Monday, November 19, 2012

PORTLAND, OR – Outside hitter Marlayna Geary of Western Washington has been selected the 2012 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Year.

Geary, who was one of five unanimous selections named to the first team all-conference team, ranks first in the GNAC this fall in both kills (4.16) and points (4.76) in leading the Vikings to a 23-3 record and their sixth GNAC title in the 12-year history of the conference.  She received nine of a possible 10 first-place vote.

Also earning special awards were Viking libero Samantha Hutchinson, Alaska Fairbanks outside hitter Sam Harthun and two Alaska Anchorage players – outside hitter Julia Mackey and middle blocker Jodi Huddleston.

Hutchinson, who leads the GNAC in digs averaging 6.35 per set, was voted the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Harthun and Mackey tied in the balloting for GNAC Freshman of the Year.  Huddleston was selected as the GNAC Newcomer of the Year.

Harthun led the Nanooks and ranked fifth in the GNAC in kills (3.49 per set), while Mackey ranked ninth in kills (3.13) and also had 53 blocks.  Huddleston averaged 1.96 kills and led UAA in blocks with 66.

Diane Flick of Western Washington was selected as the GNAC Coach of the Year for the seventh time.  Flick (273-73, 13 years), who is a 1993 graduate of University of Washington, was also selected in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2010 when she led her team to GNAC titles and in 2006 when she led the Vikings to a second-place finish.

Western Washington led the all-star selections placing four players on the 14-woman first team.  Western Oregon had three first team selections, while Central Washington, Seattle Pacific and Alaska Anchorage had two each.  Montana State Billings placed one player on the first team.

Unanimous selections included Geary, Central Washington outside hitter Marcy Hjellum, Western Oregon middle blocker Krissi Kemper and setters Laurie Yearout of Western Washington and Kimya Jafroudi of Alaska Anchorage.

Geary earned first team honors for the third time.  She was also voted to the first team in 2009 and last year.  Outside hitter Danielle Reese of Western Oregon and Seattle Pacific setter Shelby Swanson were also first team repeaters from last year’s team.

2012 GNAC ALL-CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAM

GNAC Player of the Year – Marlayna Geary, WWU (5-10, Sr., Tacoma, WA).  GNAC Defensive Player of the Year – Samantha Hutchinson, WWU (5-7, So., Tacoma, WA).  GNAC Newcomer of the Year – Jodi Huddleston, UAA (6-1, Jr., Scottsbluff, NE).  GNAC Freshman of the Year – Julia Mackey, UAA (5-11, Fr., Fairbanks, AK) and  Sam Harthun, UAF (6-0, Fr., Oregon City, OR).  GNAC Coach of the Year – Diane Flick, WWU.

FIRST TEAM: Outside Hitters - +**Marlayna Geary, WWU (5-10, Sr., Tacoma, WA); +Marcy Hjellum, CWU (5-11, Sr., Kennewick, WA); *Dani Reese, WOU (5-10, Sr., Gig Harbor, WA); Cailin Fellows, SPU (5-10, Sr., Edmonds, WA);  Samantha Ward, WOU (6-2, Sr., Salem, OR); Julia Mackey, UAA (5-11, Fr., Fairbanks, AK). Middle Blockers - +Krissi Kemper, WOU (5-11, Jr., Prineville, OR); Kayla Erickson, WWU (6-1, So., Tacoma, WA); Erin Smith, CWU (5-10, Jr., Selah, WA); Setters -  +Laurie Yearout, WWU (5-9, Sr., Spokane, WA); +Kimya Jafroudi, UAA (5-7, Sr., Huntington Beach, CA); *Shelby Swanson, SPU (5-9, Sr., Kennewick, WA). Liberos - Erin Compton, MSUB (5-7, Jr., Billings, MT); Samantha Hutchinson, WWU (5-7, So., Tacoma, WA).  **Two-time repeater (Geary from 2009 & 2011).  *Repeater  +Unanimous.

HONORABLE MENTION: Outside Hitters – Sam Harthun, UAF (6-0, Fr., Oregon City, OR); Monica Grimsrud, MSUB (6-1, So., Montana City, MT); Emmy Dolan, CWU (5-11, Jr., Castle Rock, WA). Middle Blockers – Becky Blees, WOU (6-0, Jr., Portland, OR); Nikki Lowell, SPU (5-10, Jr., Claremont, CA); Jodi Huddleston, UAA (6-1, Jr., Scottsbluff, NE); Katy Ferguson, SMU (6-0, Sr., Tacoma, WA); Becky Flores, NNU (5-10, Sr., Kennewick, WA); Emily Boerger, WWU (6-1, Jr., Marysville, WA).  Setter –  Michelle Terpstra, NNU (5-9, So., Ripon, CA); Catie Fry, CWU (6-0, Fr., Tacoma, WA).  Libero – Kaely Kight, CWU (5-10, So., Mead, WA).