per set.

• Senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes has 30 kills in the two matches with 14 digs and five blocks. Hayes led UAA with 17 kills against Western Washington with five digs and three blocks. She then finished with 13 kills, nine digs and three blocks at Simon Fraser. Hayes is averaging 2.96 kills per set and is second in the GNAC and 19th in Division II with 0.49 aces per set.

• Sophomore right-side hitter Eve Stephens played only in the Simon Fraser match due to injury, but showed no ill-effects as she finished with 22 kills, 12 digs and five blocks. Stephens leads the GNAC with 3.90 kills per set. She also leads the GNAC and 29th in Division II with 4.61 points per set.

• Alaska Anchorage is second among teams receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll, earning 59 points. The Seawolves are also fifth in the final NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week averaging 12.31 kills and 15.29 digs per set. The Seawolves led the GNAC and are sixth in Division II with 2.21 aces per set and is second in the GNAC and eighth in Division II with 2.51 blocks per set.

• Alaska Anchorage concludes the regular season at home, hosting Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington battled through a pair of five-set matches last week, falling to Concordia on Thursday before beating Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Makala Swart led the CWU offense with 35 kills, four aces and 28 digs in the two matches. She posted 17 kills, 16 digs and two aces at Concordia and then finished with 18 kills, 12 digs, two aces and a .312 hitting percentage at Western Oregon. Swart is seventh in the GNAC with 3.28 kills per set and eighth with 3.72 points per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Ashley Kaufman added 27 kills, 36 digs and six aces. She had a double-double with 16 kills and 22 digs at Concordia. At Western Oregon, Kaufman finishes with 11 kills, 14 digs and all six of her aces. Kaufman is second for the Wildcats with 2.46 kills per set.

• Senior libero Kyla Morgan had another 71 assists last week. She had 33 digs and four assists at Concordia and 38 digs and three assists at Western Oregon. Morgan leads the GNAC and is 14th in Division II with 5.80 digs per set.

• Junior middle blocker Julia Mellander finished with 14 blocks in the two matches, six at Concordia and eight at Western Oregon. She is fourth in the GNAC with 1.17 blocks per set and tied for 29th in Division II with 121 total blocks.

• Central Washington is ranked No. 8 in the latest NCAA Division II West Region Rankings. The Wildcats dropped off the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll after receiving two votes last week.

• Central Washington is second in the GNAC and 37th in Division II with 17.92 digs per set. The Wildcats are third in the GNAC with 13 kills and 12.17 assists per set.

• The Wildcats close the regular season at home, hosting Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia split their weekend matches at home, staking a five-set win over Central Washington on Thursday and taking a five-set loss to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. The Cavaliers opened the final week of the season with a three-set sweep at Western Oregon.

• Senior outside hitter Jessica Wheeler led the Cavaliers in the three matches with 43 kills, five aces, 35 digs and eight blocks. She had double-doubles in both weekend matches with 15 kills, 12 digs and four aces against Central Washington along with 18 kills, 16 digs and five blocks against Northwest Nazarene. Wheeler then finished with 10 kills, seven digs and three blocks at Western Oregon. Wheeler is ninth in the GNAC with 3.10 kills per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Zoe DiNardo finished with 30 kills over the three matches to go with four blocks. She had 13 kills, five digs and three blocks against Central Washington and then added 12 kills against Northwest Nazarene. DiNardo is averaging 2.22 kills per set.

• Concordia tallied an impressive 30 team blocks in the three-match stretch. Junior middle blocker Elyssa Rose had 19 blocks, topped by eight against Central Washington. Freshman middle blocker Simoné Gordon had 10, seven of which came against CWU.

• Concordia is averaging 11.87 kills per set. The Cavaliers are third in the GNAC and 36th in Division II with 17.82 digs per set. Concordia also ranks 2nd in Division II with 38.79 team attacks per set.

• Concordia closes out the season by hosting Montana State Billings on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings split its road matches last week, taking a four-set from Seattle Pacific on Thursday before falling in four sets to Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Junior middle blocker Joelle Mahowald led the Yellowjackets with 31 kills and nine blocks in the two matches. At Seattle Pacific, Mahowald led the way with 17 kills, five blocks and a .538 hitting percentage. She then finished with 14 kills, four blocks and a .379 hitting percentage at Saint Martin’s. Mahowald is fourth in the GNAC with a .318 hitting percentage and is averaging 2.23 kills and 0.88 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitters Maddi Vigil and Bayli Monck each had 24 kills. Vigil also had 19 digs in the two matches, paced by her 15 kills and 12 digs at Saint Martin’s. Monck added 21 digs and topped her week with 13 kills and 12 digs along with four blocks at Seattle Pacific. Monck leads the Yellowjackets with 2.67 kills per set while Vigil is right behind at 2.65 kills per set.

• Freshman setter Hannah Hashbarger came up with 86 assists and 23 digs in the two matches. She had 48 assists and 13 digs at Seattle Pacific and then finished with 38 assists, 10 digs and two blocks at Saint Martin’s. Hashbarger is fifth in the GNAC with 9.53 assists per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.41 kills and 15.30 digs per set with a .180 hitting percentage.

• The Yellowjackets finish the season with matches at Western Oregon on Thursday and at Concordia on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene extended its win streak to three matches last week, scoring a three-set win at Western Oregon on Thursday and a five-set win at Concordia on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Foster finished with 29 kills, 27 digs, five blocks and five aces in the two matches. After opening with seven kills, three aces and nine digs at Western Oregon, Foster surged for 22 kills, 18 digs, five blocks and two aces at Concordia. Foster is third in the GNAC with 3.55 kills per set and second with 4.19 points per set. She also ranks 24th in Division II with 11.22 attacks per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Natalie Sullivan followed up with 19 kills, 13 digs and three blocks. Sullivan had eight kills, seven digs and a .368 hitting percentage at Western Oregon and then finished with 11 kills, six digs and three blocks at Concordia. Sullivan is averaging 2.33 kills per set.

• Senior libero Kayla Sale posted 44 digs in the two matches. She finished with 16 digs and a pair of aces at Western Oregon and then finished with 28 digs and three assists at Concordia. Sale is sixth in the GNAC with 4.03 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week averaging 11.94 kills and 17.78 digs per set. The Nighthawks rank 45th in Division II in digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene closes the season with two home matches, hosting Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• After dropping a four-set match at Seattle Pacific last Tuesday, Saint Martin’s saw it’s 26-match losing streak come to a long-awaited end on Saturday with a four-set win over Montana State Billings in Lacey.

• Junior outside hitter Mackenzie Carter led the Saints in the split with 34 kills, six aces, 24 digs and four blocks. She finished with 17 kills, 15 digs, three blocks and three aces at Seattle Pacific and then finished with 17 kills, nine digs, three aces and a block in the win over Montana State Billings. Cater is fifth in the GNAC with 3.41 kills per set and is seventh with 3.77 points per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Emily Gooding added 19 kills and six blocks in the two matches. She opened with 19 kills, two digs and three blocks at Seattle Pacific and added nine kills, two digs and three blocks against Montana State Billings. Gooding is averaging 2.24 kills and 0.49 blocks per set.

• Sophomore libero Kylie Alos added 42 digs in the two matches to go with six assists and two aces. Alos opened the week with 23 digs and one ace at Seattle Pacific. In the win over MSUB, Alos finished with 19 digs, an ace, a kill and six assists. Alos is third in the GNAC with 4.81 digs per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 9.88 kills and 14.85 digs per set.

• The Saints close the 2019 season on the road, competing at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and at Alaska on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• The Falcons split in their final home week, knocking off Saint Martin’s in four sets on Tuesday before taking a four-set loss to Montana State Billings on Thursday.

• Senior outside hitter Gabby Oddo once again led the SPU offense with 38 kills, 26 digs, seven aces and .333 hitting percentage. She had double-doubles in both matches, finishing with 16 kills, 14 digs, three assists and three aces against Saint Martin’s and adding 22 kills, 22 digs and three aces against Montana State Billings. Oddo is fourth in the GNAC with 3.52 kills per set, third with 4.12 points per set and fifth with 0.44 aces per set.

• Junior outside hitter Maddie Batiste was right behind Oddo with 34 kills and 31 digs. Batiste led the way with 20 kills, 22 digs, three assists, two aces and a block against Saint Martin’s. She then turned in totals of 14 kills, nine digs, four assists and an ace against Montana State Billings. Batiste enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with 3.59 kills per set and fourth with 4.03 points per set.

• Freshman setter Lindsey Lambert continues to put up a solid first season with 80 assists in the two matches. She opened the week with a double-double of 39 assists, 16 digs and two blocks against Saint Martin’s before finishing with 41 assists, seven digs and three blocks against Montana State Billings. Lambert is seventh in the GNAC with 8.47 assists per set.

• Seattle Pacific is averaging 12.27 kills and 15.59 digs per set. The Falcons are third in the GNAC with 1.83 aces per set.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser’s playoff chances took a bit of hit with two losses in the final home weekend, falling to Alaska in three sets on Thursday and in four sets to Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• With the losses, the Clan dropped two spots to No. 9 in this week’s NCAA Division II West Region Rankings. Simon Fraser is still among teams receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll with eight points.

• Senior outside hitter Betsie de Beer led the SFU offense once again with 25 kills and 12 digs in the two matches. de Beer finished with 11 kills and six digs against Alaska before adding 14 kills, six digs and two blocks against Alaska Anchorage. de Beer leads the Clan with 3.02 kills per set while averaging 2.77 digs per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann finished with 17 kills, eight digs and seven blocks in the home matches. After posting totals of five kills, five digs and three blocks against Alaska, Hartmann finished with 12 kills, three digs and four blocks against Alaska Anchorage. Hartmann enters the week averaging 1.96 kills and 0.71 blocks per set.

• Junior libero Bianca Te had 38 digs in the two matches to go with three assists. She opened up with 16 digs and the three assists against Alaska before wrapping up with 22 digs against Alaska Anchorage. Te is fourth in the GNAC with 4.77 digs per set.

• Simon Fraser enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with 13.09 kills per set. The Clan leads the GNAC and ranks 30th in Division II with 18.17 digs per set and is second in the GNAC and 39th in Division II with 12.55 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser is on the road to end the regular season, playing at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and at Central Washington on Saturday.

• The Falcons close the season on the road, playing at Alaska on Thursday and at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon hopes to snap a five-match losing streak to close the season out. The Wolves dropped a three-set match to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and a five-set match to Central Washington on Saturday before taking a three-set defeat to Concordia on Tuesday.

• Junior outside hitter Sianna DeCarli led the Wolves in the three matches with 28 kills. After a quiet four kills against Northwest Nazarene, DeCarli finished with 11 kills against Central Washington and 11 kills, three digs and two aces against Concordia. DeCarli enters the week averaging 2.77 kills per set to lead the Wolves.

• Freshman outside hitter Lauren Smith added totals of 19 kills and nine digs over the two matches. Her high-water mark came against Central Washington with 14 kill, five digs and a pair of blocks. Smith is averaging 2.22 kills and 1.37 digs per set.

• Sophomore setter Aubrey Stanton was everywhere for the Wolves, finishing with 62 assists, eight kills, 31 digs and four blocks. Against Northwest Nazarene, Stanton finished with 13 assists, four digs and a block before finishing with a monster effort of 34 assists, 26 digs, seven kills and two blocks against Central Washington. Stanton opened this week with 15 assists and a block against Concordia. Stanton is ninth in the GNAC with 7.62 assists per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.64 kills and 12.82 digs per set with a .161 hitting percentage.

• Western Oregon concludes the regular season at home on Thursday against Montana State Billings.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington split in its final home week of the regular season, dropping a five-set match to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday before beating Alaska in three sets on Saturday.

• Senior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after she finished with 14 blocks, 22 kills and four digs in the two matches. In the process, Harper became the GNAC all-time leader in career blocks with 571. That surpasses the mark of 559 set by Northwest Nazarene's Madi Farrell from 2014 to 2017. Harper finished with four blocks, 14 kills, two digs and two aces against Alaska Anchorage. She then just fell short of a double-double against Alaska with 10 blocks, eight kills and two digs. Harper leads the GNAC and is 23rd in Division II with a .377 hitting percentage. She also leads the GNAC and is third in Division II with 1.42 blocks per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Calley Heilborn paced the offense with 29 kills and 28 digs. Against Alaska Anchorage, Heilborn finished with 17 kills, 16 digs, two blocks, an assist, an ace and a .412 hitting percentage. She then added 12 kills, 12 digs and a block against Alaska. Heilborn is sixth in the GNAC with 3.35 kills and 3.98 points per game.

• Freshman setter Malia Aleaga finished with 90 assists, four aces, 17 digs and four blocks in the two matches. She opened the week with 60 assists, three kills, three aces, nine digs and two blocks against Alaska Anchorage. She then added 30 assists, an ace, eight digs and two blocks against Alaska. Aleaga leads the GNAC and is sixth in Division II with 11.74 assists per set.

• Western Washington dropped two spots to No. 6 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll. The Vikings continue to rank No. 2 in the final NCAA Division II West Region Rankings ahead of the end of the regular 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 2.92 per set. The Vikings lead the conference with 13.89 kills per set, 13.15 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 21st in kills per set.

• Western Washington finishes the regular season on the road, playing at Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.