Wednesday, October 4, 2017

CRUSADERS CONTINUE TO ROLL: Northwest Nazarene continues to be on pace to make 2017 a very special season. The Crusaders made it 14-0 thus far with a pair of home wins over the Alaska schools. Northwest Nazarene scored a four-set win over defending GNAC champion Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, avenging a NCAA West Regional semifinals loss to the Seawolves last season. The Crusaders finished the weekend with a three-set sweep of Alaska.

The victories continued a great roll at home. In eight matches at the Johnson Sports Center, the Crusaders have dropped a grand total of four sets. Two of those were to Sonoma State during the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase with one each to Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage.

As a team, Northwest Nazarene leads the GNAC in hitting percentage (.260), opponent hitting percentage (.146) and assists (13.42). The Crusaders are 14th in Division II in assists, 16th in hitting percentage and 19th with 14.02 kills per set.

HOME COOKING: In addition to Northwest Nazarene, both Western Washington and Simon Fraser have built runs at home to net victories.
The Vikings are now 4-0 since returning to Carver Gymnasium for the first time in two years. Western Washington had dropped just one set in that span, that to Simon Fraser in the home opener on Sept. 19.

After opening the season with a 3-8 record, the Clan have won three straight since playing on Burnaby Mountain. All the victories came in four sets, with the three-match home stand ending with a win over Concordia on Saturday.

BLOCK PARTY: A longtime national leader when it comes to blocks, Central Washington enters this week leading Division II in every blocking category. The Wildcats rank first with 3.09 blocks per set and first with 167 total team blocks.

Senior middle blocker Sabrina Wheelhouse completes the sweep. She is first in Division II with 1.72 blocks per set and 93 total blocks.

IN THE POLLS: Despite a four-match win streak, Western Washington slipped one spot to No. 11 in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25. Northwest Nazarene continues to keep pace, retaining the No. 12 ranking from last week.

Alaska Anchorage dropped out of the top-25 for the first time since the 2015 preseason poll. The Seawolves are third among teams receiving votes with 49 points. Central Washington received votes for the sixth consecutive week with 14 points.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Gabby Oddo, Seattle Pacific
OH • 5-9 • Sophomore • Alta Loma, Calif.

Oddo turned in back-to-back 20-kill nights as the Falcons won a pair of five-set matches. In Tuesday’s win over Saint Martin’s, Oddo led the way with 20 kills, 10 digs, three blocks, two aces and a .267 hitting percentage. At Montana State Billings on Thursday, Oddo finished with 23 kills and a .293 hitting percentage. Oddo led all GNAC players last week with 4.30 kills per set.

Also Nominated: Madison Weg (Central Washington), Maddi Vigil (Montana State Billings), Emily Gooding (Saint Martin’s), Tessa May (Simon Fraser), Mariella Vandenkooy (Western Oregon), Brette Boesel (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Kyla Morgan, Central Washington
L • 5-4 • Sophomore • Graham, Wash.

Morgan led a home sweep of the Alaska schools with 48 digs and an average of 6.86 digs per set to go along with three aces and seven assists. She had 21 digs and three aces in Thursday’s five-set win over Alaska and added 27 digs and four aces in Saturday’s three-set sweep of the Seawolves.

Also Nominated: Izela Alvarez (Montana State Billings), Kamille Langford (Saint Martin’s), Shaun Crespi (Seattle Pacific), Libbie Hoene (Western Oregon), Michaela Hall (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
LAST WEEK: Sept. 28: Lost at Central Washington, 3-2. Sept. 30: Lost at Northwest Nazarene, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5 vs. Western Washington, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: vs. Simon Fraser, 1 p.m.

• Alaska dropped a pair competitive matches last week, including a five-set heartbreaker at Central Washington.

• Freshman outside hitter Markie Miller finished with 24 kills in the two matches, paced by an 18-kill performance against Central Washington. Miller is the Nanooks’ leading hitter with 142 kills, 2.58 kills per set and a .247 hitting percentage.

• Sophomore libero Jenna Hickel had 40 digs in the two matches, averaging 5.00 per set. Her ledger included 26 digs and five assists against Central Washington. Hickel enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with 4.82 digs per set.

• The Nanooks continue to have two players ranked in the top-10 in the GNAC in hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Kim Wong is third with a .327 percentage after adding 14 kills and hitting .303 in last week’s matches. Senior middle blocker Riley Podowicz is ninth with a .269 hitting percentage.

• Alaska enters the week third in the GNAC and 46th in Division II with a .226 hitting percentage. The Nanooks are third with 13.07 kills per set and ranks second in the league with 1.70 aces per set.

• At 8-7 overall, Alaska has won its most matches in eight seasons. The Nanooks last won more than seven matches in 2009 (12-15).

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
LAST WEEK: Sept. 28: Lost at Northwest Nazarene, 3-1. Sept. 30: Lost at Central Washington, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5: vs. Simon Fraser, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: vs. Western Washington, 7 p.m.

• The Seawolves dropped both matches of a GNAC road trip for the first time since Oct. 24 & 26, 2013 (also to CWU and NNU). In addition, it was the first loss in a three-set sweep in a GNAC match since a lost at NNU on Oct. 25, 2014.

• With the losses, Alaska Anchorage dropped out of the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 for the first time since the 2015 preseason poll. The Seawolves are still among teams receiving votes with 49 points.

• Junior outside hitter Chrisalyn Johnson led UAA with 21 kills while junior outside hitter Leah Swiss finished with 20 kills. Swiss led the way against Northwest Nazarene with 13 kills while Johnson led the team with 12 kills against Central Washington. Johnson leads UAA with 174 kills and 2.90 kills per set.

• Swiss and senior defensive specialist Keala Kaio-Perez are tied for first in the GNAC and 29th in Division II with 0.50 aces per set. They are also tied for 10th in Division II with 30 total aces.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week ranked third in the GNAC and 37th in Division II with 2.19 blocks per set. Junior middle blocker Tara Melton is seventh in the GNAC and 48th in Division II with 1.13 blocks per set.

• As a team, Alaska Anchorage owns a .187 hitting percentage and is third in the GNAC with a .161 opponent hitting percentage. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and are 18th in Division II with 1.98 aces per set and is 10th in Division II eith 119 total aces.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 28: Beat Alaska, 3-2. Sept. 30: Beat Alaska Anchorage, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5: at Saint Martin’s, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: at Seattle Pacific, 7 p.m.

• The Wildcats scored a sweep of the Alaska schools, which included Alaska Anchorage’s first GNAC loss in a three-set sweep since 2014.

• Sophomore libero Kyla Morgan was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after she finished with 48 digs and an average of 6.68 digs per set in the two matches. She had 21 digs and three aces against Alaska and added 27 digs and four aces against Alaska Anchorage. Morgan is fifth in the GNAC with 4.87 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Shelby Mauritson led the CWU offense with 28 kills in the two matches. She finsihed with 17 kills and 26 digs against Alaska and added 11 kills and nine digs against Alaska Anchorage. Mauritson enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with 3.44 kills per set.

• Junior outside hitter Madison Weg had 26 kills and finished with a .368 hitting percentage in the two matches. She led the team with 18 kills in the win over Alaska.

• Central Washington leads Division II in every blocking category. As a team, the Wildcats are averaging a national-best 3.09 blocks per set with a total of 167 team blocks. Senior middle blocker Sabrina Wheelhouse leads Division II with 1.72 blocks per set and 93 total blocks. She had 16 in the last two matches, 14 of those coming against Alaska.

CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: Sept. 28: Lost to Western Washington, 3-0. Sept. 30: Lost to Simon Fraser, 3-1. Oct. 3: Beat Western Oregon, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5: vs. Montana St. Billings, 5:30 p.m.

• After dropping both matches last week to the border schools, Concordia opened this week with a three-set sweep of Western Oregon to snap a five-match losing streak.

• Senior opposite Lindsey Dorsey paced the offense with 35 kills in the three matches. She finished with 13 kills against Western Washington and 12 at Simon Fraser. Dorsey enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 0.41 aces per set, fifth with 4.02 points per set and ninth with 3.31 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Colby Barnette finished with 33 kills in the three matches. She led the Cavaliers with 12 kills and a .300 hitting percentage against Western Oregon to go along with 11 kills against Simon Fraser on Saturday. Barnette is sixth in the GNAC with a .305 hitting percentage and eighth with 1.06 blocks per set.

• Senior setter Michele Brown continues to rank third of the GNAC with 10.19 assists per set and fifth with 0.38 aces per set.

• Concordia enters Thursday’s match with Montana State Billings with a .184 hitting percentage. The Cavaliers are third in the GNAC with 12.14 assists and 1.63 aces per set.

• Central Washington is second in the GNAC with a .149 opponent hitting percentage and owns a .211 team hitting percetnage with 12.80 kills per set.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: Sept. 28: Lost at Seattle Pacific, 3-2. Sept. 30: Beat Saint Martin’s, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5: at Concordia, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 7: at Western Oregon, 2 p.m.

• Montana State Billings returned home for a split of its weekend matches, falling in five sets to Seattle Pacific before sweeping Saint Martin’s.

• Freshman outside hitter Maddi Vigil continues to drive the MSUB offense, finishing with 34 kills and 4.25 kills per set in the two matches. Her week was topped by an impressive 21-kill effort in the loss to Seattle Pacific. Vigil is seventh in the GNAC with 3.42 kills per set and eighth with 3.77 points per set.

• Freshman defensive specialist Izela Alvarez had 46 digs in the two matches, topped by 29 digs against Seattle Pacific. Alvarez leads the GNAC and is 23rd in Division II with 5.72 digs per set. She also ranks 35th in Division II with 303 total blocks.

• Freshman setter Alexa Smythe finished with 85 assists in the two matches and had 48 of those agsinst Seattle Pacific. Smythe was the primary setter for the Yellowjackets in place of freshman Kylee Clarke, who is fifth in the GNAC with 9.62 assists per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week with a .182 hitting percentage with 11.87 kills per set. The Yellowjackets are second in the GNAC and 29th in Division II with 18.30 digs per set.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: Sept. 28: Beat Alaska Anchorage, 3-1. Sept. 30: Beat Alaska, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5: at Seattle Pacific, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: at Saint Martin’s, 2 p.m.

• The undefeated march continues for the Crusaders, whose won its 13th and 14th consecutive matches of the season over the Alaska schools. They helped give Alaska Anchorage its first back-to-back GNAC losses since 2013.

• With the victories, NNU stayed at No. 12 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll.

• Senior middle blocker Madi Farrell finished with 27 kills and 12 blocks in the two matches and led the GNAC last week with a .556 hitting percentage. She led the way with 17 kills and four blocks against Alaska Anchorage and added 10 kills and eight blocks against Alaska. Farrell leads the GNAC and is third in the GNAC with a .452 hitting percentage. She is second in the GNAC and 25th in Division II with 4.08 kills per set and is also second in the GNAC and fifth in Division II with 1.38 blocks per set.

• Senior outside hitter Kendra Bodine added 24 kills and and hit .309 in the two victories. She registered 15 kills and 10 digs against UAA and had nine kills against UAF. Bodine leads the GNAC and is 19th in Division II with 4.14 kills per set. She also sits second in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 4.64 points per set.

• Junior libero Shayli Siegfreid led the conference with 6.00 digs per set in the two matches (42 total), which included 26 digs against Alaska Anchorage. She ranks third in the GNAC and 49th in Division II with 5.20 digs per set.

• The Crusaders lead the GNAC and is 16th in Division II with a .260 hitting percentage. The Crusaders also lead the GNAC and rank 14th in Division II with 13.42 assists per set. In addition, NNU ranks 19th in Division II with 14.02 kills per set and 32nd with 18.26 digs per set.

SAINT MARTIN’S
LAST WEEK: Sept. 26: Lost at Seattle Pacific, 3-2. Sept. 30: Lost at Montana State Billings, 3-0,
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5: vs. Central Washington, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: vs. Northwest Nazarene, 2 p.m.

• Saint Martin’s has lost four straight matches and five of six in GNAC play with losses last week at Seattle Pacific in five sets and at Montana State Billings in a three-set sweep.

• Senior outside hitter Rebecca Mitchell led the Saints in the loss to SPU with a double-double of 13 kills and 16 digs. She enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with 3.60 kills per set and sixth with 3.89 points per set.

•Junior outside hitter Megan Vernoy led SMU at Montana State Billings with nine kills. Freshman outside hitter Emily Gooding backed Mitchell’s performance at SPU with 10 kills and five blocks.

• Senior setter Nicolette Nesbitt finished with 40 assists in the two matches last week, 27 of those coming at Seattle Pacific. Nesbitt enters the week sixth in the GNAC with 9.22 assists per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week with a .161 hitting percentage and 11.82 kills and 16.55 digs per set.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Sept. 26: Beat Saint Martin’s, 3-2. Sept. 28: Won at Montana State Billings, 3-2.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5: vs. Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: vs. Central Washington, 7 p.m.

• Seattle Pacific moved into a tie for fourth place in the GNAC standings with a pair of five-set victories over Saint Martin’s and Montana State Billings.

• Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Oddo was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after she finished with 43 kills, 4.30 kills per set and a .282 hitting percentage in the two matches. She led the Falcons with 20 kills and 10 digs against Saint Martin’s and added 23 kills in the win over Montana State Billings. Oddo enters the week eighth in the GNAC with 3.36 kills per set and ninth with 3.73 points per set.

• Senior outside hitter Hannah Lautenbach added 26 kills in the two matches, including a performance of 14 kills and 11 digs against Saint Martin’s.

• After missing much of the first half of the season to injury, junior middle blocker Shaun Crespi came alive for 16 kills in the two matches. Twelve of those came along with 11 kills in the win over Saint Martin’s. In four matches, Crespi is averaging 4.25 blocks per set.

• Junior setter Symone Tran added 109 assists to her ledger and averaged 10.90 assists per set.She came up with 54 assists against Saint Martin’s and added 55 assists against Montana State Billings. Tran enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 9.80 assists per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week with a .193 hitting percentage and averages of 12.25 kills and 15.92 digs per set.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Sept. 28: Beat Western Oregon, 3-1. Sept. 30: Beat Concordia, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5: at Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: at Alaska, 1 p.m.

• Simon Fraser is now 3-0 at home this season after taking four-set matches from Western Oregon and Concordia last weekend.

• Junior middle blocker Tessa May led the Clan with 33 kills, seven blocks and a .500 hitting percentage in the two matches. She finished with 21 kills and three blocks while hitting .556 in the win over Western Oregon. May then finished with 12 kills and six blocks against Concordia. May enters the week fifth in the GNAC with a .320 hitting percentrage and sixth with 1.13 blocks per set.

• Senior outside hitter Christine Howlett finished with 29 kills and hit .314 in the two matches. She led the Clan with 13 kills against Concordia and had 16 kills against Western Oregon. Howlett enters the week with 133 total kills and a .255 hitting percentage.

• Freshman setter Julia Tays led the GNAC with 11.72 assists per set in the two matches last week, topped by a double-double of 50 assists and 11 digs against Concordia. Tays enters the week seventh in the GNAC with 7.24 assists per set.

• As a team, Simon Fraser enters the week with a .191 hitting percentage and 12.80 kills per set. The Clan is fourth in the GNAC and 44th in Division II in digs with 17.89 per set.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 28: Lost to Simon Fraser, 3-1. Sept. 30: Lost to Western Washington, 3-0. Oct. 3: Lost to Concordia, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 7: vs. Montana State Billings, 7 p.m.

• Western Oregon is in the throes of a five-match losing streak after dropping three matches last week, including three-set losses to Western Washington and Concordia.

• Senior outside hitter Alisha Bettinson led WOU in the three matches with 31 kills. She finished with 19 kills in the loss at Simon Fraser and had nine kills at Concordia on Tuesday. Bettinson is third in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with 4.04 kills per set. She is also fourth in the GNAC and 34th in Division II with 4.38 points per set.

• Junior opposite Mariella Vandenkooy led the Wolves against Concordia with 19 kills and a .410 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Sydney Blankinship had 11 kills and hit .450 in the two weekend matches last week.

• Western Oregon enters the week with a .182 hitting percentage, averaging 12.13 kills and 17.60 digs per set. Individually, junior setter Leila Holt is eighth in the GNAC with 5.75 assists per set while junior setter Maddie Mehciz is ninth with 0.34 aces per set.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 28: Beat Concordia, 3-0. Sept. 30: Beat Western Oregon, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 5: at Alaska, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: at Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m.

• Western Washington is now 4-0 since its return to Carver Gymansium. With a pair of three-set sweeps of Concordia and Western Oregon, the Vikings have dropped just one set on their home floor.

• Despite the wins, the Vikings dropped one spot to No. 11 in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25.

• Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps continued to lead the Vikings with 23 kills, 3.38 kills per set and 30 digs in the two matches. She registered double-doubles of 12 kills and 16 digs against Concordia and 11 kills and 14 digs to go along with four blocks against Western Oregon. Phelps enters the week fourth in the GNAC and 48th in Division II with 3.80 kills per set. She is also fourth in the GNAC with 4.88 digs per set. In addition, Phelps is 39th in Division II with 4.41 points per set and 40th with 590 total attacks.

• Junior middle blocker Michaela Hall has emerged as a force at the net, adding 11 blocks to her total last week. She had seven blocks against Concordia and added four blocks to go along with nine kills against Western Oregon. Sophomore Joslyn Bopray, meanwhile, added seven blocks last week. The two are tied for fourth in the GNAC and 29th in Division II with 1.18 blocks per set.

• Junior setter Brette Boesel had 68 assists in the two matches, paced by 35 in the match against Concordia. She enters the week second in the GNAC and 10th in Division II with 11.49 assists per set.

• Western Washington leads the GNAC and is 16th in Division II with 14.08 kills per set. The Vikings also lead the GNAC and rank 22nd nationally with 19.04 digs per set. The team’s 2.37 blocks per set is 14th in Division II while their 12.98 assists per set is 21st.