Tuesday, October 29, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - A week ago the race for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Volleyball West Regionals looked like a two-team affair between Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington.

However, upsets at Bellingham and Anchorage last week have turned the race into a five-team scramble.

Alaska Anchorage's nine-match win streak came to an end as it dropped home contests to Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington.  The Seawolves (15-8, 9-2), however, still held on to first place by one half a match over Western Washington (15-3, 8-2) which lost at home Thursday to Seattle Pacific.  SPU's win was its 500th all-time victory.

Northwest Nazarene (12-5, 8-3), meanwhile, closed to within one match of UAA sweeping two matches in Alaska, while Central Washington (11-8, 7-4) and Seattle Pacific (11-8, 7-4) are now just two back after earning road sweeps.

The race could get even more interesting this week as WWU and UAA both hit the road for a pair of matches.

The Vikings head to Ellensburg for a Thursday contest with the Wildcats before completing the trip Saturday at Northwest Nazarene.  Meanwhile, the Seawolves will travel to Lacey and Monmouth for road contests with Saint Martin's (7-15, 3-7) Thursday and Western Oregon (7-13, 4-6) Saturday.

UAA will likely play those two matches without Julia Mackey, who ranks 10th in the GNAC in kills (3.23).  Mackey sat out last week's two contests with a knee injury.

In other matches Thursday, Alaska Fairbanks will play at Western Oregon and Simon Fraser visits Northwest Nazarene.  UAF will play at Saint Martin's, Simon Fraser visits Central Washington and Seattle Pacific plays at MSU Billings to complete Saturday's schedule.

MILESTONES: Seattle Pacific’s win Thursday at Bellingham was its 500th in school history and its first at Western Washington since Oct. 31, 2009 as the Vikings lost back-to-back home matches for the first time since 1999 ... Alaska Anchorage lost back-to-back home contests for the first time since 2007 ... Western Oregon’s Becky Blees is closing in on the GNAC career record for most blocking assists.  With 360, she needs just seven more to equal the record of 367 held by Cammy Dranginis of Northwest Nazarene (2006-09).  Blees already holds the record for most per set of 1.10 ... Samantha Hutchinson of Western Washington cracked the Top 10 GNAC career dig list, taking ove spot.  She currently has 1,462.

First NCAA Division II West Regional Poll Due Out Next Week

The first official NCAA Division II West Regional poll will be released next Wednesday (Nov. 6).  The regional poll will eventually determine the five teams that will join the GNAC, CCCA and PacWest champions in the regional playoffs in late November.

In the AVCA national poll, three GNAC teams received votes this week.

Western Washington slipped two positions falling to 10th.  Alaska Anchorage (33rd overall) and Seattle Pacific (38th overall) are among "others receiving votes" this week.

Five other West Region teams are ranked in the Top 25, led by BYU-Hawaii at No. 4.  UC San Diego is ranked 12th.  Cal State San Bernardino is ranked 13th and Sonoma State is ranked 14th.  Point Loma Nazarene is at No. 25.

WWU's Erickson Maintains Hitting Lead in NCAA Division II National Statistics

Kayla Erickson of Western Washington continues to lead NCAA Division II in hitting percentage with a .428 percentage after swinging at a .431 pace in contests last week with SPU and MSUB.

Erickson is also prominent in three other categories, ranking 18th in points (4.49), 23rd in kills (3.83) and 28th in blocks (1.17).

Two other Vikings rank in the Top 10 nationally.  Libero Samantha Hutchinson ranks second in digs (6.75) and setter Taylor Dillard is 10th in assists (11.69).

Sam Harthun of Alaska Fairbanks is also in the Top 10, ranking ninth in points (4.83).  She also ranks 11th in kills (4.33).   In blocks, Andrea Terpstra of Northwest Nazarene ranks 12th averaging 1.28 per set.

In team statistics, Western Washington ranks fifth in hitting percentage (.286), 10th in kills (14.17), 13th in assists (13.15), 17th in digs (18.19) and 28th in blocks (2.31).

In addition to the Vikings, three other GNAC teams rank in the Top 30 in blocks - Seattle Pacific (11th, 2.54), Northwest Nazarene (20th, 2.37) and Alaska Anchorage (29th, 2.30).

NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Oct. 27): Individuals (Top 30): Points – 9. Sam Harthun, UAF, 4.83; 18. Kayla Erickson, WWU, 4.49. Kills – 11. Sam Harthun, UAF, 4.33; 23. Kayla Erickson, WWU, 3.83.  Hitting Percentage – 1. Kayla Erickson, WWU, .428; 21. Emily Boerger, WWU, .360. Assists – 10. Taylor Dillard, WWU, 11.69; 28. Catie Fry, CWU, 10.62.  Blocks – 12. Andrea Terpstra, NNU, 1.28; 13. Nikki Lowell, SPU, 1.27; 15. Jodi Huddleston, UAA, 1.24; 17. Becky Blees, WOU, 1.23; 28. Kayla Erickson, WWU, 1.17.  Digs – 2. Samantha Hutchinson, WWU, 6.75; 24. Kaely Kight, CWU, 5.38.  Team (Top 30): Kills – 10. Western Washington 14.17.  Hitting Percentage – 5. Western Washington .286.  Assists – 13. Western Washington 13.15.  Blocks – 11. Seattle Pacific 2.54; 20. Northwest Nazarene 2.37; 28. Western Washington 2.31; 29. Alaska Anchorage 2.30. Digs – 17. Western Washington 18.19.

GNAC Red Lion Players of the Week

Offense -  Madi Cavell, Seattle Pacific (MB, 6-0, Jr., Keizer, OR - McNary) had back-to-back career highs in  leading the Falcons to road wins at Western Washington and Simon Fraser by 3-1 scores.  After producing 22 kills including match point in a win against the nationally eighth-ranked Vikings, Cavell, who finished the weekend with 29 digs, had 24 more kills at Simon Fraser.  "They had no answer for Madi," SPU head coach Chris Johnson said after Saturday’s win. "They couldn't stop her. She only got blocked once and was just overpowering everyone.” 

Defense – Erin Smith, Central Washington (MB, 5-10, Sr., Selah, WA) had nine blocks in seven sets increasing her career total to 303.  She also added 20 kills, hitting .447 as the Wildcats earned a sweep in Alaska, defeating Alaska Fairbanks 3-1 and Alaska Anchorage 3-0. Her nine blocks moved her up five spots on the GNAC all-time career block list from 24th to 19th as she became the 19th player in GNAC history to reach 300.  “In addition to her blocks, she also hit well in transition,” CWU coach Mario Andaya said. 

For more GNAC Volleyball News check out the GNAC Weekly Report.