Wednesday, October 24, 2018

VIKINGS SAILING INTO TITLE TERRITORY: Having now won 20 straight matches, Western Washington is within striking distance of its second straight title and ninth GNAC championship.

The Vikings took the Alaska road trip last weekend and made quick work of both schools, scoring a four-set victory at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday before putting an end to Alaska’s seven-match win streak with a three-set sweep on Saturday. Western Washington then ran its conference record to 15-0 with a three-set sweep of travel partner Simon Fraser on Tuesday.

With a win at Montana State Billings on Thursday, Western Washington would assure itself at least a share of the GNAC championship. A loss by both Alaska Anchorage and Central Washington would give the Vikings the outright title with two weeks left in the regular season.
Western Washington enters Thursday’s match at Billings leading the GNAC in hitting percentage (.257) and blocks (2.84 per set) while ranking second in opponent hitting percentage (.148) and kills (14.09).

The weekend wins also pushed Western Washington to the No. 2 spot in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25. It ties the team’s highest-ever Division II national ranking. The Vikings trail only Cal State San Bernardino, which WWU beat back in the Division II West Region Volleyball Showcase.

WEST REGIONAL RANKINGS: Three GNAC teams earn spots in the first NCAA Division II West Regional Rankings, which will ultimately determine qualifying for the NCAA Division II Championship. Western Washington earned the No. 1 ranking. Central Washington is in at No. 5 while Alaska Anchorage is ranked No. 6.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Tayler Markland, Northwest Nazarene
MB • 6-1 • Freshman • Cave Creek, Ariz.

Markland led the Nighthawks to a split with Western Oregon and Concordia with 21 kills and a .514 hitting percentage (21 kills, 2 errors, 37 attempts). Markland finished with 10 kills and five blocks with a .348 hitting percentage in the Nighthawks’ five-set loss to Western Oregon on Thursday. She then finished with 11 kills and a .786 hitting percentage to go with two digs and three blocks in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Concordia.

Also Nominated: Bridgette Webb (Central Washington), Maddi Vigil (Montana State Billings), Jenna Compton (Western Oregon), Michaela Hall (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Abby Phelps, Western Washington
OH • 5-10 • Senior • Manson, Wash.

Phelps averaged 5.29 digs per set and had six blocks to help the Vikings extend their incredible winning streak to 19 matches with wins at the Alaska schools. In addition to her 14 kills, Phelps finished with 21 digs and had a solo block in Thursday’s four-set win at Alaska Anchorage. She then had 16 digs and five blocks to go with 11 kills and a .300 hitting percentage in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Alaska.

Also Nominated: Bridgette Webb (Central Washington), Miranda McConnell (Montana State Billings), Sierra Stultz (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska ran its winning streak to seven matches with a five-set win on Thursday over Simon Fraser before seeing the streak end on Saturday in a three-set home loss to Western Washington.

• Junior outside hitter Lahra Weber led the Nanooks in the two matches with 33 kills and 18 digs. She led all players with a double-double of 22 kills and 13 digs against Simon Fraser and then added 11 kills and five digs against Western Washington. Weber is fourth in the GNAC with 3.51 kills and 4.06 points per set.

• Junior middle blocker Kim Wong had a .448 hitting percentage in the two matches, finishing with 17 kills and two blocks. She finished with eight kills and a blocks with a .462 hitting percentage against Simon Fraser and then had nine kills and a solo block against Western Washington. Wong is averaging 1.68 kills and 0.91 blocks per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Markie Miller added 21 kills in the two matches. She came off the bench to finish with 13 kills and three aces against Simon Fraser and then finished with eight kills and four aces against Western Washington. Miller is averaging 2.23 kills per set.

• Alaska enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with a .174 hitting percentage and fourth with 1.60 aces per set. The Nanooks are averaging 11.90 kills and 15.57 digs per set.

• The Nanooks come to Oregon for a pair of matches this week, traveling to Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage split its second-to-last home weekend of the season, losing to Western Washington in four sets on Thursday before sweeping Simon Fraser on three sets on Saturday.

• Junior middle blocker/outside hitter Vanessa Boyer led the Seawolves with 21 kills and 14 digs in the two matches. She finished with 12 kills, seven digs and an ace against Western Washington and added nine kills, seven digs and three aces against Simon Fraser. Boyer enters the week averaging 2.45 kills and 1.27 digs per set.

• Freshman middle blocker/right side Eve Stephens also had 21 kills to go with four blocks and a .269 hitting percentage. She led the Seawolves with 14 kills with two blocks against Western Washington and then had seven kills, two blocks and a .375 hitting percentage off the bench against Simon Fraser. Stephens leads UAA with 3.19 kills per set and is sixth in the GNAC with a .326 hitting percentage.

• Sophomore middle blocker Vera Pluharova added 10 more blocks last week to go with six kills. Seven of her blocks, two solos and five assists, came against Simon Fraser. Pluharova is fourth in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with 1.24 blocks per set. As a team, Alaska Anchorage is 13th in Division II with 2.37 blocks per set and 30th in Division II with 199 total blocks.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week fourth in the GNAC with a .215 hitting percentage, 12.93 kills and 12.14 assists per set. The Seawolves lead the conference with 1.68 aces per set. In the Division II stats, UAA is 41st with a .773 win percentage and 50th with a .146 opponent hitting percentage.

• Alaska Anchorage is ranked No. 5 in the first NCAA Division II West Region Rankings of the year.

• Alaska Anchorage plays its next two matches in Oregon, taking on Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington is back to its winning ways, snapping a three-match losing streak with a four-set win over Concordia on Thursday and a three-set sweep of Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Senior middle blocker Shelby Mauritson led the Wildcats with 28 kills and 23 digs in the two matches. She opened with a double-double of 18 kills and 17 digs against Concordia and then added 10 kills and six digs against Western Oregon. Mauritson enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and 43rd in Division II with 3.79 kills per set and 49th in Division II with 4.19 points per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Makala Swart added 25 kills last week. She opened with a double-double of 10 kills and 12 digs against Concordia before finishing with 13 kills and 10 digs to go with three blocks against Western Oregon. Swart enters the week third in the GNAC and 47th in Division II with 3.75 kills per set.

• Junior libero Kyla Morgan had 43 digs last week. She finished with 29 digs and three assists against Concordia and then added 14 digs, an assist and an ace against Western Oregon. Morgan currently leads the GNAC and is 13th in Division II with .596 digs per set.

• Central Washington is second in the GNAC and ninth in Division II with 2.55 blocks per set. Junior outside hitter Bridgette Webb led all GNAC players with 14 blocks last week, eight of which came against Concordia. She is sixth in the GNAC with 1.19 blocks per set.

• Central Washington continues to receive votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll with 36 points. The Wildcats are also fifth in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Central Washington enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 10th in Division II with 13.64 assists per set. The Wildcats also lead the GNAC and are eighth in Division II with 14.53 kills per set while ranking 33rd in Division II with a .238 hitting percentage.

• Central Washington will play at Seattle Pacific on Thursday and at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia dropped a pair of road matches last week, taking a four-set loss at Central Washington on Thursday and a three-set loss at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Livia Strandberg led the Cavaliers with 26 kills in the two matches. She led Concordia with 18 kills, four digs and a .261 hitting percentage at Central Washington. Strandberg then finished with eight kills and two digs at Northwest Nazarene. Strandberg leads the Cavaliers with 2.35 kills per set.

• Freshman libero Callie Wilkins finished with 44 digs in the two matches. She finished with 28 digs to go with three assists and two aces at Central Washington and then posted totals of 16 digs and three aces at Northwest Nazarene. Wilkins is second in the GNAC and 27th in Division II with 5.67 digs per set and third in the GNAC with 0.39 aces per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Elyssa Rose amassed a .267 hitting percentage with 21 kills last week. Her best effort came at Central Washington where Rose finished with seven kills, four blocks and a .538 hitting percentage. Rose leads the Cavaliers with a .290 hitting percentage and is seventh in the GNAC with 1.02 blocks per set.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 11.73 kills and 17.12 digs per set. The Cavaliers are ranked 26th in Division II with 39.11 team attacks per set and 50th with 2.10 blocks per set.

• Concordia is home for a pair of matches this weekend, hosting Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings posted a pair of home victories last week, collecting a four-set win over Saint Martin’s on Thursday and a five-set win over Seattle Pacific on Saturday, The Yellowjackets then lost a hard-fought five-set battle with No. 7 NAIA ranked Rocky Mountain on Tuesday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Maddi Vigil led the Yellowjackets with 24 kills, 32 digs and three aces in the weekend matches. She had 18 kills, three aces, 11 digs and three blocks against Saint Martin’s and then had six kills, 21 digs and three blocks against Seattle Pacific. Vigil also led MSUB with 14 kills and 24 digs against Rocky Mountain. Vigil enters the week averaging 2.58 kills and 3.20 digs per set.

• Senior middle blocker Miranda McConnell added 12 kills and 11 blocks in the weekend matches. She had eight kills and a block against Saint Martin’s and then had four kills and 10 blocks against Seattle Pacific. McConnell then finished with 14 kills, four blocks and a.419 hitting percentage against Rocky Mountain. McConnell is averaging 1.77 kills and 0.83 blocks per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Eavan Taylor had 10 blocks in the weekend matches. She had five blocks in each match to go with four kills against Saint Martin’s and six kills against Seattle Pacific. Taylor then finished with four more blocks against Rocky Mountain. Taylor is averaging 0.96 blocks per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.21 kills and 15.71 digs per set with a .165 hitting percentage.

• The Yellowjackets close a five-match homestand by hosting Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene split a pair of home matches, dropping a hard-fought five-set match to Western Oregon on Thursday before knocking off Concordia in five sets on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Tayler Markland was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after finishing 21 kills and a .514 hitting percentage (21 kills, 2 errors, 37 attempts). Markland finished with 10 kills and five blocks with a .348 hitting percentage against Western Oregon and then had 11 kills and a .786 hitting percentage to go with two digs and three blocks against Concordia. Markland is currently seventh in the GNAC with a .297 hitting percentage.

• Sophomore outside hitter Abbey Blum finished with 28 kills in the two matches. Blum led all players with 22 kills, five digs and a .409 hitting percentage against Western Oregon before adding six kills and three digs against Concordia. Blum leads the Nighthawks with 3.08 kills per set and a .198 hitting percentage.

• Junior outside hitter Kayla Sale amassed 24 kills and seven blocks last weekend. She finished with a double-double 18 kills and 13 digs to go with four blocks against Western Oregon. Sale then finished with six kills, 12 digs and three blocks against Concordia. Sale is averaging 1.61 blocks and 3.24 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week averaging 11.77 kills per set and ranks fourth in the league with 17.82 digs per set. In the NCAA Division II statistics, senior libero Shayli Siegfreid is 35th in Division II with 5.37 digs per set.

• The Nighthawks are on the road for their next three matches, playing at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s took a pair of losses last week, dropping a three-set home battle with Seattle Pacific on Tuesday and a four-set match at Montana State Billings on Thursday.

• Senior outside hitter Megan Vernoy led the Saints as with 28 kills in the two matches. She finished with 11 kills to go with two blocks against Seattle Pacific before adding 17 kills and five digs at Montana State Billings. Vernoy is currently eighth in the GNAC with 3.19 kills and 3.63 points per set.

• Senior outside hitter Rachel Gondrezick added 24 kills and 21 digs in the two matches. She opened the week with nine kills and four digs against Seattle Pacific before going off for 15 kills and 17 digs at Montana State Billings. Gondrezick enters the week averaging 2.71 kills and 2.73 digs per set.

• Senior libero Courtney Misner finished with 33 digs in the two matches. She finished with 12 digs and three assists against Seattle Pacific before adding 21 digs and four assists at Montana State Billings. Misner is currently fifth in the GNAC with 4.79 digs per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 11.32 kills and 15.27 digs per set with a .162 hitting percentage.

• Saint Martin’s is home for its next two matches, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific split a pair of road matches last week, scoring a three-set victory over Saint Martin’s on Thursday before taking a five-set loss to Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Gabby Oddo led the Falcons with 33 kills and 22 digs in last week’s matches. She opened with a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs with a .385 hitting percentage at Saint Martin’s. Oddo then finished with 23 kills and 10 digs at Montana State Billings. Oddo enters the week fifth in the GNAC with 3.38 kills per set and sixth with 3.94 points per set.

• Junior outside hitter Jayden Hooker had 19 kills in the two matches. She came off the bench to finish with nine kills at Saint Martin’s and then had 10 kills at Montana State Billings. Hooker is averaging 2.37 kills per set.

• Senior setter Symone Tran had 86 assists across the eight sets, finishing with 34 assists, two aces and five digs at Saint Martin’s along with a double-double of 52 assists and 12 digs at Montana State Billings. Tran enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 9.93 assists per set.

• Senior middle blocker Shaun Crespi added eight blocks on the two matches, topped by her five blocks at Montana State Billings. Crespi is third in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 1.24 blocks per set. As a team, Seattle Pacific is fourth in the GNAC and 16th in Division II with 2.34 blocks per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 12.10 kills and 16.55 digs per set with a .168 hitting percentage.

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

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser is now on a three-match losing streak. After dropping a five-set match at Alaska on Thursday, the Clan took three-set sweeps at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday and at Western Washington on Tuesday.

• Junior outside hitter Betsie de Beer led the Clan with 25 kills in the two weekend matches. She led the Clan with 20 kills and a .318 hitting percentage at Alaska. de Beer then added five kills at Alaska Anchorage and three kills at Western Washington. de Beer enters the week averaging 2.89 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Tessa May finished with 24 kills, four digs and five blocks in the weekend matches. May finished with 19 kills, three digs and four blocks at Alaska and then finished with five kills at Alaska Anchorage. May also had eight kills, two digs and two blocks at Western Washington. May is fifth in the GNAC with a .338 hitting percentage, seventh with 3.68 points per set and ninth with 3.12 kills per set.

• Junior outside hitter Kirsten Pinkney led the Clan with nine kills off the bench at Western Washington on Tuesday.

• Sophomore setter Julia Tays had another 77 assists in the weekend matches. The trip was topped by her 61 assists, two aces, two kills, five digs and a block at Alaska. Tays also contributed 26 assists, two aces and seven digs at Western Washington. Tays is third in the GNAC and 37th in Division II with 10.61 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser is second in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with 13.04 assists per set while ranking third in the GNAC and 34th in Division II with 13.64 kills per set. The Clan is also second in the GNAC and 17th in Division II with 19.26 digs per set.

• Simon Fraser concludes its week on Saturday at Montana State Billings.

WESTERN OREGON
• It was a solid split for Western Oregon last week. The Wolves scored a five-set road win at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday before taking a three-set loss at Central Washington on Saturday.

• Sophomore middle blocker Markie Hall led the Wolves with 20 kills, a .415 hitting percentage and nine blocks in the two matches. Hall finished with 13 kills, a .367 hitting percentage and nine blocks at Northwest Nazarene and also had seven kills and a .545 hitting percentage at Central Washington. Hall is averaging 1.70 kills and 0.95 blocks per set.

• Senior outside hitter Mariella Vandenkooy finished 19 kills, nine digs and three blocks in the two matches. She opened with 14 kills, six digs and three blocks at Northwest Nazarene before finishing with five kills and three digs at Central Washington. Vandenkooy enters the week leading the Wolves with 2.53 kills per set with 2.74 digs per set.

• Western Oregon finished with 16 service aces in the two matches, led by four aces each from freshman outside hitter Descinda Slaughter and freshman setter Aubrey Stanton. The Wolves are third in the GNAC with 1.61 aces per set. Senior setter Leila Holt is second in the league with 0.40 per set while Slaughter is fourth at 0.37 per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 11.25 kills and 15.45 digs per set with a .153 hitting percentage.

• Western Oregon closes out its home schedule this week, hosting Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• The win streak is now 20 matches for Western Washington after three more victories. The Vikings picked up a four-set win at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and three-set sweeps over Alaska on Saturday and Simon Fraser on Tuesday.

• The Vikings moved up to No. 2 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25, tying the program’s highest ever national ranking, and picked up seven first-place votes. It is the 90th consecutive poll that the Vikings have been ranked in dating back to the first regular-season poll of the 2012 season. Western Washington is also No. 1 in the first NCAA Division II West Region Rankings of the year.

• Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 5.29 digs per set with six blocks in the weekend matches. In addition to her 14 kills, Phelps finished with 21 digs and had a solo block at Alaska Anchorage. She then had 16 digs and five blocks to go with 11 kills and a .300 hitting percentage at Alaska. Phelps also had 10 kills and 15 digs on Tuesday against Simon Fraser. Phelps leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with 3.99 kills set. She also leads the GNAC and is 25th in Division II with 4.48 points per set.

• Junior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper finished with 24 kills, a .382 hitting percentage and six blocks in the weekend matches. She opened with 16 kills, a .395 hitting percentage and three blocks at Alaska Anchorage and had eight kills and three solo blocks at Alaska. Harper then added nine kills and three blocks against Simon Fraser. Harper leads the GNAC and is seventh in Division II with 1.36 blocks per set. She also leads the GNAC and is 13th in Division II with a .390 hitting percentage.

• Senior middle blocker Michaela Hall finished with 22 kills and 11 blocks in the weekend matches. Hall opened with 12 kills, six blocks and a .600 hitting percentage at Alaska Anchorage before finishing with 10 kills and five blocks at Alaska. Hall then led the Vikings with 12 kills and three blocks against Simon Fraser. Hall is fifth in the GNAC with 1.20 blocks per set and third with a 357 hitting percentage.

• Western Washington leads the GNAC and is 17th in Division II with a .257 hitting percentage. The Vikings also lead the league and rank fourth in Division II with 2.84 blocks per set. In addition, WWU ranks ninth in Division II with 221 total blocks.

• Western Washington closes the week with a trip to Montana State Billings on Thursday.