Monday, September 22, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. –   The two remaining unbeaten teams in the GNAC – Alaska Anchorage and Northwest Nazarene - will face off Thursday night in Nampa.

Northwest Nazarene is ranked for the first time in its NCAA school history; Alaska Anchorage will be looking to extend its school-record streak of consecutive wins on its opponent home court.

Both teams have already earned GNAC Red Lion Team of the Week honors this fall.

Alaska Anchorage (10-2 overall), last week’s Red Lion award winner, brings a 4-0 conference record and a 12-match road win streak, into the contest. 

Northwest Nazarene, which won the Red Lion award two weeks ago, brings a nine-match win streak into the contest and has won 15 of its last 16 matches dating back to last fall.  Its last five wins have all been in straight sets (3-0).

That has earned NNU, which has wins over two ranked teams this fall (No. 17 Wayne State and No. 13 Central Washington), a No. 23 ranking in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The Crusaders lead the GNAC in kills (13.43 per set) and blocks (2.62), assists (12.43) and digs (20.50).  UAA is the conference leader in opponent hitting percentage (.148).

Individually, the Seawolves are led by Katelynn Zanders, who ranks sixth in the GNAC in kills (3.27 per set) and second in aces (0.42), and Caitlin McInerney, who ranks second in blocks (1.12).

No NNU player is ranked in the Top 10 in the GNAC in kills,  but Michelle Terpstra is the  conference leader in assists (10.90) and Andrea Terpstra is the GNAC leader in blocks (1.26).

Seven different players – led by Andrea (114) – have 40 or more kills.

Elsewhere Thursday, 11^th ranked Western Washington visits Seattle Pacific, Alaska plays at No. 13 Central Washington and Simon Fraser visits MSU Billings. 

Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon are idle until playing Saturday at Monmouth.

That will be one of five contests on Saturday as Alaska Anchorage will play at Central Washington, Alaska visits Northwest Nazarene, Western Washington plays at MSU Billings and Simon Fraser is at Seattle Pacific.