Wednesday, October 14, 2015

ONE STREAK ENDS, ANOTHER CONTINUES: Alaska Anchorage saw their season-opening 14-match win streak come to an end on Thursday as the Seawolves fell at Northwest Nazarene in four sets. The 14-match win streak set UAA records for wins to start the season and most consecutive wins.

The GNAC’s longest win streak now belongs to Western Washington. The Vikings have won 14 straight themselves after losing their first matches of the season to nationally-ranked Wheeling Jesuit and Tampa. The Seawolves and Vikings will square off for the first time this season on Thursday in Anchorage.

RECORD EFFORTS: Conference teams have broken three individual match records this season. Alaska Anchorage’s .410 hitting percentage against Alaska on Sept. 22 set a record for kill percentage in four sets. That bettered the mark of .407 which Alaska set against Western Oregon on Oct. 31, 2009.

Western Washington finished with 20 blocks at Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 26, bettering the mark of 19.5 in a five-set match by Central Washington againsy Cal State San Bernadino on Nov. 18, 2005. In the same match, Kayleigh Harper registered 13 blocks, tying the GNAC record for a five-set match.

GNAC ROLLS IN THE CROSSOVER: For the second straight year, the GNAC proved the dominant team in the GNAC/PacWest Crossover, held Sept. Sept. 10-12 in Ellensburg, Wash., and Seattle. In their host year, The GNAC went 17-15 against the PacWest, including 7-1 record of GNAC programs against the PacWest’s top-25 ranked program. In the two years of the tournament, the GNAC has a 37-27 record against the PacWest. In 2016, the crossover will expand to include the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Hailey Cook, Northwest Nazarene
S • 5-10 • Sophomore • Nampa, Idaho

Cook finished with 77 assists as the defending GNAC champions swept the Alaska schools. She finished with 51 assists, eight digs, five blocks, four kills and an ace in the Crusaders’ upset of No. 7 Alaska Anchorage and then added 26 assists in a three-set sweep of Alaska. Also Nominated: Lexi Biondi (Seattle Pacific), Danielle Curtis (Simon Fraser), Linden Firethorne (Central Washington), Rachel Roeder (Western Washington), Jenessa Taylor (Concordia), Katelynn Zanders (Alaska Anchorage).

DEFENSIVE
Christie Colasurdo, Western Oregon
L • 5-11 • Junior • Olympia, Wash.

Colasurdo recorded 44 digs in six sets as Western Oregon hosted Simon Fraser and Western Washington. She had a match-high 23 digs against the Clan and added 21 against the Vikings. Colasurdo ranks second in the GNAC in digs with 5.75 per set. Also Nominated: Erin Braun (Alaska Anchorage), Joelee Buckner (Western Washington), Linnea Phillips (Northwest Nazarene).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• After winning their first two matches of the season the previous weekend, Alaska dropped a pair of three-set matches to two of the conference’s tougher teams. The Nanooks dropped a three-set decision at Central Washington on Thursday before being swept by Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Despite the losses, the Nanooks continue to improve statistically. Alaska has had six blocks or more in each of their last four matches, including eight against Northwest Nazarene. They are averaging 2.23 blocks per set in that span.

• The Nanooks were without the services of senior outside hitter Sam Harthun, who did not play in either road match. Harthun enters the week with 1,274 career kills, No. 2 on the Alaska all-time list and No. 9 on the GNAC all-time list. She ranks third in the league in kills at 3.47 per set and points at 4.01 per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Riley Podowicz led Alaska offensively with 11 kills, topped by seven against Northwest Nazarene, and five blocks. Podowicz also had one ace in the two matches. She continues to lead the GNAC and is 11th in Division II at 0.58 aces per set.

• As a team, Alaska leads the GNAC and is 24th in Division II with 1.96 aces per set.

• Lilah Hudson and Kensey Mix led the solid blocking performance for the Nanooks, each coming up with eight in the two matches. Hudson finished with four blocks in each match while Mix tallied five against Northwest Nazarene.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• The streak is over. Alaska Anchorage’s record win streak to open the season was stopped at 14 by Northwest Nazarene, who stopped the Seawolves in a hard fought four sets on Thursday.

• The Seawolves rebounded on Saturday, but once again had to fight for the win to take a four-set victory from Central Washington. Alaska Anchorage came back to hit .240 in the match after hitting just .125 against NNU.

• The split dropped Alaska Anchorage to No. 10 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll. The No. 7 ranking the Seawolves had last week was the highest in school history.

• Senior outside hitter Katelynn Zanders led the Seawolves offensively on the road trip, finishing with 31 kills and a .190 hitting percentage. She had 17 kills in the win over Central Washington and put together a double-double of 14 kills and 15 digs against Northwest Nazarene. Zanders enters the week leading the GNAC and 32nd in Division II with her 3.95 kills per set. She also leads the GNAC and ranks 21st in Division II with 4.63 points per set.

• Junior middle blocker Erin Braun finished with 13 blocks in the two matches, averaging 1.62 per set. She had eight block assists against Central Washington, which included assisting on the match-winning block with Julia Mackey, completing a rally from down 18-12 in the fourth set. Braun enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with 1.25 blocks per set.

• Setter Morgan Hooe enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 27th in Division II with 10.67 assists per set. She finished with 82 assists in the two matches and now has 1,903 career assists, No. 6 on the UAA all-time list.

• As a team, Alaska Anchorage leads the GNAC in hitting percentage (.271) and opponent hitting percentage (.124) and is second in kills (13.54 per set), assists (12.61 per set) and aces (1.56).

• In the Division II statistics, the Seawolves are one of five GNAC teams ranked in the top-25 in blocking at 6th with 2.69 per set. They also rank sixth in win/loss percentage (.875), 11th in hitting percentage, 18th in opponent hitting percentage, 22nd in team total blocks (153.5) and 35th in kills per set.

• Alaska Anchorage continues to set attendance records. A total of 1,488 fans saw the Seawolves beat Saint Martin’s on Saturday. That topped the 1,366 fans who saw the Seawolves beat Montana State Billings on Sept. 26. The previous record was 1,200 in the first night match played at the Alaska Airlines Center against LIU Post on Sept. 5, 2014. A large crowd is against expected on Thursday when the Seawolves hosted No. 16 ranked Western Washington.

• The Seawolves finished with a .410 hitting percentage (44 kills, 10 errors, 83 attempts) in their victory over Alaska on Sept. 22. The performance is the Seawolves’ best hitting percentage in the rally scoring era (2001 to present) and is the highest in GNAC history for a four-set match. (Previous Record: .407 (66-16-123), Alaska vs. Western Oregon, Oct. 31, 2009).

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington is well within striking distance of the conference lead after splitting against the Alaska schools. The Wildcats opened the week with a three-set sweep of Alaska on Thursday before falling to Alaska Anchorage in a three-set battle on Saturday.

• The four-set match with Alaska Anchorage was a close affair, with the final three sets being decided by four points or less.

• For the fifth straight week, Central Washington was among teams receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Wildcats received 22 points for the second consecutive week.

• Senior outside hitter Linden Firethorne led the CWU offense with 33 kills, 4.71 kills per set and 17 digs in the two matches. She posted a double-double of 19 kills and 10 digs in the win over Alaska. Firethorne enters the week ranked second in the GNAC in both kills per set (3.74) and points per set (4.22).

• Junior setter Catie Fry added 73 assists to her total, including a 37-assist performance against Alaska Anchorage. Fry enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and 30th in Division II with 10.57 assists per set.

• Central Washington leads Division II in blocks for the third week in a row, averaging 2.92 blocks per set, and are ninth nationally with 169.5 total blocks. The Wildcats lead an impressive five GNAC squads ranked in the top-25 in Division II in blocking. Kaitlin Quirk is second in the nation individually at 1.44 blocks per set while Sabrina Wheelhouse is12th at 1.33 blocks per set.

• Wheelhouse continues to lead the GNAC and ranks 16th in Division II with a .401 hitting percentage. She hit .350 in the two matches last week with 11 kills.

• As a team, Central Washington is third in the GNAC in hitting percentage (.228), opponent hitting percentage (.166), kills (12.81 per set) and assists (11.93 per set). The Wildcats are 41st in Division II in hitting percentage.

• The Sept. 24 match against Western Washington drew 1,687 fans, setting a school single-match attendance record.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia moved within a game of a .500 conference record thanks to two wins in three road matches. After taking a three-set loss at Western Washington on Thursday, the Cavaliers knocked off Simon Fraser in five on Saturday and Western Oregon in four on Tuesday.

• Sophomore opposite Lindsey Dorsey led the Cavaliers with 49 kills and 29 digs in the three matches. She posted a monster double-double of 23 kills and 15 digs to go along with a .320 hitting percentage in the five-set win over Simon Fraser. Dorsey is Concordia’s leading hitter, ranking 13th in the GNAC with a .251 hitting percentage.

• Junior outside hitter Brenna Huwe contributed 48 kills and 32 digs in the three matches. She finished with two double-doubles in the stretch with 21 kills and 13 digs at Simon Fraser and 15 kills and 12 digs at Western Oregon.

• Junior setter Jenessa Taylor enters the week third in the GNAC at 10.40 assists per set. She added 146 assists in the three matches, topped by 61 in the win over Simon Fraser.

• Senior defensive specialist Shantel Gritsch ranks four in the GNAC with 5.41 digs per set. She had 27 digs in the three matches.

• Sophomore middle blocker Colby Barnette added 11 blocks, all block assists, in the three matches, led by six blocks at Simon Fraser. Barnette is ranked seventh in the GNAC with 1.15 blocks per set.

• Concordia enters the week ranked second in the GNAC in opponent hitting percentage (.145) and digs (16.63 per set) and is ranked fourth in kills (12.37 per set) and assists (11.65 per set).

• Concordia is in the second year of their three-year transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. As such, the Cavaliers are not eligible for postseason competition or listing in the Division II statistics.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings picked up their second GNAC win of the season on the road Thursday, knocking off Saint Martin’s in three sets. The Yellowjackets then took a four-set loss at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• The Yellowjackets hit a respectable .250 in the win over Saint Martin’s despite only one player finishing in double digits with kills. Audri Marrs finished with 10 kills and a .600 hitting percentage.

• Junior outside hitter Ashlynn Ward picked up 22 kills in the two matches to lead the Yellowjackets and now has 200 for the season. She finished with 14 kills in the four-set loss to Seattle Pacific. The outside hitter is ranked fourth in the GNAC with 3.39 kills per set.

• Senior setter Kyndal Williams finished with a two-match total of 77 assists for the second week in a row. She enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with 9.71 assists per set.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene played the role of giant killers last week, stopping Alaska Anchorage’s 14-match win streak with a four-set victory on Thursday. The Crusaders ran then ran their current win streak to four matches with a three-set sweep of Alaska on Saturday.

• Against Alaska Anchorage, the Crusaders persevered through two sets that went extra points. No set was won by more than three points. Northwest Nazarene hit .188 and had 15 blocks in the match, led by a 17-kill, 8-block effort by Madi Farrell.

• Sophomore setter Hailey Cook was named GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged 11 assists per set (77 total) in the two matches. She posted a 51-assist performance in the win over Alaska Anchorage. Cook enters the week fourth in the GNAC and 46th in Division II with 10.23 assists per set.

• Farrell led the Crusaders offensively with 22 kills and 14 blocks in the two matches, paced by the 17-kill, 8-block effort against Alaska Anchorage. Farrell enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and 28th in Division II with a .365 hitting percentage.

• One of five GNAC teams ranked in the Division II top-25 in blocks, Northwest Nazarene is fifth nationally and second in the GNAC with 2.27 blocks per set. They are also 13th nationally with a total of 163 team blocks. Farrell is ranked 14th in Division II and fourth in the GNAC with her average of 1.32 blocks per set. Farrell is also 20th in Division II with 79 blocks.

• As a team, Northwest Nazarene is fourth in the GNAC in hitting percentage (.209) and fifth in assists (11.47 per set).

• The Yellowjackets enter the week ranked seventh in the GNAC in the majority of team statistical categories, including hitting percentage (.165), kills (11.75 per set) and assists per set (11.05). They are sixth in the league in aces at 1.27 per set.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s is in the throes of a five-match losing streak after dropping both matches last week. The Saints dropped a three-set decision at home to Seattle Pacific on Tuesday and then lost in straight sets to Montana State Billings on Thursday.

• Senior outside hitter Julia Wabinga led the Saints with 21 kills and 19 digs in the two matches. She finished with 10 kills against Seattle Pacific and added 11 kills and nine digs against Montana State Billings. Wabinga is Saint Martin’s leading hitter with 122 kills and 2.65 kills per set. She also leads the team in total digs with 89.

• Junior setter Cassanda Fenton enters the week ranked seventh in the GNAC in assists, averaging 6.89 assists per set. Her week was capped by a 27-assist performance against Seattle Pacific.

• Senior middle blocker Kyra Davidson is now one of eighth GNAC players ranked in the Division II top-50 in blocks. She enters the week ranked 43rd with 1.13 blocks per set. Davidson added eight blocks last week to run her season total to 54.

• Saint Martin’s home win over Douglas on Sept. 12 snapped a 19-match losing streak that dated back to September 2014. The Saints then snapped a 15-match GNAC losing streak with their five-set win over Western Oregon on Sept. 24.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific bounced back from two losses on the Alaska trip to win a pair last week. The Falcons cruised to a three-set victory over Saint Martin’s in the travel partner match on Tuesday and then scored a four-set home victory over Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Lexi Biondi came alive for 37 kills and a .384 hitting percentage in the two matches. She posted a career high effort in the victory over Montana State Billings. Biondi enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with 3.16 kills per set and eighth with 3.46 points per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Lautenbach finished with 13 kills against Montana State Billings and senior outside hitter Ellie Britt finished with 12. The match marked the first time this season that the three Falcons have hit double-digit kills in the same match. Lautenbach enters the week ranked 10th in the GNAC in kills with 2.91 kills per set.

• Senior libero Breanna Wiekamp moved up to third in the GNAC and 31st in Division II in digs with 5.52 digs per set. She had 52 digs and averaged 7.43 digs per set in the two matches, topped by a 31-dig performance against Montana State Billings.

• As a team, Seattle Pacific enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC in both service aces (1.39 per set) and digs (15.98 per set).

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser kept their conference record even at 4-4 with a split of their weekend home matches over the Oregon schools. The Clan took a three-set sweep from Western Oregon on Thursday before Concordia rallied back from two sets down to beat the Clan in five sets.

• Senior outside hitter Jessica Young was Simon Fraser’s offensive leader, finishing with 24 kills and 35 digs in the two matches. She posted a double-double of 12 kills and 17 digs with a .355 hitting percentage in the win over Western Oregon and then had 12 kills and 18 digs in the loss to Concordia.

• Sophomore middle blocker Madison Power added 23 kills and eight blocks in the two matches. She finished with 14 kills and a .571 hitting percentage in the win over Western Oregon and finished with seven blocks against Concordia.

• Freshman middle blocker Tessa May finished with 19 kills and 10 blocks in the two matches. She led the week with 13 kills and eight blocks against Concordia. May enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with a .322 hitting percentage  and fifth with 1.26 blocks per set.

• Simon Fraser is one of five GNAC teams ranked in the Division II top-25 in blocks, averaging 2.35 blocks per set to rank 22nd. The Clan is also ranked 24th  in Division II with 153 total blocks. May is ranked 21st individually with her 1.26 blocks per set and is 14th with 82 total blocks.

• As a team, Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is 37th in Division II with 17.63 digs per set. The Clan is also ranked 13th in Division II in team attacks per set with 39.20. Individually, Allison McKay is ranked second in the GNAC and 12th in Division II with 5.86 digs per set.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon is looking to snap a six-match losing streak, having not won since a three-set sweep of Alaska on Sept. 19. The Wolves dropped three last week, falling in three sets at Simon Fraser on Thursday and at Western Washington on Saturday before taking a four-set loss at home on Tuesday to travel partner Concordia.

• Junior opposite Paige Kelsey led the Wolves in the three matches with 28 kills and 12 blocks as five different WOU players finished with at least 10 kills in the three sets. Her week was topped by a 10-kill performance against Western Washington with a .600 hitting percentage.

• Junior libero Christie Colasurdo was named the GNAC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week after she finished with 44 digs in the two matches over the weekend. She had a match-high 23 digs against Simon Fraser and added 21 against Western Washington. Colasurdo enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 18th in Division II with 5.91 digs per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Sydney Blankinship moved up to fifth in the GNAC with her .297 hitting percentage. She finished with 18 kills and hit .311 in the last three matches, topped by 10 kills at Simon Fraser.

• Freshman outside hitter Amanda Short added 24 kills and hit .225 in the three matches. Sophomore outside hitter Alisha Bettinson added 23 kills and freshman outside hitter Mariella Vandenkooy finished with 22 kills.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington enters the week owning the league’s longest winning streak at 14 matches. After dropping their first two of the season against nationally-ranked foes in Wheeling Jesuit and Tampa, the Vikings have yet to lose again.

• The Vikings improved to 8-0 in conference play with a pair of three-set home sweeps of Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday. Of their eight GNAC wins, five have come in the minimum three sets.

• Despite the wins, Western Washington dropped to No. 16 in the latest AVCA Division II Top-25 Poll. The Vikings will face off with the conference’s other nationally ranked team, No. 10 Alaska Anchorage, on Thursday.

• Senior outside hitter Rachel Roeder led the way for Western Washington with 19 kills and a .395 hitting percentage in the two matches. She posted a week-high of 11 kills against Western Oregon and hit .571 (8-0-14) against Concordia. Roeder enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC in kills with 3.25 per set and seventh with a .292 hitting percentage.

• One of five GNAC teams ranked in the Division II top-25 in blocks, Western Washington enters the week 16th in Division II and fourth in the GNAC with 2.41 blocks per set. Kayleigh Harper is ranked second in the GNAC and 6th in Division II with 1.39 blocks per set. She is also tied for 20th in Division II with her 79 total blocks.

• Western Washington set a GNAC record for blocks in a five-set match with 20 at Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 26. Harper tied the GNAC single match record for blocks in a five-set match with 13 in that match.

•As a team, Western Washington leads the GNAC in kills (12.65 per set) and assists (12.65 per set), is second in hitting percentage (.242) and third in aces (1.47 per set) and digs (16.35 per set). The Vikings are 12th in Division II in win/loss percentage (.875), 31st in hitting percentage and 32nd in assists per set.

• Western Washington will play all of their 2015 home matches at Bellingham’s Whatcom Community College while their on-campus arena, Carver Gymnasium, undergoes a two-year renovation.