Tuesday, October 1, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington middle blockers Kayla Erickson and Emily Boerger rank 1-2 in hitting percentage in this week's NCAA Division II national statistical report.

Erickson is hitting .463 and Boerger is swinging at a .436 pace.  Both players are on pace to break the GNAC single-season record of .425 set last season by Krissi Kemper of Western Oregon.

The two have led the Vikings to a 9-1 record this fall, including 2-0 in conference play.  WWU, which hosts Northwest Nazarene (7-3, 3-1) Thursday and Central Washington (6-6, 2-2) Saturday, cracked the Top 10 in this week's AVCA national poll, moving up two slots to No. 9.

Erickson and Boerger aren't the only Vikings ranked in the Top 10 in a statistical category.  Libero Samantha Hutchinson ranks second in digs, averaging 7.00 per set.  Only one player in GNAC history - WWU's Courtney Schneider - has finished a season averaging seven digs per set.  She did it twice - in 2006 (7.66) and 2007 (7.74).

Setter Taylor Dillard ranks 10th in assists, averaging 11.22 per set.

As a team Western Washington ranks sixth in hitting percentage (.303), 12th in kills (14.25) and 14th in assists (13.06).  Seattle Pacific ranks second in blocks (2.63).

THIS WEEK

Thursday's schedule matches up the top four teams in the GNAC standings.  In addition to the WWU/NNU showdown in Bellingham, Alaska Anchorage (4-0 in GNAC matches) hosts Western Oregon (2-1).  Meanwhile, Central Washington (2-2) plays at Simon Fraser (0-2) and Saint Martin's (0-3) visits Alaska Fairbanks (1-3).

On Saturday, Montana State Billings (1-3) plays at Seattle Pacific (2-2), SMU visits UAA, WOU takes on the Nanooks in Fairbanks, Northwest Nazarene visits Simon Fraser and Central Washington plays arch-rival Western Washington in Bellingham.

LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

Outside hitter Katelynn Zanders and libero Quinn Barker led Alaska Anchorage to road wins at CWU and NNU as the Seawolves (10-6) stayed on top the GNAC standings with a perfect 4-0 record.  Both players earned GNAC Red Lion Player of the Week honors; Zanders for offense and Barker for defense.  Barker shared the award with Hutchinson.

Zanders had 27 kills, 19 digs and five aces and Barker had 41 digs and seven aces without a service error.  Hutchinson had digs on 20 percent of WWU's opponents' attacks, averaging nine per set (54 total).

Alaska Anchorage's two road wins earned it five ballot points in this week's national poll.  That puts them among "others receiving votes" and 38th overall.

For more highlights from last week, check out the GNAC Weekly Report.