Tuesday, September 24, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington, which was idle last weekend, climbed two positions and is now ranked 11th in this week's AVCA Division II national volleyball poll.

The Vikings return to action this week opening their conference season on the road Thursday night at Billings against Montana State Billings.

WWU brings a .333 hitting percentage into the contest.  That ranks second nationally, trailing only perennial national power Concordia-St. Paul, which is hitting .350.

The MSUB-WWU match is one of four on the GNAC schedule Thursday.  Elsewhere Simon Fraser plays at Seattle Pacific, Central Washington hosts Alaska Anchorage and Northwest Nazarene opens its home season against Alaska Fairbanks.  Western Oregon and Saint Martin's are idle Thursday before facing each other Saturday at Lacey.

NNU brings a five-match win streak into its contest as it makes its home debut.  CWU's match against UAA is also its home debut.  The Wildcats dropped out of the Top 25 this week, but are still among "others receiving votes" in the national poll and are 27th overall.

Terpstra Ranks Third in Blocks

Northwest Nazarene's Andrea Terpstra had 10 blocks in two matches last week and now ranks third nationally in blocks, averaging 1.50 per set.

She is one six GNAC players, including four from Western Washington, who rank in the Top 10.  Nikki Lowell of Seattle Pacific ranks 10th in blocks, averaging 1.31. 

Western Oregon's Hannah Deede, who ranks 21st (1.23), tied a school-record with 12 blocks last Thursday in a 3-2 win over Central Washington.  Deede's block total was just one off the GNAC single-match record for a five-set match. 

WWU players ranked in the Top 10 include Kayla Erickson (2nd in hitting percentage, .484), Samantha Hutchinson (2nd in digs, 6.50), Emily Boerger (5th in hitting percentage, .453) and  Taylor Dillard (8th in assists, 11.65).

In team categories, Western Washington ranks in the Top 10 in three categories.  In addition to ranking second in hitting percentage (.333), the Vikings rank sixth in kills (14.81) and ninth in assists (13.54).  Seattle Pacific ranks third in blocks (2.62).  Northwest Nazarene ranks seventh in blocks (2.54) and eighth in digs (19.25).

NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Sept. 22): Individuals (Top 30): Points – 19. Andrea Terpstra, NNU, 4.71; 20. Sam Harthun, UAF, 4.69; 28. Kayla Erickson, WWU, 4.46. Kills – 26. Sam Harthun, UAF, 4.02.  Hitting Percentage – 2. Kayla Erickson, WWU, .484; 5. Emily Boerger, WWU, .453. Assists – 8. Taylor Dillard, WWU, 11.65; 14. Catie Fry, CWU, 11.03.  Blocks – 3. Andrea Terpstra, NNU, 1.50; 10. Nikki Lowell, SPU, 1.31; 11. Becky Blees, WOU, 1.30; 21. Hannah Deede, WOU, 1.23; 24. Jodi Huddleston, UAA, 1.19.  Digs – 2. Samantha Hutchinson, WWU, 6.50; 11. Kaely Kight, CWU, 5.77.  Team (Top 30): Kills – 6. Western Washington 14.81.  Hitting Percentage – 2. Western Washington .333.  Assists – 9. Western Washington 13.54.  Blocks – 3. Seattle Pacific 2.62; 7. Northwest Nazarene 2.54; 23. Alaska Anchorage 2.38. Digs – 8. Northwest Nazarene 19.25.

Harthun, Mackey, Roberts Earn Player of the Week Honors

Sam Harthun of Alaska Fairbanks, Julia Mackey of Alaska Anchorage and Taylor Roberts of Northwest Nazarene all earned Player of the Week honors last week.

Harthun, who leads the GNAC on the season in kills (4.02) and service aces (0.53), split the Offense award with Mackey after producing 31 kills and a .340 percentage in two matches.  Mackey had 26 kills and a .345 percentage as UAA swept a pair of home matches.

Roberts helped NNU extend its win streak to five matches contributing 50 digs as NNU held its two opponents to a combined .148 percentage to win the GNAC Red Lion Defensive Player of the Week award.

For more highlights from last week's action, check out the GNAC Weekly Release under RELATED LINKS.