Wednesday, September 26, 2018

BLOCKING AND DIGGING ONTO THE NATIONAL RADAR: It’s no secret that the GNAC is a strong volleyball conference, but it is particularly impressive when over half of the league’s schools show up in the national statistics.

The NCAA Division II statistics certainly have a GNAC flavor when it comes to blocks and digs. A traditionally strong conference at the net, six GNAC schools are ranked in the NCAA top-50 in the category. Western Washington leads the way, ranking fourth with 2.89 blocks per set. Alaska Anchorage is seventh with 2.64 blocks per set while Central Washington is ranked eighth at 2.62 per set.

Seattle Pacific ranks 32nd (2.21 per set), Concordia is 41st (2.16 per set) and Western Oregon is 45th (2.13 per set).

Additionally, eight different players are also in the top-50 for blocking. Reigning GNAC Offensive Player of the Week Kayleigh Harper of Western Washington leads the list, entering the week ranked second in Division II with 1.58 blocks per set.

Six GNAC teams are also among the national top-50 in digs. Central Washington leads the defensive category, ranking seventh at 20.15 per set. The Wildcats are followed by Western Washington in 31st (18.28 per set), Concordia in 38th (18.04 per set), Simon Fraser in 39th (18.00 per set), Alaska Anchorage in 48th (17.76 per set) and Northwest Nazarene in 49th (17.76 per set).

THE TIGHT RACE CONTINUES: As we near the end of the first half of conference play, there is not much in the way of separation between the conference’s top-five teams.

Western Washington has emerged as the true front-runner in its quest to repeat as GNAC champions. Thanks to their five-set win at Simon Fraser on Tuesday, the Vikings improved to 7-0 in GNAC play and have now won their last 12 matches.

Central Washington and Seattle Pacific are tied for second with 5-1 marks while Alaska Anchorage and Concordia are tied for fourth at 4-2. The logjam will clear a little this week with Alaska Anchorage hosting Concordia on Thursday and Central Washington hosting Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Kayleigh Harper, Western Washington
MB • 6-3 • Junior • Oak Harbor, Wash.

Harper earned her third GNAC Player of the Week award of the season after she finished with 27 kills, 15 blocks and a .354 hitting percentage in a pair of victories over the Alaska schools. Harper led the Vikings with 10 kills and nine blocks with a .444 hitting percentage in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Alaska. She then added 14 kills and six blocks in the Vikings’ four-set win over Alaska Anchorage.

Also Nominated: Eve Stephens (Alaska Anchorage), Shelby Mauritson (Central Washington), Skylar Reed (Montana State Billings), Tessa May (Simon Fraser).

DEFENSIVE
Bridgette Webb, Central Washington
OH • 6-2 • Junior • Yakima, Wash.

Webb finished with 13 blocks and 14 kills with a .361 hitting percentage as the Wildcats scored road wins at Concordia and Western Oregon to improve to 11-2 overall and 5-1 in GNAC play. She finished with a double-double with 12 kills and 10 blocks to go along with a .407 hitting percentage against Western Oregon on Thursday. Webb then added a three-block performance in Saturday’s sweep of Concordia.

Also Nominated: Vera Pluharova (Alaska Anchorage), Taylor Sherman (Montana State Billings), Abbey Blum (Northwest Nazarene), Aubrey Stephens (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska dropped a pair of matches on the road last week, falling to Western Washington on Thursday and to Simon Fraser on Saturday, both in three sets.

• Sophomore outside hitter Lahra Weber led the Nanooks with 19 kills, 13 digs and six blocks in the two matches. Weber led the team with 13 kills, six digs and three blocks at Western Washington and then finished with six kills, seven digs and three blocks at Simon Fraser. Weber leads Alaska and is fifth in the GNAC with 3.30 kills and also averages 2.83 digs per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Markie Miller and junior middle blocker Kim Wong each had nine kills last week. Miller topped her week with seven kills at Simon Fraser while Wong finished with six kills and four blocks at Western Washington. Wong leads the Nanooks with 0.83 blocks per set.

• Sophomore setter Cate Whiting finished with a double-double of 27 assists and 12 digs to go along with three blocks at Western Washington and then added 17 assists at Simon Fraser. Whiting is ranked fifth in the GNAC with 9.28 assists per set.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 11.64 kills and 16.26 digs per set.

• The Nanooks are home for two matches this week, hosting Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage took a split in two matches last week, scoring a four-set win at Simon Fraser on Thursday before taking a four-set loss at Western Washington on Saturday.

• Freshman middle blocker Eve Stephens paced the Seawolves offensively with 27 kills, a .260 hitting percentage and four blocks in the two matches. Stephens led the Seawolves with 13 kills with two blocks at Simon Fraser and 14 kills at Western Washington. Last week’s AVCA Division II Player of the Week, Stephens is fourth in the GNAC with a .321 hitting percentage and ninth with 3.09 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Vera Pluharova was big at the net, leading all GNAC players with 18 blocks last week. She had 11 of those blocks in the win over at Simon Fraser. Pluharova is second in the GNAC and 18th in Division II with 1.25 blocks per set. She is also 11th in Division II with 69 total blocks.

• Senior outside hitter Chrisalyn Johnson finished with 21 kills, 29 digs and 11 blocks in the two matches. She notched a double-double of 11 kills and 15 digs to go along with six blocks at Simon Fraser. Johnson then finished with another double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs at Western Washington. Johnson enters the week averaging 2.89 kills per set.

• Alaska Anchorage is one of three GNAC teams in the Division II top-10 in blocks, ranking seventh with 2.64 blocks per set. In addition to Pluharova, senior middle blocker Tara Melton is sixth in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with 1.40 blocks per set.

• Alaska Anchorage leads the GNAC with a .143 opponent hitting percentage. The Seawolves are fourth in the GNAC in hitting percentage (.193), kills (12.69 per set) and assists (11.95 per set). The Seawolves are also fifth in the GNAC and 48th in Division II with 17.76 digs per set.

• The Seawolves return home to host Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington won both matches on the Oregon road trip, beating Western Oregon in four sets on Thursday and Concordia in three sets on Saturday. The Wildcats have now won nine of their last 10 matches.

• Junior outside hitter Bridgette Webb was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after finishing with 13 blocks, 14 kills and a .361 hitting percentage in the two victories. She posted a double-double of 12 kills and 10 blocks against Western Oregon and then added three blocks against Concordia. Webb enters the week averaging 0.90 blocks per set.

• Senior middle blocker Shelby Mauritson led the CWU offense with 27 kills and 26 digs in the two matches. She led all players with a double-double of 17 kills and 11 digs to go along with five blocks at Western Oregon and then finished with 10 kills and 15 digs at Concordia. Mauritson is tied for second in the GNAC and 39th in Division II with 3.83 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Makala Swart had 24 kills and 24 digs in the two matches. She had double-doubles in both matches, finishing with 10 kills and 14 digs at Western Oregon along with 14 kills and 10 digs at Concordia. Swart is tied with Mauritson for second in the GNAC and 39th in Division II with 3.83 kills per set.

• Central Washington is one of three GNAC teams in the Division II top-10 in blocks, ranking eighth with 2.62 blocks per set. Sophomore middle blocker Julia Mellander is third in the GNAC and 20th in Division II with 1.24 blocks per set while senior middle blocker Sarah Joffs is fourth in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 1.22 blocks per set.

• The Wildcats lead the GNAC and rank 11th in Division II with 14.96 kills per set. Central Washington is second in the league and 46th in Division II with a .231 hitting percentage.

• Central Washington continues to receive votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 with 41 points.

• Central Washington returns home and welcomes Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia improved to 7-6 overall and 4-2 in league play with a home split, knocking off Northwest Nazarene in three sets on Thursday before falling to Central Washington in three sets on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Jessica Wheeler led the Cavaliers with 14 kills and 28 digs in the two matches. She finished with eight and 14 digs against Northwest Nazarene and then added six kills and 14 digs against Central Washington. Wheeler leads the Cavaliers with 2.22 kills and 2.44 digs per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Katelyn Brandenberg came up with 11 kills and 13 blocks in the matches. she finished with eight kills and five blocks against NNU and followed that with nine kills and four blocks against CWU. Brandenberg enters the week averaging 1.32 kills and 0.85 blocks per set.

• Freshman libero Callie Wilkins finished with 38 digs in the two matches, led by her 20 digs against Northwest Nazarene. Wilkins is second in the GNAC and 20th in Division II with 5.73 digs per set.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 11.84 kills per set. The Cavaliers rank third in the GNAC and 38th in Division II with 18.04 digs per set. They also rank 16th in Division II with 39.40 team attacks per set and 41st with 2.16 blocks per set.

• Concordia is in Alaska for its next two matches, playing at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and at Alaska on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings went 1-2 in three matches last week. After taking NAIA nationally-ranked Rocky Mountain to five sets in a loss on Tuesday, the Yellowjackets fell in five at Seattle Pacific on Thursday before snapping an eight-match losing streak with a five-set win at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Skylar Reed finished with 48 kills and a .275 hitting percentage in the three matches. She led the Yellowjackets with 20 kills and a .340 hitting percentage at Rocky Mountain, added 13 kills at Seattle Pacific and again led the team with 15 kills at Saint Martin’s. Reed enters the week averaging 1.53 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Maddi Vigil added 40 kills and 48 digs in the three matches. She opened with a double-double of 19 kills and 17 digs at Rocky Mountain and also had a double-double of 15 kills and 15 digs at Seattle Pacific. Vigil leads MSUB with 2.72 kills and 2.92 digs per set.

• The Yellowjackets had an impressive 22 service aces in the three matches. Sophomore setter Alexa Smythe had 11 of those aces, including four at Rocky Mountain and five at Saint Martin’s, while senior outside hitter Taylor Sherman had seven, including five at Saint Martin’s. The team is second in the GNAC with 1.75 aces per set and 27th in Division II with 105 total aces.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.57 kills and 14.98 digs per set. The Yellowjackets’ .173 hitting percentage is fifth in the GNAC.

• The Yellowjackets complete a five-match road trip this week, playing at Simon Fraser on Friday and at Western Washington on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• After suffering a three-set defeat at Concordia on Thursday, Northwest Nazarene snapped a three-match losing streak with a four-set win at Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Abbey Blum led the Nighthawks offensively with 28 kills in the two matches. She led NNU with nine kills at Concordia and also led the team with 19 kills at Western Oregon. Blum enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 3.38 kills per set.

• Senior libero Shayli Siegfreid led all GNAC players with 55 digs last week, averaging 8.76 digs per set. Siegfreid finished with 28 digs at Concordia and then added 27 at Western Oregon to go along with four assists and an ace. Siegfreid is third in the GNAC and 41st in Division II with 5.33 digs per set.

• After being blanked offensively at Concordia, senior outside hitter Cami Heninger finished with a double-double of 17 kills and 21 digs while hitting .452 at Western Oregon. Heninger enters the week averaging 2.51 kills and 3.59 digs per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Tayler Markland led all GNAC players with a .429 hitting percentage last week. Her efforts were topped by 10 kills, six blocks and a .588 hitting percentage at Western Oregon.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week averaging 11.59 kills per set. The Nighthawks are sixth in the GNAC and 49th in Division II with 17.76 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene is home for its next three matches. The Nighthawks host Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s saw losing streak extend to seven matches with a three-set loss at Seattle Pacific last Tuesday and a five-set defeat against Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Ililani Kamaka led the Saints offensively with 24 kills and five aces in the two matches. She led the Saints with eight kills to go along with seven digs at Seattle Pacific. She then led SMU with a double-double of 16 kills and 16 digs against Montana State Billings. Kamaka is averaging 2.47 kills and 2.44 digs per set and leads the GNAC with 0.44 aces per set.

• Senior libero Courtney Misner came up with 35 digs in the two matches, led by her 22 digs against Montana State Billings. Misner ranks fifth in the GNAC in digs with 4.76 per set.

• Senior outside hitter Molly Cichosz added 18 kills and seven blocks last week, with her best performance coming against Montana State Billings where she finished with 13 kills and five blocks. Cichosz is averaging 1.77 kills per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 11.13 kills and 15.26 digs per set with a .159 hitting percentage. The Saints lead the GNAC with 1.78 aces per set.

• Saint Martin’s heads east for its next two matches, playing at Central Washington on Thursday and at Northwest Nazarene.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific improved to 5-1 in GNAC play and extended its current win streak to five matches with a three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s on Tuesday and a five-set victory over Montana State Billings on Thursday.

• Junior outside hitter Gabby Oddo led the Falcons with 27 kills and 27 digs in the two matches. She led all players with 12 kills and 11 digs against Saint Martin’s. Oddo then led the Falcons with 15 kills and 16 digs against Montana State Billings. Oddo is sixth in the GNAC with 3.20 kills and 3.75 points per set and also ranks third with 0.39 aces per set.

• Junior outside hitter Jaeden Hooker added 20 kills in the two matches. She finished with nine kills and three blocks against Saint Martin’s before adding 11 kills against Montana State Billings. Hooker is averaging 2.45 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Shaun Crespi finished with 12 blocks last week, seven of which came against Saint Martin’s. Sophomore middle blocker Gabi Stegemoller had 11 blocks, which included a nine-block performance against Montana State Billings. The Falcons rank fourth in the GNAC and 32nd in Division II with 2.21 blocks per set. Crespi is fifth in the GNAC and 22nd in Division II with 1.22 blocks per set.

• Senior setter Symone Tran finished with 89 assists in the two matches. Her top performance of 54 assists and 17 digs came in the win over Montana State Billings. Tran is fourth in the GNAC with 9.54 assist per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 11.59 kills and 16.50 digs per set with a .146 hitting percentage.

• Seattle Pacific is on the road this week after playing its last four matches at home. The Falcons are at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and at Central Washington on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser split a pair of matches with the Alaska schools last week, falling to Alaska Anchorage in four sets on Thursday before sweeping Alaska in three sets on Saturday. The Clan opened the week by pushing Western Washington to five sets before taking the loss on Tuesday.

• Junior outside hitter Kirsten Pinkney once again led the Clan with 24 kills in the weekend matches. She finished with 11 kills against Alaska Anchorage and led the team with 13 kills against Alaska. Pinkney then posted a season-high 20 kills with a .283 hitting percentage against Western Washington. Pinkney is tied for eighth in the GNAC with 3.14 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Tessa May finished with 24 kills and had a .408 hitting percentage in the weekend matches, 12 kills in each match. Against Alaska Anchorage, May added two service aces and four digs. She helped keep Simon Fraser alive against Western Washington with 15 kills. May is tied with Pinkney for eighth in the GNAC with 3.14 kills per set and is second in the GNAC with a .344 hitting percentage.

• Junior outside hitter Betsie de Beer also had 19 kills in the weekend matches, paced by her double-double of 10 kills and 15 digs against Alaska Anchorage. She also finished with 14 kills against Western Washington. de Beer enters the week averaging 2.98 kills and 2.55 digs per set.

• Simon Fraser is second in the GNAC and 32nd in Division II with 12.82 assists per set. The Clan is also second in the GNAC and 41st in Division II with 13.56 kills per set and is second in the GNAC and 39th in Division II with 18.48 digs per set.

• The Clan closes the week and a four-match homestand by hosting Montana State Billings on Friday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon dropped a pair of four-set matches at home last week. falling to Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Senior opposite Mariella Vandenkooy once again led the Wolves with 24 kills and 29 digs in the two matches. She was the only WOU player in double figures on Thursday with a double-double of 14 kills and 15 digs against Central Washington. Vandenkooy then added 10 kills and 14 digs against Northwest Nazarene. Vandenkooy leads the Wolves with 2.72 kills per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Sophie Hall added 18 kills and 11 blocks in the two matches. She finished with five kills and five blocks against Central Washington before leading the Wolves with 11 kills and six blocks against Northwest Nazarene. Hall is averaging 1.67 kills and 0.90 blocks her set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Sierra Stultz came up with 43 digs in the two matches, led by her 22 digs against Northwest Nazarene. Stultz is ranked eighth in the GNAC with 4.42 digs per set.

• Western Oregon is averaging 11.38 kills and 15.73 digs per set with a .162 hitting percentage. The Wolves rank third in the GNAC with 1.67 aces per set.

• Western Oregon takes the Alaska road trip this week, playing at Alaska on Thursday and at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington’s win streak is now at 12 matches thanks to a three-set sweep of Alaska on Thursday, a four-set win over Alaska Anchorage on Saturday and a five-set win at Simon Fraser on Tuesday.

• The victories moved Western Washington to No. 7 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25. It is the 86th consecutive poll that the Vikings have been ranked in dating back to the first regular-season poll of the 2012 season.

• Junior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season while picking up her third weekly award of the year. Harper finished with 27 kills, 15 blocks and a .354 hitting percentage in the victories. Harper led the Vikings with 10 kills and nine blocks with a .444 hitting percentage in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Alaska. She then added 14 kills and six blocks in the Vikings’ four-set win over Alaska Anchorage before adding 13 kills against Simon Fraser on Tuesday. Harper leads the GNAC and is second in Division II with 1.55 blocks per set and leads the GNAC with a .352 hitting percentage.

• Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps finished with 21 kills in the weekend matches, paced by her double-double of 11 kills and 19 digs against Alaska Anchorage. She then led the Vikings with 27 kills and 15 digs at Simon Fraser on Tuesday. Phelps leads the GNAC and is 31st in Division II with 3.90 kills and is also seventh in Division II with 12.82 attacks per set.

• Western Washington enters the week leading the GNAC and 39th in Division II with a .239 hitting percentage. They also lead the GNAC and rank fourth in Division II with 2.98 blocks per set. The Vikings are 31st in Division II with 18.28 digs per set.

• Western Washington will wrap the week at home on Saturday, hosting Montana State Billings.