Wednesday, September 20, 2017

CRUSADERS, SEAWOLVES OPEN GNAC PLAY UNDEFEATED: In a season where the GNAC has shown a great level of parity from top to bottom, two teams succeeded to go undefeated in the first week of the league schedule.

Northwest Nazarene and Alaska Anchorage both went 2-0 over the first week of conference play. The Crusaders improved to 10-0 on the season with a three-set sweep of Simon Fraser last Monday and a four-set win over Western Washington on Saturday.

After spending the first three weeks of the season on the outside looking in, the two victories pushed the Crusaders to No. 16 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25.

Alaska Anchorage, meanwhile, went 3-0 for the week with a non-conference win sandwiched between two conference victories. After winning at Alaska on Tuesday, the Seawolves collected a four-set win at Rocky Mountain on Friday before completing the three-match road trip with a four-set win at Montana State Billings.

The parity showed up in the fact that seven of the conference’s 11 teams finished the first week of the conference season with 1-1 records: Central Washington, Concordia, Montana State Billings, Saint Martin’s, Seattle Pacific, Western Oregon and Western Washington. As GNAC teams enter the fourth week of the volleyball season, eight out of 11 teams still own overall records of .500 or better.

ANOTHER STELLAR SHOWCASE SHOWING: For the second straight season, the GNAC came out as the big winner in the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase.

The conference finished with a 27-17 record in the annual tournament, which features every volleyball program from the West Region’s three conferences. The GNAC finished with a 12-11 record against PacWest Conference teams and 14-6 against CCAA squads for the second consecutive year.

Northwest Nazarene was the only GNAC squad to finish the Showcase with a 4-0 record, staking themselves to an impressive 8-0 start to open the year (extended to 9-0 with Monday’s three-set sweep of Simon Fraser). Ten of the conference’s 11 teams finished at 2-2 or better.
The biggest improvement in the Showcase came from Alaska. After having gone 0-4 in each of the last two editions of the crossover, the Nanooks finished with a 3-1 record in the San Francisco Pod.

The GNAC now owns a 85-57 overall record (.599 win percentage) in the four years of the tournament and a 52-30 record in the two years where all three West Region conferences have participated.

IN THE POLLS: After three weeks of receiving votes, Northwest Nazarene made its first appearance of the year in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25. The Crusaders, with a 10-0 record, are No. 16 in the poll, receiving 371 points from voters. Northwest Nazarene is one of five teams in the poll with undefeated records and one of 10 undefeated teams in all of Division II.

Western Washington slipped three spots in this week’s poll. from No. 10 to No. 13. Alaska Anchorage dropped two more spots to No. 20. With three teams in the top-25, the GNAC has more ranked teams than any West Region conference.

Central Washington continues to be among teams receiving votes. The Wildcats’ 36 points is two more than the team received last week.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Colby Barnette, Concordia
MB • 6-0 • Senior • Puyallup, Wash.

Barnette finished with 30 kills, a .528 hitting percentage and nine blocks as Concordia went 1-1 to open GNAC play. She finished with 13 kills, a .462 hitting percentage and seven blocks in Thursday’s four-set win at Seattle Pacific and finished with 17 kills, a .593 hitting percentage, four aces, four digs and two blocks in Saturday’s four-set loss at Saint Martin’s. She had just two errors on 53 total attack attempts.

Also Nominated: Leah Swiss (Alaska Anchorage), Shelby Mauritson (Central Washington), Mari Thomas (Northwest Nazarene), Rebecca Mitchell (Saint Martin’s), Gabby Oddo (Seattle Pacific), Mariella Vandenkooy (Western Oregon), Michaela Hall (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Kendra Bodine, Northwest Nazarene
OH • 5-10 • Senior • Eugene, Ore.

Bodine led the Crusaders defensively with 36 digs, nine blocks and 26 kills as NNU improved to 10-0 on the season. She had 12 kills, nine digs and four blocks in Monday’s three-set sweep of Simon Fraser and finished with 14 kills, a career-high 27 digs and five blocks in Saturday’s four-set win over No. 10 Western Washington.

Also Nominated: Keala Kaio-Perez (Alaska Anchorage), Izela Alvarez (Montana State Billings), Hannah Neumann (Saint Martin’s), Abby Phelps (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
LAST WEEK: Sept. 12: Lost to Alaska Anchorage, 3-0. Sept. 15: Lost at Montana State Billings, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: vs. Seattle Pacific, 7 p.m. Sept. 22: vs. Saint Martin’s, 7 p.m.

• Alaska saw its 7-2 start to the season stunted by a pair of loss to start the conference season, falling in three sets to Alaska Anchorage and in four sets at Montana State Billings.

• Senior outside hitter Maddie Davis led the Nanooks with 22 kills in the two matches. She had just five kills against Alaska Anchorage before coming alive for 17 kills and 17 digs against Montana State Billings.

• Senior setter Rachel Nichols had 43 assists and four aces in the two matches, paced by a performance of 31 assists, three aces and 18 digs at Montana State Billings.

• Alaska enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 24th in Division II with 2.10 aces per set. Four individual Nanooks’ players are ranked in the GNAC top-10 in the category. Freshman setter Cate Whiting is third in the GNAC with 0.49 aces per set (18 total). Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Lerma is tied for seventh at 0.39 per set.

• Senior middle blocker Riley Podowicz is ranked fifth in the GNAC with a .321 hitting percentage while sophomore middle blocker Kim Wong is seventh with a .304 hitting percentage.

• Alaska enters the week third in the GNAC with a .237 hitting percentage and 13.23 kills per set. The Nanooks is 13th in Division II with 82 total aces and 38th in hitting percentage.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
LAST WEEK: Sept. 12: Won at Alaska, 3-0. Sept. 15: Won at Rocky Mountain, 3-1. Sept. 16: Won at Montana State Billings, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: vs. Saint Martin’s, 7 p.m. Sept. 23: vs. Seattle Pacific, 7 p.m.

• Alaska Anchorage was one of two teams to open GNAC play with a 2-0 record and made it a 3-0 week with a four-set non-conference win on Friday at Rocky Mountain.

• Despite the wins, Alaska Anchorage slipped two more spots to No. 20 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25.

• Sophomore right side Diana Fa’amausili and junior outside hitter Chrisalyn Johnson each finished with 37 kills and 3.36 kills per set last week. Johnson led the Seawolves with 13 kills in the win over Alaska and had 15 at Rocky Mountain. Fa’amausili had a team-high 16 kills at Rocky Mountain and 13 kills against Montana State Billings.

• Senior defensive specialist Keala Kaio-Perez registered 65 digs and eight aces in the three matches, topped by 18 digs and three aces at Montana State Billings. Kaio-Perez enters the week leading the GNAC with 0.52 aces per set and 10th with 4.30 digs per set and is eighth in Division II with 24 aces.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and 29th in Division II with 2.02 aces per set. The Seawolves rank fourth in Division II in total aces (93), 12th in total team blocks (101.5), 37th in team total attacks (1,609) and 44th in blocks per set (2.21).

• Individually, junior middle blocker Tara Melton is 48th in Division II with 1.17 blocks per set and 22nd with 48 total blocks. Junior outside hitter Leah Swiss is 14th in Division II with 22 aces and 30th with 427 total attacks.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Lost to Western Washington, 3-1. Sept. 16: Beat Simon Fraser, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: at Concordia, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 23: at Western Oregon, 7 p.m.

• Central Washington opened conference play with a 1-1 record, rebounding to beat Simon Fraser after a hard-fought four-set loss to rival Western Washington.

• The effort allowed Central Washington to pick up more votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25. With 36 points, the Wildcats are seventh among teams receiving votes.

• Junior outside hitter Shelby Mauritson finished with 32 kills and 35 digs in the two matches, topped by totals of 18 kills and 20 digs. Mauritson enters the week sixth in the GNAC with 3.46 kills per set and is 20th in Division II with 445 total attacks.

• Senior middle blocker Sabrina Wheelhouse had just 13 kills in the two matches, but added 12 blocks. She had eight of those blocks in Saturday’s sweep of Simon Fraser. Wheelhouse enters the week leading the GNAC and fifth in Division II with 1.44 blocks per set. Her 56 total blocks are sixth in Division II.

• Senior middle blocker Sarah Joffs had nine blocks in the two matches, six of those coming against Western Washington. Joffs is third in the GNAC and 22nd in Division II with 1.26 blocks per set.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC and is fourth in Division II with 2.79 blocks per set. The Wildcats are also 39th in Division II with 38.28 team attacks per set and third with 109 team total blocks.

CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Won at Seattle Pacific, 3-1. Sept. 16: Lost at Saint Martin’s, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: vs. Central Washington, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 23: vs. Northwest Nazarene, 2 p.m.

• Concordia continued its strong start to the season with a road split, winning at Seattle Pacific before dropping a four-set battle at Saint Martin’s.

• Senior middle blocker Colby Barnette was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after she finished with 30 kills, 3.88 kills per set and a .528 hitting percentage in the two matches. She finished with 13 kills and seven blocks at Seattle Pacific and added 17 kills, four aces and two blocks at Saint Martin’s. Barnette enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with a .319 hitting percentage and eighth with 1.15 blocks per set.

• Senior setter Michele Brown became the first Concordia player to earn a top-50 NCAA Division II ranking as she is 33rd nationally with 10.80 assists per set. She had 91 assists in the two matches last week and is third in the GNAC in the category.

• Senior opposite Lindsey Dorsey had 25 kills and four aces in the two matches, paced by 14 kills and two aces at Seattle Pacific. She enters the week second in the GNAC with 0.50 aces per set and ninth with 3.26 kills per set.

• Concordia enters the week third in the GNAC with 1.62 aces per set and is fourth in assists per set (12.15) and kills per set (13.03).

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: Sept. 15: beat Alaska, 3-2. Sept. 16: Lost to Alaska Anchorage, 3-1. Sept. 19: Lost at Rocky Mountain, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: at Western Washington, 7 p.m. Sept. 23: at Simon Fraser, 5 p.m.

• Montana State Billings opened the GNAC season with a split, opening with a five-set victory over Alaska. The Yellowjackets lost on Tuesday to Rocky Mountain in three sets in the team’s final non-conference match.

• Freshman right side Bayli Monck had 32 kills and averaged 3.56 kills per set in the two weekend matches. She had 19 kills, nine digs and two blocks in the win over Alaska. Monck enters the week seventh in the GNAC with 3.32 kills per set.

• Freshman defensive specialist Izela Alvarez leads the GNAC and is ranked 31st in Division II with 5.66 digs per set. She had 54 digs in the two weekend matches, including 35 against Alaska, and had 21 against Rocky Mountain.

• Monck is eighth in the GNAC with 3.72 points per set while freshman outside hitter Maddi Vigil is ninth with 3.70 points per set. Vigil finished with 18 kills, a .245 hitting percentage and 22 digs in the win over Alaska.

• Montana State Billings enters the week with a .187 hitting percertage and averaging 11.89 kills and 17.74 digs per set.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: Sept. 11: Beat Simon Fraser, 3-0. Sept. 16: Beat Western Washington, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: at Western Oregon, 7 p.m. Sept. 21: at Concordia, 2 p.m.

• Northwest Nazarene was one of two GNAC teams to go 2-0 in the opening week, which included a four-set win over then No. 10 ranked Western Washington.

• The Crusaders finally moved into the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 this week, emerging at No. 16. Northwest Nazarene is one of five teams in the poll and one of 10 teams in Division II that is undefeated.

• Senior outside hitter Kendra Bodine was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after finishing with 36 digs and nine blocks in the two matches last week to go along with 26 kills. Bodine had 12 kills, nine digs and four blocks against Simon Fraser and had 14 kills, 27 digs and five blocks against Western Washington. Bodine is second in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 4.17 kills per set. Bodine is also second in the GNAC and 22nd in Division II with 4.69 points per set.

• Senior middle blocker Madi Farrell finished with 33 kills and had a .343 hitting percenrage with 14 blocks in the two matches. She led the Crusaders with 15 kills and four blocks against Simon Fraser. Farrell leads the GNAC and is sixth in Division II with a .448 hitting percentage. She also leads the league and is 14th in Division II with 4.43 kills per set and is second in the GNAC and eighth in Division II with 1.40 blocks per set.

• As a team, Northwest Nazarene leads the GNAC and is 10th in Division II with a .269 hitting percetage. The Crusaders also lead the GNAC in opponent hitting percentage (.147), kills per set (14.51) and assists per set (14.14). Northwest Nazarene ranks sixth in Division II in assists per set and 11th in kills per set.

• This week’s road trip to Oregon comes after a six-match home stand for the Crusaders. Northwest Nazarene will have played eight of its first 14 matches at home.

SAINT MARTIN’S
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Lost to Western Oregon, 3-0. Sept. 16: Beat Concordia, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: At Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m. Sept. 22: At Alaska, 7 p.m.

• Saint Martin’s continued its improved start to the season with a split of their GNAC season-opening home matches, which included a four-set win over Concordia.

• Senior outside hitter Rebecca Mitchell was among the conference leaders with 33 kills and 4.71 kills per set in last week’s matches. She led the Saints with 25 kills and a .380 hitting percentage in the victory over Concordia. Mitchell enters the week fifth in the GNAC with 3.72 kills per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Kamille Langford came alive for 11 blocks in the two matches, topped by eight blocks in the win over Concordia. Langford enters the week sixth in the GNAC and 45th in Division II with 1.19 blocks per set (32 total).

•Senior setter Nicolette Nesbitt enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 10.11 assists per set. She had 69 assists in the two matches last week, 45 of which came against Concordia.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week with a .167 hitting percentage and 12.03 kills and 17.11 digs per set.

• The win over Concordia ended a six-match home stand for the Saints, who will play their next four matches on the road.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Lost to Concordia, 3-1. Sept 16: Beat Western Oregon, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: At Alaska, 7 p.m. Sept. 23: At Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m.

• Seattle Pacific opened the GNAC schedule, and its 2017 home schedule, with a split and a three-set sweep of Western Oregon.

• Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Oddo led the Falcons offensively with 23 kills in the two matches. She led SPU with 13 kills and two aces in the loss to Concordia and had 10 kills and 10 digs in the win over Western Oregon. Oddo enters the week averaging 2.87 kills and 1.10 digs per set.

• Junior libero Amanda Ganete had 38 digs in the two matches to lead Seattle Pacific defensively. She had 28 of those digs in the four-set loss to Concordia. Ganete enters the week averaging 3.97 digs per set.

• Junior setter Symone Tran is sixth in the GNAC with 9.43 assists per set. She had 74 assists in the last two matches. Sophomore middle blocker Nicole Tchabanov is currently 10th in the GNAC with 1.00 blocks per set (34 total).

• Seattle Pacific enters the week with a .182 hitting percentage and averages of 11.73 kills and 14.52 digs per set.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Sept. 11: Lost at Northwest Nazarene, 3-0. Sept. 16: Lost at Central Washington, 3-1. Sept. 19: Lost at Western Washington, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 23: vs. Montana State Billings, 5 p.m.

• The struggles continue for Simon Fraser, which has lost three matches to open the GNAC schedule and is on a four-match losing streak.

• Sophomore outside hitter Kirsten Pinkney led the Clan with 25 kills in last week’s matches, which included 14 kills off the bench in Saturday’s loss at Central Washington. She was one of three SFU players with 11 kills in the loss to Western Washington.

• Junior middle blocker Tessa May added 10 kills in last week’s matches, including seven in the loss to Central Washington. She then had 11 kills and three blocks in the loss to Western Washington. May enters the week 10th in the GNAC with a .280 hitting percentage and is fourth in the GNAC and 26th in Division II with 1.20 blocks per set.

• Junior libero Jayme Bratsberg enters the week third in the GNAC with 5.00 digs per set. She had 18 digs against Central Washington and 24 against Western Washington.

• As a team, Simon Fraser enters the week with a .158 hitting percentage and 11.46 kills per set. The Clan is third in the GNAC in digs at 18.02 per set.

• Tuesday’s match as Western Washington ended a season-opening 11-match road swing for the Clan. Simon Fraser will play six of its next eight matches at home.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Won at Saint Martin’s, 3-0. Sept. 16: Lost at Seattle Pacific, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: vs. Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m. Sept. 23: vs. Central Washington, 7 p.m.

• Western Oregon opened the GNAC season with a 1-1 record on the road, which included a three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s.

• Junior opposite Mariella Vandenkooy led the Wolves offensively with 24 kills and a .345 hitting percentage. She came off the bench to register 12 kills and a .611 hitting percentage in the win over Saint Martin’s and also had 12 kills against Seattle Pacific. Vandenkooy enters the week with a .216 hitting percentage and averaging 2.36 kills per set.

• Senior outside hitter Alisha Bettinson had 22 kills in the two matches, paced by an 11-kill performance at Seattle Pacific. Bettinson enters the week third in the GNAC with 4.12 kills per set and is third in the GNAC and 35th in Division II with 4.47 points per set.

• Junior defensive specialist Mackenzie Bowen finished with 34 digs and 5.67 digs per set in the two matches, which included 21 digs against Seattle Pacific. She is sixth in the GNAC with 4.71 digs per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week with a .199 hitting percentage, averaging 12.53 kills and 17.59 digs per set.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Won at Central Washington, 3-1. Sept. 16: Lost at Northwest Nazarene, 3-1. Sept. 19: Beat Simon Fraser, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: vs. Montana State Billings, 7 p.m.

• Western Washington is 2-1 to start the GNAC season, which included a four-set win over Simon Fraser on Tuesday in the first event played in the newly remodeled Carver Gymnasium.

• The Vikings slipped three spots to No. 13 in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 and leads three GNAC teams in the poll.

• Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps had another big week with 31 kills and 42 digs in the two matches. She had 15 kills and 23 digs against Central Washington along with 16 kills and 19 digs against Northwest Nazarene. Phelps then added 19 kills and 31 digs in the win over Simon Fraser. Phelps enters the week fourth in the GNAC with 3.81 kills per set and fifth with 4.81 digs per set. Her 4.42 points per set is fourth in the GNAC and 48th in Division II.

• Junior setter Brette Boesel finished with 95 assists in the two matches last week, topped by 50 assists in the win over Central Washington. She also had a double-double of 53 assists and 11 assists in the win over Simon Fraser. Boesel enters the week in second in the GNAC and 18th in Division II with 11.43 assists per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Joslyn Bopray added 15 blocks to her total in last three matches. She had four blocks against Central Washington and eight blocks against Northwest Nazarene. Bopray is fifth in the GNAC and 31st in Division II with 1.19 blocks per set.

• Western Washington enters the week leading the GNAC and 34th in Division II with 18.79 digs per set. The Vikings are second in the GNAC and 26th in Division II with a .250 hitting percentage and 14.07 kills per set.