Saturday, November 16, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington and Central Washington each moved up and Alaska Anchorage and Northwest Nazarene each fell in this week's official NCAA Division II West Regional volleyball poll released Wednesday.

The poll will eventually determine which five teams join the GNAC, PacWest and CCAA champions in December's West Regional tournament.

The Viking (19-3, 12-2), who are ranked 10th nationally, climbed from sixth to fifth after earning their 16th and 17th 3-0 victories of the season last week against Western Oregon and Saint Martin's.

The Wildcats (13-10, 9-6) moved from seventh to sixth after splitting two road matches, losing 3-2 at Montana State Billings before sweeping Seattle Pacific 3-0.

Meanwhile, UAA, which is among "others receiving votes" and is 37th overall in the AVCA national poll, dropped from fifth to eighth and the Crusaders fell from eighth to 10th.

The Seawolves (18-8, 12-2), who are tied for first in the GNAC with the Vikings, defeated Alaska Fairbanks 3-1 in their only match.  NNU (15-6, 11-4) tumbled despite posting 3-1 road wins at Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings.

Alaska Anchorage hosts Western Washington Thursday at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.  The winner will take a one-match lead in the race for the GNAC title and the conference's automatic berth in the regional tournament.

In other matches Thursday, Simon Fraser will play at Alaska Fairbanks, MSU Billings will visit Western Oregon and Seattle Pacific will travel to Lacey to take on Saint Martin's.

Saturday's schedule includes a key matchup between Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene at Nampa.  Meanwhile, MSU Billings will play at Saint Martin's, Simon Fraser will visit Alaska Anchorage, Western Washington is at Alaska Fairbanks and Seattle Pacific visits Western Oregon.

POLLS: AVCA (Nov. 11) – 10. Western Washington; 37. Alaska Anchorage.  NCAA West Regional (Nov. 13) –   1. UC San Diego (22-3); 2. BYU-Hawaii (23-1); 3. CSU San Bernardino (20-5); 4. Sonoma State (21-5); 5. Western Washington (19-3); 6. Central Washington (13-10); 7. Cal Baptist (17-9); 8. Alaska Anchorage (18-8); 9. Dixie State (16-8); 10. Northwest Nazarene (15-6). (Note: Records are versus Division II opponents)

Hutchinson Holds On to Second in Digs in NCAA National Statistics

Western Washington libero Samantha Hutchinson maintained her No. 2 ranking in digs in this week's NCAA Division II national statistical report in digs.

Hutchinson ranks second nationally with a 6.93 average and trails national leader Jordan Jenkins of Tiffan by a total of 15.  Jenkins is averaging 7.14. 

Hutchinson had 49 digs, including 32 in a 3-0 home win over Western Oregon, last week.  That equaled the fifth highest total in GNAC history for a three-set contest. 

Former Viking All-American Courtney Schneider, who had three-set match totals of 35, 34, 34, 33, 32 and 32, is the only other player in conference history to record as many as 32. 

WWU's Kayla Erickson ranks fourth nationally in hitting percentage (.392), while Viking setter Taylor Dillard is ninth in assists, averaging 11.67 per set.

Also ranked in the Top 10 is Sam Harthun of Alaska Fairbanks.  She ranks ninth in points (4.82) and 10th in kills (4.33).

In team categories, Seattle Pacific ranks sixth in blocks (2.59) for the highest ranking. Western Washington ranks eighth in digs (18.96) and ninth in hitting percentage (.269).

NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Nov. 10): Individuals (Top 30): Points – 9. Sam Harthun, UAF, 4.82; 26. Kayla Erickson, WWU, 4.39. Kills – 10. Sam Harthun, UAF, 4.33.  Hitting Percentage – 4. Kayla Erickson, WWU, .392. Assists – 9. Taylor Dillard, WWU, 11.67; 30. Catie Fry, CWU, 10.63.  Blocks – 12. Nikki Lowell, SPU, 1.30; 15. Jodi Huddleston, UAA, 1.28; 16. Andrea Terpstra, NNU, 1.27; 22. Kayla Erickson, WWU, 1.22; 28. Becky Blees, WOU, 1.13.  Digs – 2. Samantha Hutchinson, WWU, 6.93; 19. Kaely Kight, CWU, 5.47.  Team (Top 30): Kills – 15. Western Washington 14.04.  Hitting Percentage – 9. Western Washington .269.  Assists – 13. Western Washington 13.10.  Blocks – 6. Seattle Pacific 2.59; 23. Northwest Nazarene 2.32; 25. Alaska Anchorage 2.32.  Digs – 8. Western Washington 18.96.

A Record Performance

Western Oregon middle blocker Becky Blees had five assisted blocks in matches at Western Washington and Saint Martin's to increase her career total to 370 and set a GNAC career record. 

The old record  of 367 was set by Cammy Dranginis of Northwest Nazarene between 2006 and 2009.  Nikki Lowell of Seattle Pacific ranks third with 359. 

Lowell also ranks third in total blocks with 397, 14 ahead of Blees who is fifth with 383.  Blees also had 16 kills and two service aces as the Wolves split two road matches.

Milestones

With 50 kills last week (See Player of the Week notes), MSUB’s Monica Grimsrud became the 31st member of the GNAC 1000-kill club increasing her total to 1,012. 

Lowell has 999 and will become the 32nd member Thursday with her first kill when the Falcons take on Saint Martin’s at Lacey.

GNAC Red Lion Players of the Week

Offense -  Monica Grimsrud, MSU Billings (OH, 6-1, Jr., Montana City, MT – Helena) had 50 kills, including a GNAC season-high 30 as the Yellowjackets upset regionally sixth-ranked Central Washington Thursday.  Grimsrud, who increased her career total to 1,012 kills, hit for a .291 percentage (50-18-110) as MSUB split two matches, outlasting the Wildcats 3-2 before falling 3-1 to Northwest Nazarene.  Grimsrud had 20 kills in the latter contest, matching the eighth highest total this fall in the GNAC in a four-set match.

Defense – Samantha Hutchinson, Western Washington (L, 5-7, Jr., University Place, WA – Curtis) had 49 digs, including 32 in a 3-0 home win over Western Oregon.  That equaled the fifth highest total in GNAC history for a three-set contest.  Former Viking All-American Courtney Schneider, who had three-set match totals of 35, 34, 34, 33, 32 and 32, is the only other player in conference history to record as many as 32.  On the season, Hutchinson ranks second nationally averaging 6.93 digs per set.

Honorable Mention – Brooke Pottle, Alaska Anchorage (OH, 5-8, Jr., Peoria, AZ – Centennial/Glendale CC); Jodi Huddleston, Alaska Anchorage (MB, 6-1, Sr., Scottsbluff, NE; Andrea Terpstra, Northwest Nazarene (MB, 6-4, Jr., Ripon, CA – Ripon Christian); Taylor Roberts, Northwest Nazarene (L, 5-5, Jr., Nampa, ID – Vallivue); Julia Wabinga, Saint Martin’s (OH, 5-8, So., Olympia, WA – North Thurston); Kelsey Robinson, Simon Fraser (OH, 5-11, Sr., Surrey, BC – Clayton Heights); Becky Blees, Western Oregon (MB, 5-10, Sr., Portland, OR – Madison); Rachel Roeder, Western Washington (OH, 6-1, So., Sammamish, WA).

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