Tuesday, September 18, 2012
PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage, which have both put together significant win streaks, head out on the road this weekend for Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches.
The Vikings, who moved up one spot to 13th place in this week’s AVCA NCAA Division II poll, will take a 9-1 record and a five-match win streak to Nampa for a match with Northwest Nazarene (7-4, 1-1) before moving on to Ellensburg for a showdown with their arch-rivals Central Washington (6-4, 1-1).
Alaska Anchorage, meanwhile, will take their 7-3 record and six-match win streak to Western Oregon (7-2) Thursday and Saint Martin’s (2-3). Both the Wolves and Saints will be making their conference debuts.
Central Washington and Western Oregon each received votes in this week’s AVCA poll, coming in 33rd and 34th, respectively.
In addition to its AVCA ranking, Western Washington is also listed prominently in this week’s NCAA Division II national statistical report.
The Vikings rank eighth in kills (14.32), seventh in hitting percentage (.293) and sixth in assists (13.73). They also rank 17th in blocks (2.45).
Individually, Viking setter Laurie Yearout ranks third in assists (12.41) and libero Samantha Hutchinson ranks sixth in digs (6.05). Hutchinson earned her second straight GNAC Red Lion Defensive Player-of-the-Week award this week.
WWU outside hitter Marlayna Geary also ranks in the Top 10. She is 10th in kills (4.24). Geary also ranks 11th nationally in points (4.76).
NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Sept.16): Team (Top 30): Assists – 6. Western Washington 13.73. Blocks – 17. Western Washington 2.45; 28. Central Washington 2.34. Hitting PCT. – 7. Western Washington .293; 29. Northwest Nazarene .242. Kills – 8. Western Washington 14.32. Individuals (Top 30): Assists – 3. Laurie Yearout, WWU, 12.41; 14. Kimya Jafroudi, UAA, 11.00. Digs – 6. Samantha Hutchinson, WWU, 6.05; 11. Erin Compton, MSUB, 5.67; 20. Kaely Kight, CWU, 5.32. Hitting PCT. – 21. Kayla Erickson, WWU, .402; 22. Erin Smith, CWU, .402. Kills – 10. Marlayna Geary, WWU, 4.24. Points – 11. Marlayna Geary, WWU, 4.76.