Friday, October 9, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Western Oregon’s Andy Avgi and Alaska Anchorage’s Megan Mullings will open their senior seasons in the national spotlight as they were selected to Division II Bulletin’s annual preseason Super 16 List.

It is the second preseason award for Avgi, who was the 2015-16 GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. Earlier this month, the Woordburn, Ore., was named to The Sporting News’ 2015-16 Division II Preseason All-American First Team.

A Division II Bulletin All-American as well as a National Association of Basketball Coaches and Daktronics all-region selection, Avgi finished his junior year averaging 18.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. He helped the Wolves win the GNAC regular season championship and to their first appearance in the NCAA Division II West Regional.

Mullings was a unanimous first team selection to the All-GNAC Women’s Basketball Team and was selected as the GNAC Newcomer of the Year after she led helped the Seawolves to a 29-2 record and the GNAC regular season and tournament titles. The transfer from Arizona’s South Mountain Community College led UAA with 13.6 points and 1.5 blocks per game and shot a record 60.4 percent from the field, which ranked fourth in Division II.

In addition to her GNAC accolades, Mullings was selected as a honorable mention to the Daktronics/Division II and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-American teams. Mulling’s teammate, Kiki Robertson, was one of 26 honorable mention selections to the Super 16 list.

Western Oregon and Western Washington open the season on Division II Bulletin’s Preseason Men’s Top-25 Poll. The Wolves open the season at No. 18 while the Vikings, who finished the 2014-15 season at, 20-11, is ranked No. 21. The Alaska Anchorage women are ranked No. 9 in the publication’s Preseason Women’s Top-25 Poll. Seattle Pacific is listed among “Teams to Watch” for both the men’s and women’s polls.

Western Washington will kickoff the 2015-16 men’s basketball season on Fri., Oct. 30, opening against UC Colorado Springs at the D2 CCA Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, Calif. Alaska Anchorage commences thr 2015-16 GNAC women’s basketball season at the same tournament, taking on William Jewell on Oct. 30.