Thursday, October 27, 2016

AN EPIC MATCH: There have been plenty of exciting matches in GNAC play this season, but none have been more exciting than the five-set thriller between Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday night.

The teams traded the first four sets, with the third going extra points in a 26-24 win for the Vikings. In the fifth set, it was apparent that no one wanted to lose late after the Vikings rebounded from a 4-1 deficit to tie the frame at 5-5 on Chrisalyn Johnson’s kill. Neither team led by more than two points the rest of the way, with extra points forced when a Western Washington attack error made it 14-14.

The Seawolves and Vikings traded points until 18-18, when kills by Joellee Buckner and Abby Phelps closed out the stanza at 20-18 and gave Western Washington the five-set win. The Vikings extended their win streak to nine matches, while Alaska Anchorage saw its school-record win streak end at 20.

Both teams finished close to even in hitting with Alaska Anchorage hitting .178 as compared to Western Washington’s .156. Phelps led Western Washington with 14 kills while Johnson finished with 22 kills for the Seawolves.

PACKING THEM IN: The crowd at Saturday’s Western Washington/Alaska Anchorage match was the second largest for a Division II volleyball match this season. A total of 1,762 fans packed into the Alaska Airlines Center. The largest crowd for a match this season was the 1,900 that saw Texas A&M-Kingsville play Tarleton State on Oct. 18.

Alaska Anchorage continues to lead Division II in average attendance with 1,131 fans per match over 11 matches. The Seawolves have welcomed seven of the top-20 crowds in Division II this season and five of the top 10.

IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS: With the loss to Western Washington, Alaska Anchorage dropped four spots to No. 11 in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Seawolves were No. 7 last week, which is the highest national ranking in program history. Likewise, the Vikings moved up two spots to No. 17. The Vikings started the season No. 5 and feel to No. 20, but have climbed three spots over the last two weeks.

FIRST D2 WEST REGION VOLLEYBALL SHOWCASE GOES TO GNAC: The first D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase was a great stage for the GNAC, which came away as the big winner between the three competing conferences.

The GNAC finished with a 31-13 record, a .704 win percentage, in the three-day event, which featured all 38 volleyball teams from the GNAC, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and the PacWest Conference. The CCAA finished with a 28-25 record while the PacWest finished 17-38.

The tougher the pods were, the better the GNAC did. The league went 7-1 in the Sonoma State pod, which featured the first and second place finishers in last year’s regular season standings. The GNAC swept the UC San Diego pod with an 8-0 record and went 6-2 in the San Francisco State pod. Five GNAC teams finished the tournament with 4-0 records: Alaska Anchorage, Central Washington, Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin’s and Simon Fraser.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Madi Farrell, Northwest Nazarene
MB • 6-2 • Junior • Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Farrell paced Northwest Nazarene with 26 kills, a .500 hitting percentage and seven blocks as the Crusaders won a pair of road matches. She finished with 13 kills, a .440 hitting percentage and one block in Tuesday’s three-set win at Central Washington and added a performance of 13 kills, a .571 hitting percentage and six blocks on Saturday at Montana State Billings.

Also Nominated: Alisha Bettinson (Western Oregon), Colby Barnette (Concordia), Diana Fa’amausili (Alaska Anchorage), Michaela Hall (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Brianna Hogan, Concordia
MB • 6-1 • Senior • Portland, Ore.

Hogan played a key role in Concordia’s two wins with 10 blocks, 1.43 blocks per set, 15 kills and a .444 hitting percentage. She had four blocks and two kills in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Seattle Pacific and added 13 kills and six blocks in Saturday’s win over Saint Martin’s. In the process, Hogan became the first player in Concordia history to register 300 career blocks.

Also Nominated: Christie Colasurdo (Western Oregon), Shayli Siegfreid (Northwest Nazarene), Kyla Militante-Amper (Alaska Anchorage), Joellee Buckner (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska is in the throes of a 12-match win streak. The Nanooks took a pair of three-set losses at home to Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday before dropping a three-set match at Alaska Anchorage on Tuesday.

• Junior outside hitter Angela Molesworth led the Nanooks offensively against Western Washington with 16 kills. Three players led UAF with five kills in the loss to Simon Fraser: freshman middle blocker Kim Wong, sophomore outside hitter Amberly Jeane and freshman outside hitter Tatum Upchurch.

• Jeane and junior outside hitter Maddie Davis finished with seven kills apiece in the loss to Alaska Anchorage.

• Junior setter Rachel Nichols enters the week seventh in the GNAC with 9.18 assists per set. She finished with a weekend-high 34 assists and nine digs in the loss to Western Washington.

• As a team, Alaska is third in the GNAC with 1.53 service aces per set. Junior middle blocker Riley Podowicz is sixth in the GNAC individually with 0.39 aces per set.

• Alaska will finish the week at home, hosting Montana State Billings on Thursday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage extended its school-record win streak to 20 matches with a five-set win over Simon Fraser on Thursday, but saw the streak end on Saturday in an exciting five-set loss to Western Washington. The Seawolves started a new streak on Tuesday, beating cross-state rival Alaska in three sets.

• Sophomore libero Kyla Militante-Amper was a force for UAA with her 88 digs over the last three matches, topped by her 34 digs against Western Washington. Militante-Amper enters the week second in the GNAC and seventh in Division II with 6.01 digs per set.

• Senior middle blocker Erin Braun finished with 13 blocks over the three matches, topped by a seven-block performance to go along with nine kills against Western Washington. Braun enters the week fifth in the GNAC and 16th in Division II with 1.21 blocks per set and is ninth in the GNAC with 0.32 aces per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Chrisalyn Johnson led UAA in the weekend matches with 35 kills, led by 22 kills and 17 digs against Western Washington.

• Senior setter Morgan Hooe had 135 assists in the three matches, including 59 in the five-set affair with Western Washington. Hooe enters the week fifth in the GNAC with 10.25 assists per set.

• With the loss to Western Washington, Alaska Anchorage dropped four spots to No. 11 in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Seawolves had been No. 7, the highest ranking in school history.

• Saturday’s match against WWU attracted 1,762 fans, the second largest attendance in Division II this season. The Seawolves continue to lead the division in attendance with an average of 1,122 fans per match. Alaska Anchorage has had seven of the top-20 best individual attendances in Division II this season.

• As a team, Alaska Anchorage leads the GNAC in opponent hitting percentage (.110) and service aces (1.87 per set), is second in kills (13.61 per set) and third in hitting percentage (.227) and blocks (2.32 per set). The Seawolves rank seventh in the Division II stats in opponent hitting percentage.

• The Seawolves finish the week by hosting Montana State Billings on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split its matches last week, falling at home to Northwest Nazarene in three sets on Tuesday before beating Montana State Billings in four sets on the road on Thursday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Madison Weg hit .395 in the two matches to lead Central Washington and had 19 kills. She had 11 of those kills in the win over Montana State Billings. Weg is 11th in the GNAC with a .257 hitting percentage.

• Senior outside hitter Kiah Jones led the Wildcats against Northwest Nazarene with nine kills. Senior outside hitter Jordan Deming led CWU in the win over MSUB with 14 kills.

• Central Washington continues to lead Division II in blocks, averaging 3.02 per set. The Wildcats added 24.5 team blocks over the week, led by 12 blocks by junior middle blocker Sabrina Wheelhouse, who ranks second in Division II with 1.68 blocks per set. Senior middle blocker Erin Little is 13th in Division with 1.25 blocks per set after adding nine last week.

• In addition to the blocks per set number, Central Washington is fifth in Division II in team total blocks (220.5) and 17th in team attacks per set (38.71).

• Central Washington will host Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia extended its current win streak to four matches thanks a pair of home wins. The Cavaliers beat Seattle Pacific in three sets on Thursday and Saint Maritn’s in four sets on Saturday.

• Senior middle blocker Brianna Hogan was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after finishing with 10 blocks, 15 kills and a .444 hitting percentage in the two matches. In the process, she became the first Concordia volleyball player to surpass 300 career blocks. She topped her week with a 13-kill, six-block performance against Saint Martin’s. Hogan enters the week sixth in the GNAC with a .285 hitting percentage.

• Junior middle blocker Colby Barnette finished with 26 kills, a .400 hitting percentage and nine blocks in the two matches, led by 15 kills and five blocks against Saint Martin’s. Barnette enters the week fifth in the GNAC with a .305 hitting percentage and seventh with 1.13 blocks per set.

• Junior setter Michele Brown is second in the GNAC with her average of 11.14 assists per set. She added 88 assists in last week’s matches, led by 57 against Simon Fraser.

• As a team, Concordia is second in the GNAC in hitting percentage (.230) and service aces (1.68 per set) and fourth in blocks (2.20 per set). If Concordia was eligible for the NCAA Division II stats, the Cavaliers would rank in a tie for 30th in blocks per set.

• On Sept. 17, Concordia broke the GNAC record for blocks in a four-set match with 21. That surpassed the record of 20 held by six different teams, most recently Northwest Nazarene vs. Seattle Pacific on 11/12/15.

• Concordia is on the road this weekend, playing at Simon Fraser on Friday and at Western Washington on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings dropped both weekend GNAC matches, falling to Central Washington in four sets on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene in three sets on Saturday. The Yellowjackets returned to the win column on Tuesday, defeating down-the-street rival Rocky Mountain in four sets in a non-conference match.

• Senior outside hitter Stormy Siemion led the Yellowjackets in the GNAC matches with 26 kills, led by a 17-kill performance against Centreal Washington. She was also one of three MSUB players with 14 kills against Rocky Mountain. Siemion enters the week third in the GNAC with 3.48 kills per set and is 18th in Division II with 11.63 attacks per set.

• Senior outside hitter Ashlynn Ward also had 26 kills in the two GNAC matches and was among the three with 14 kills against Rocky Mountain. She led MSUB against Central Washington with 20 kills and a .220 hitting percentage. Ward is second in the GNAC with 3.63 kills per set and fourth with 3.97 points per set.

• As a team, Montana State Billings is eighth in the GNAC with 12.24 kills per set and ninth with a .171 hitting percentage.

• Montana State Billings is in Alaska for its next two matches. The Yellowjackets play at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and at Alaska on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene won both matches last week, scoring a three-set sweep at Central Washington on Tuesday and a a three-set sweep at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Junior middle blocker Madi Farrell was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after she finished 26 kills, a .500 hitting percentage and seven blocks in the two matches. She had 13 kills in each of the two matches and had six blocks against Montana State Billings. Farrell enters the week second in the GNAC with a .325 hitting percentage and is third in the GNAC and 12th in Division II with 1.26 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitter Kendra Bodine had 23 kills in the two matches while junior outside hitter Mari Thomas finished with 20 kills and a .364 hitting percentage. Bodine enters the week leading the GNAC and 34th in Division II with 3.99 kills per set.

• Junior setter Hailey Cook leads the GNAC and is 15th in Division II with her average of 11.33 assists per set. Cook had 83 assists in the two matches last week, led by 49 in the win over Central Washington.

• As a team, Northwest Nazarene is second in the GNAC and 22nd in Division II with 12.77 assists per set. The Crusaders are also third in the GNAC and 17th in Division II with 18.42 digs per set and third in the GNAC and 45th in Division II with 13.26 kills per set.

• The Crusaders are on the road this week, playing at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped a pair of matches on its Oregon road trip last week, falling in four sets to Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Gondrezick finished with 31 kills in the two matches to lead Saint Martin’s, topped by an 18-kill, nine-dig performance against Concordia.

• Junior outside hitter Rebecca Mitchell finished with 28 kills in the two matches, led by a 16-kill performance at Concordia. Mitchell enters the week 10th in the GNAC with 3.07 kills per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Brooklyn Tacke enters the week ranked seventh in the GNAC with 0.37 aces per set. Sophomore libero Cassidy Apo is eighth in the GNAC with 4.40 digs per set while junior setter Nicolette Nesbitt is 10th with 6.45 assists per set.

• As a team, Saint Martin’s is sixth in the GNAC with a .193 hitting percentage and eighth with 11.29 assists and 16.67 digs per set.

• Saint Martin’s returns home this week to host Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific took a pair of losses on last week’s trip to Oregon, falling to Concordia in three sets on Thursday and in four sets to Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Colleen Hannigan led the Falcons with 10 kills and a .292 hitting percentage against Concordia. Senior outside hitter Lexi Biondi led the Falcons with 13 kills against Western Oregon.

• Sophomore setter Symone Tran enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with 10 assists per set. She added 75 to her season total last week, topped by 40 against Western Oregon.

• Freshman outside hitter Gabby Oddo did not play in the last two matches, but continues to rank sixth in the GNAC in both kills (3.41 per set) and points (3.77 per set).

• Sophomore middle blocker Shaun Crespi enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and fourth in Division II with an average of 1.55 block per set. She added eight blocks in the last two matches, paced by five against Western Oregon.

• As a team, Seattle Pacific is second in the GNAC and fourth in Division II with 2.54 blocks per set. The Falcons are also fourth in the GNAC in opponent hitting percentage (.161).

• Seattle Pacific is home for its next two matches, hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser took a hard-fought split of its matches in Alaska last week. After coming back from two sets down on Thursday, the Clan fell in five sets to Alaska Anchorage. The Clan rebounded for a three-set sweep of Alaska on Saturday.

• Sophomore middle blocker Tessa May finished with 18 kills, 11 blocks and a .366 hitting percentage over the two matches. She had 12 kills and six blocks in the win over Alaska. May enters the week sixth in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with an average of 1.20 blocks per set. She is also ninth in the GNAC with a .279 hitting percentage.

• Freshman outside hitter Kirsten Pinkney finished with 27 kills in the two matches to lead the Clan, paced by an 18-kill performance off the bench against Alaska Anchorage.

• Setter Tamara Nipp is third in the GNAC and is 19th in Division II with 11.13 assists per set. She has 75 assists in last week’s matches, led by 38 assists, 12 digs and four blocks against Alaska Anchorage.

• Senior defensive specialist Alison McKay leads the GNAC and is fourth in Division II with 6.55 digs per set.

• Simon Fraser enters the week leading the GNAC and seventh in Division II with 19.20 digs per set. The Clan is also second in the GNAC in opponent hitting percentage (.149), third in assists (12.58 per set) and fourth in kills (13.25 per set).

• Simon Fraser is home for its next two matches, hosting Concordia on Friday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon scored a pair home wins last week, notching four-set victories over Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Alisha Bettinson led Western Oregon with 26 kills in the two matches, topped by her 15 kills and 12 digs against Seattle Pacific. Bettinson enters the week fourth in the GNAC in kills with 3.43 per set and 30th in Division II with 11.36 attacks per set.

• Senior defensive specialist Christie Colasurdo racked up 59 digs in the two matches, led by her 35 against Seattle Pacific. Colasurdo enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC and 47th in Division II with 5.18 digs per set.

• Junior middle blocker Sydney Blankinship enters the week third in the GNAC with a .320 hitting percentage. She finished with 12 kills and a .259 hitting percentage against Saint Martin’s

• Sophomore setter Maddie Mehciz is fourth in the GNAC and 43rd in Division II with 10.33 assists per set. Mehciz added 97 assists last week, including 51 against Saint Martin’s to go along with two aces and 11 digs.

• As a team, Western Oregon is second in the GNAC and 13th in Division II with 18.62 digs per set.

• Western Oregon plays its next three matches at home, hosting Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday before hosting travel partner Concordia on Tuesday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington extended its win streak to nine matches in dramatic fashion. After knocking off Alaska in three sets on Thursday, the Vikings outlasted Alaska Anchorage in five sets on Saturday. After the teams traded sets, the Vikings won the fifth 20-18 to snap the Seawolves’ 20-match win streak.

• Sophomore middle blocker Michaela Hall finished with 20 kills and a .395 hitting percentage to lead the Vikings. She finished with 10 kills and a .615 hitting percentage against Alaska and finished with 10 kills and seven blocks against Alaska Anchorage.

• Sophomore outside hitter Abby Phelps had 23 kills in the two matches, leading WWU last week in total kills. She led the way against Alaska Anchorage with 14 kills and 16 digs. Phelps enters the week seventh in the GNAC with 3.41 kills per set and eighth with 3.64 points per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Kayleigh Harper continues to lead the GNAC and is 50th in Division II with a .343 hitting percentage. Harper is also eighth in the GNAC with 1.09 blocks per set. She had a weekend high nine kills and six blocks against Alaska Anchorage.

• The win over Alaska Anchorage sent WWU climbing two spots to No. 17 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Vikings have climbed three spots over the last two weeks.

• As a team, Western Washington leads the GNAC and is 19th in Division II with a .247 hitting percentage. The Vikings also lead the GNAC and rank 18th in Division II with 13.86 kills per set.

• Western Washington returns home this week, hosting Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

• Western Washington will play all of its 2016 home matches at Bellingham’s Whatcom Community College while its on-campus arena, Carver Gymnasium, undergoes the second year of a two-year renovation.