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GNAC Coaches Poll - 1. Seattle Pacific (5) 99; 2. Alaska Anchorage (4) 95; 3. Western Washington (1) 80; 4. Seattle 71; 5. Northwest Nazarene 57; 6. Montana State Billings 56; 7. Central Washington 43; 8. Saint Martin's 24; 9. Western Oregon and Alaska Fairbanks 19. (Note: First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 11-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. MSUB records from Heartland Conference. More detailed information is available by clicking on the GNAC Coaches Poll link).

Take a conference in which six of the nine teams posted a winning record and everyone returns three or more starters.

Add six Division I transfers and at least nine junior college all-stars, including one of the top JC players in the country.

And for good measure throw in a perennial power (Montana State Billings) that is coming off a conference title in another league and what do you have?

The makings of a very tough and competitive conference women's basketball campaign.

You won't get an argument from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball coaches on that.

In their pre-season poll, defending champion Seattle Pacific barely edged 2006-07 runner-up Alaska Anchorage, outpointing the Seawolves 99-95.

The first place votes were nearly split evenly between SPU (5) and UAA (4). Western Washington, which came in third, received the lone remaining first-place vote.

Seattle University, Northwest Nazarene and MSU Billings also received strong support in the poll, finishing with 71, 57 and 56 ballot points, respectively.

Rounding out the rankings were Central Washington (7th), Saint Martin's (8 th ) and Alaska Fairbanks and Western Oregon (tied for 9th).

Seattle Pacific, which has won four of the six previous GNAC titles, has three returning GNAC all-stars, more than anyone else in the conference.

“SPU is the defending champion, returns a deep roster loaded with experience and talent and has a rich history of success,” Western Oregon coach Greg Bruce said.

An addition to the Falcon roster this year is Kelsey Burns, who played in 43 games the past two years at the University of Arizona.

“There is a great deal of parity throughout the entire conference, especially among the top six schools,” van Beek, who has guided her team to 44 wins (against 15 losses) the past two seasons, said.

“It is going to be a very tough conference race. The margin of error between winning and losing is going to be slim.”

Still, SPU starts from a good spot. Among nine returning letter winners is center Kelsey Hill, who ranked ninth in scoring (12.2) and third in rebounding (8.5) and field goal percentage (52.2) in the GNAC last season.

She is one of four returning first-team all-stars, including GNAC Player-of-the-Year Rebecca Kielpinski of UAA, who ranked fourth in scoring (14.5) and earned her second straight rebounding title (10.8).

Van Beek also has available guards Jackie Hollands and Beth Christensen, who were second team and honorable mention selections. Christensen was the conference assist leader, averaging 4.93 per game.

Kielpinski is the only returning all-star for UAA and is one of just five letter winners. But, the Seawolves had a phenomenal recruiting year.

Among their additions were guard Kalhie Quinones from Division I Utah State and four JC all-stars, including Dasha Basova, who was a National Junior College third team All-American and the NJCAA Region IX Player-of-the-Year.

Western Washington, which has qualified for the NCAA West Regionals each of the past nine seasons, returns two all-stars off last year's team that barely kept that streak alive, qualifying as the eighth seed.

Liz McCarrell will be back to lead the Vikings after earning second team all-conference honors. Krystal Robinson, who led the conference in blocked shots, was an honorable mention selection.

In all the Vikings have four returning starters who will be joined by Eastern Washington transfer Tara Holgate, who at 6-4 will match SPU's Lexi Schaar for the tallest player in the GNAC.

Seattle University is coming off an 18-9 season and a fifth-place finish in the GNAC and four starters return off that team, including second team all-star Laina Sobczak.

The Redhawks, heading for Division I next year, also added one Division I transfer (Emily Mothershed from Southern Utah) and two NWAACC all-stars including South Region MVP Alysse Carlson of Chemeketa.

Northwest Nazarene (along with Saint Martin's) is one of two teams in the GNAC without a returning all-star, but the Crusaders do have nine returning letter winners, matching SPU for the high in that category.

Among NNU's three returning starters is guard Mallory Whipple, who led the GNAC in steals and ranked second to Christensen in assists.

Montana State Billings is the wild card in the race. The Yellowjackets won the Heartland Conference title last year and made their 10 th NCAA appearance, including nine since 1994.

Coach Kevin Woodin, who has a 61-26 record in two seasons, returns two all-star guards off that team - Alira Carpenter, who averaged 16.9 points to earn first team honors and Shantell Marquis, who was an honorable mention pick.

Central Washington slipped to sixth last year, its first second-division finish during the six-year history of the GNAC.

The Wildcats, however, hope to rebound this season with the addition of two transfers, including Brooke Fernandez from the University of Portland, and two JC all-stars, including Sara Bergner, who was the leading scorer in the NWAACC North Region.

Saint Martin's has three starters, including GNAC free throw champion Jamey Gelhar, among seven returning letter winners and could get a boost from first team NWAACC first-region all-star Michelle Short.

Western Oregon has just two players back from a year ago (the fewest of any team in the conference), but one is Division II Women's Bulletin pre-season All-American Leada Berkey, who is the defending GNAC scoring champion (21.1). Berkey also finished second in rebounding (9.0), fourth in three-pointers (2.07), and sixth in assists (3.04).

The Wolves also added three four-year transfers, including one whose previous numbers indicate she could be one of the top players in the conference.

Forward Vanessa Wyffels previously played two seasons at Division I Wagner and one at Division III Willamette and has 984 career points (12.8) and 501 career rebounds (6.5).

At Willamette, she led all of Division III in field goal percentage (with a NCAA-record 74.2 mark) and ranked 18 th in scoring (19.1) while also pulling down 9.7 rebounds per game and earning second team NCAA Division III All-American honors.

Alaska Fairbanks, like most of its conference rivals, also returns a good nucleus of players from last year when it finished eighth.

Among seven letter winners are three starters led by guard Kari Reabold, who finished second in scoring (16.1) and eighth in rebounding (7.1) in earning second team all-conference honors.

OUTLOOK

Despite the impressive recruiting class at UAA, it would be hard to overlook the history at Seattle Pacific.

Over the past six seasons, the Falcons have lost just 11 GNAC games while winning 95, a .896 winning percentage. Four of the losses, however, did come last year when SPU edged UAA by one game for the conference title.

There is no reason to think the dynasty will end soon. No one has more returning letter winners than SPU, which returns a league-best three all-stars and four players who made at least 16 starts.

Forward Kelsey Hill (6-2, Jr., Portland, OR – Portland Christian) and guard Jackie Hollands (5-9, Sr., Oregon City, OR) were the team's top two scorers, averaging 12.2 and 11.0 points, and Beth Christensen (5-5, Sr., Enumclaw, WA) was the GNAC's top playmaker, leading the conference in assists with 143 (4.93 per game).

Hill, who ranked ninth in the conference in scoring and third in rebounding and field goal percentage (52.2) was a first-team all-star selection.

Hollands, a former University of Washington player, earned second team honors and was among the GNAC leaders in steals (2 nd , 2.07) and three-point percentage (6 th , 55 of 148, 37.2).

Christensen contributed six points per game and ranked second for SPU in steals in earning honorable mention honors.

A fourth returnee, Libby Magnuson (5-10, Sr., White Bear Lake, MN), made 16 starts and averaged 6.1 points and 3.0 rebounds, while issuing 73 assists.

Of the returning five letter winners, three averaged at least three points per game. Lexi Schaar (So., Crookston, MN), at 6-4 the tallest player in the league, averaged seven points and three rebounds, though she was limited to five games because of an injury.

Jessie Christensen (5-9, Sr., Enumclaw, WA) contributed 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds, while Daesha Henderson (5-8, So., Snohomish, WA) chipped in with 3.8 points and 1.8 rebounds.

University of Arizona transfer Kelsey Burns (5-11, Jr., Seattle, WA – Kennedy) is the key addition. In her freshman season, she played in all 27 games and averaged 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds and was voted the Wildcats' Freshman-of-the-Year. Three-quarters of her points came from the arc where she made 26 of 71.

In her sophomore season at Tempe, she played in only 16 games and her average dipped to 1.7 points per contest.

The only other two additions are 5-10 freshman Maddie Maloney from Issaquah's Skyline High School and 6-2 freshman center Melissa Reich from Bothell and Bellevue Christian High School.

In two seasons, Rebecca Kielpinski (6-2, Jr., Mandan, N.D.) has already made her mark on the GNAC and UAA record books.

The 2006-07 GNAC Player-of-the-Year , with two full seasons ahead of her, already ranks 30 th in career scoring in GNAC history with 944 points and is 19 th in career rebounding with 579.

Early in the season, Kielpinski, who was a third team Division II Bulletin All-American last season, will become the 28 th player in conference history to score 1,000 points.

She is one of three returning starters and five letter winners for second-year coach Tim Moser, who led UAA to a 23-6 record and a berth in the NCAA playoffs in his rookie year, earning GNAC Coach-of-the-Year honors.

Also back from last year's starting lineup is forward Maria Nilsson (6-0, Sr., Skovde, Sweden - Sanda & Northeast Nebraska) and guard Jennifer Salazar (5-9, Sr., Houston, TX – South Houston & Garden City CC). Nilsson was the team's third-leading scorer (7.5) and second most productive three-point shooter (49 of 136).

Salazar, meanwhile, was the team's top playmaker handing out 83 assists and one of the top defenders, leading the team with 33 steals. She also ranked fourth on the team in scoring (6.7).

Two other players are also back – guard Limor Pelleg (5-5, Jr., Rishon LeZion, Israel) and Erin Cunningham (5-6, Sr., Yuba City, CA – Marysville & Yuba College). Pelleg averaged 5.9 points, while Cunningham saw limited duty playing in only 10 games.

Dasha Basova heads up UAA's impressive recruiting class. One of the nation's top junior college post players, she averaged 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for Northeastern (Colo.) in earning Region IX Player-of-the-Year and NJCAA third-team All-American honors.

“Dasha is a tremendously skilled basketball player who has all the necessary qualities to succeed in the college game,” Moser said. “Her addition gives us more options offensively and will take a lot of pressure off Rebecca.”

Three other newcomers were also JC all-stars. Guard Elisha Harris (5-7, Jr., West Jordan, UT) was a first-team Region 18 pick at Eastern Utah where she averaged 14.6 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Forward Lillie Parks (5-11, Jr., Rialto, CA – Eisenhower) was a two-time Team MVP and two-time Foothills Conference first-team all-star at Chaffee College where she averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals while shooting 54 percent.

Ashley Thompson (5-10, Jr., McCammon, ID – Marsh Valley) earned honorable mention all-star honors twice at Southern Idaho, averaging 6.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

Two other players – Ruby Williams (5-10, Jr., Phoenix, AZ – Maryvale, 5.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and Danielle Dekel (5-10, Jr., Kibbutz Ein Shemer, Israel) - have joined UAA from Central Arizona, which is recognized as one of the top JCs in the country. Dekel averaged 7.4 points as a freshmen before playing a reserve role in her sophomore season.

From the four-year ranks, UAA added guard Kalhie Quinones from Weber State. Quinones started 21 of 28 games and averaged six points, four rebounds, 1 ½ assists and 1 ½ steals for the Division I school in 2004-05 after previously playing for Moser at Otero JC.

An experienced core of players, including three of last year's four top scorers will lead the Vikings this winter.

Four starters are back for coach Carmen Dolfo (347-122, 16 years), including all-star forwards Liz McCarrell (5-11, Sr., Ferndale, WA) and Krystal Robinson (6-2, Sr., Kent, WA - Kentridge).

McCarrell (10.9) and Robinson (10.1) were WWU's No. 2 and No. 3 scorers last season and earned second team and honorable mention all-conference honors, respectively.

McCarrell also led the team in field goal percentage (49.1) and contributed 3.8 rebounds and two assists per game. Robinson was the team's No. 2 rebounder (5.3) and was the GNAC's top shot blocker (4 th nationally) with 81 (2.89). Robinson now ranks third in GNAC history and second in school history in career blocks with 182.

Also back off last year's starting five is center Claire Pallansch (6-1, Jr., Redmond, WA), who averaged 7.7 points and led WWU in rebounding (7.2) and guard India Soo (5-6, Jr., Kamuela, HI - Kamehameha), who contributed 4.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Among the reserves back for another season are junior forward Sarah Schramm (6-0, Jr., Chelan, WA), center Krista Lersch (6-2, So., Lynnwood, WA – Blanchet) and forward Gabby Wade (5-9, So., Lacey, WA – River Ridge).

Schramm averaged 4.5 points and 3.8 rebounds a year ago, while Lersch (1.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg) and Wade (1.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg) combined for 83 points and 75 rebounds.

Another key sub from last year's team, Elyse Hartman will sit out the season with the same knee injury that forced her to miss 14 games a year ago.

Among the newcomers are Eastern Washington transfer Tara Holgate (6-4, So., Everett, WA – Snohomish County Christian), 2006-07 redshirt Amanda Dunbar (5-9, Fr., Marysville, WA – Marysville-Pilchuck) and four incoming freshmen – Lauren Hefflin (6-2, Ridgefield, WA), Kristin Schramm (5-9, Chelan, WA), Kaitlin McBride (5-7, Bothell, WA) and Marelle Moehrle (5-9, Lynnwood, WA – Meadowdale).

Dunbar averaged 17.6 points as a high school senior and will provide WWU with an outside shooting threat.

Four starters, including three of their top four scorers, are back off a Redhawk team that recorded a Seattle University GNAC record 18 victories a year ago.

It was only the second winning season in six GNAC campaigns for the Redhawks, who are now 41-39 in three seasons under head coach Dan Kriley.

Laina Sobczak (5-11, Sr., University Place, WA – Curtis) led Seattle in scoring (11.6), rebounding (5.5) and field goal percentage (50.4) in earning second team all-star honors.

Also returning from the starting lineup are guard Cassidy Murillo (5-7, So., Yakima, WA – West Valley), forward Kamrica Ary-Turner (5-10, Sr., Federal Way, WA – TESC) and guard Jackie Thomas (5-7, Sr., Tacoma, WA – Curtis).

Murillo, the 2007 GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year award winner, ranked third on the team in scoring (9.2) and second in assists (3.4) and accounted for one-third of SU's three-pointers, making 54 of 124.

Ary-Turner was the team's No. 4 scorer (8.6) and No. 3 rebounder (4.6) and was also the top shot blocker with 18.

Thomas averaged 6.4 points, 2.2 steals and 2.1 assists in Seattle's first eight games before an injury sidelined her for the rest of the season.

Injuries also cost the Redhawks Quinn Brewe (6-1, Jr., Edmonds, WA) for most of the season. She was averaging 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds through 10 games before being sidelined.

Brewe is back this season along with two other 2006-07 reserves – forward Taryn Kellogg (5-11, Sr., Woodinville, WA, 1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg) and Ashley Brown (5-11, So., Kirkland, WA – Inglemoor, 3.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg).

While the Redhawks lost three players who started 17 or more games, two JC all-stars and a Division I transfer were added.

Emily Mothershed (6-1, Jr., Hockinson, WA) played 57 games over the past two seasons at Southern Utah, averaging 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds.

“Emily gives us the experienced toughness in the post that we've been missing. She brings relentless energy, intensity and desire to win,” Kriley said.

Guard Alysse Carlson (5-8, Jr., Ashland, OR – Chemeketa) averaged 20 points per game and was the NWAACC South Region MVP last season, while Chelsie Morrison (5-11, Jr., Portland, OR) was a first team East Region all-star at Yakima, averaging 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Carlson is a proven perimeter scorer who can play either at the point or wing, while Morrison is a versatile player who can score from anywhere on the floor and effectively defend every position, Kriley said.

The Crusaders are experienced with four starters among nine letter winners, but at the same time are still young with just two seniors.

“This is one of those rare years where we have an experienced team, but are still relatively young in age,” NNU eighth-year coach Kelli Lindley (109-86) said. “It's also one of our deepest teams top to bottom.”

“We have some very athletic guards and our team is in great shape and very capable of controlling the tempo for 40 minutes.”

That style starts with the guards and NNU returns Mallory Whipple (5-7, Jr., Redmond, OR) at the point. Last year she led the GNAC in steals (2.26), while ranking second in assists (4.11) while also scoring 4.7 points per game.

Joining Whipple in the backcourt will be Falissa Smith (5-7, Tigard, OR), a freshman from Southridge. Smith led her high school team to three straight Oregon 6A championships.

Three experienced players are available to play at the wing. Brittany Roggenkamp (5-9, So., La Center, WA) started all 27 games a year ago and averaged 7.6 points and three rebounds, while Lindsay Brady (5-8, So., Boise, ID – Bishop Kelly) made nine starts and ranked third on the team in scoring (8.2) and third in rebounding (3.8).

Janee Olds (5-7, Fr., Coos Bay, OR – North Bend) started 25 games and was the team's second leading scorer (9.7) and top three-pointer shooter, making 30 though she shot only 26.8 percent.

In the post, the Crusaders will miss four-year standout Danielle Dwello, who led the team in scoring (12.4) and rebounding (7.2), and completed her career as the ninth leading scorer (1,320) and the No. 3 rebounder (913) in GNAC history.

Lindley, however, will welcome back Jennifer Williams (6-2, Jr., Boise, ID – Centennial) from a redshirt year. Williams averaged 61 points and 4.9 rebounds two years ago, but missed the 2006-07 season due to a back injury.

Also back are Kristen Hein (5-11, So., Tualatin, OR) and Nicki Schutte (6-0, Sr., Nampa, ID). Hein averaged eight points and 6.8 rebounds, tops among NNU's returning players, while Schutte contributed 5.6 points and 3.6 rebounds.

Also returning are two guards – Krista Oliver (5-9, So., Oregon City, OR, 2.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg) and Paige Knudson (5-10, Sr., Pocatello, ID – Sheridan, 2.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg). Both played in all 27 games a year ago.

Three other freshmen in addition to Smith will also see playing time this winter – guard Katy Sullivan (5-9, Baker City, OR) and posts Beth Johnson (6-2, Kent, WA – Kentwood) and Heather Craig (6-3, Fairbanks, AK)

Only two players from last year's Heartland Conference championship team are not back, but one of them is Michelle Lieber, who led the team in scoring (17.2), rebounding (9.1) and blocks (26).

Most of the remainder of the players, including three all-stars, who contributed to Montana State Billings' 22 win campaign are available for the Yellowjackets' first season in the GNAC.

Among the returnees is guard Alira Carpenter (5-8, Jr., Lewistown, MT – Fergus County), who averaged 15.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in earning first team Heartland Conference honors.

Carpenter was one of the top three-point shooting threats in the country last season ranking 19 th in three-pointers made (2.8) and 16 th in percentage (42.5). She also shot 88.6 percent from the foul line, converting on 62 of 70.

Two other 2006-07 starters earned honorable mention all-star honors in the Heartland Conference. Guard Shantell Marquis (5-10, So., Cascade, MT – C.M. Russell) averaged 7.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals, while forward Dani Henderson (6-0, So., Reed Point, MT) was the team's No. 2 rebounder, pulling down 5.7 per game in addition to scoring 6.3 points.

Also back from last year's starting lineup is guard Jetton Meadors (5-8, Jr., Billings, MT - Senior). Meadors led the team in assists with 109 (3.4) and also netted 7.3 points per game.

Four 2006-07 reserves are also back – forwards Kayla McPherson (5-11, Jr., Glendive, MT – Dawson JC) and Jen Smith (5-10, Jr., Belgrade, MT), guard Rachel Hansen (5-9, So., Lolo, MT – Big Sky) and center Laura Beach (6-2, So., Baker, MT).

McPherson was the team's third-leading scorer, averaging 9.2 points, two-thirds of them from the three-point arc (64 of 161, 39.8 percent), while Smith netted 7.4 points and 3.8 rebounds.

Hansen (1.0 ppg, 0.4 rpg) scored 30 points in 29 contests, while Beach had 25 points in 22 games.

Three Montana prep products – 5-10 forward Mandy Jacobs and 5-4 guard Quinn Halverson from Shepherd and 6-1 forward Kayla Ryan from Big Timber - complete the MSUB squad. Ryan was a four-time all-state selection, while Halverson earned all-state honors three times.

Central Washington won 17 of 27 games a year ago, but posted its first losing season in the GNAC (7-9) since the formation of the conference.

Two of the top three scorers off last year's team return, but 11 th year coach Jeff Whitney (166-101) will need to replace his top two rebounders and No. 2 scorer.

Gone is Laura Wright, who scored 1,432 points and had 816 rebounds over the past four seasons to rank fifth and sixth, respectively in GNAC history, and Brandie Bounds, who contributed 11 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest.

Back, however, is top scorer Hanna Hull (5-9, Sr., Pateros, WA, 12.9 ppg) and Elyse (Mengarelli) Maras (5-9, Sr., Yakima, WA – East Valley & YVC, 12.1 ppg). Hull made 45 of 126 three-pointers and also ranked third in rebounding (4.5), while Maras, who has just one quarter of eligibility remaining and thus will not be available until the end of fall quarter in December, accounted for 40 percent of her point total at the foul line, making 87.4 percent (111 of 127).

Point guard Ashley Fenimore (5-8, Jr., Lynnwood, WA – Meadowdale) also returns. In addition to scoring seven points per game and leading the ‘Cats in assists (80), she was also a factor defensively with a team-best 47 steals.

Three reserves – forwards Kristina Klapperich (6-1, Sr., Wasilla, AK – Colony, 3.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Shaina Afoa (6-1, So., Anchorage, AK – Dimond, 3.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg) and Hilary Tanneberg (6-2, So., Issaquah, WA – Liberty, 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) - who combined for a total of 8 ½ points and seven rebounds per game, are also back.

Brooke Fernandez (5-7, Jr., Castle Rock, WA) played in 32 games and averaged 3.4 points in two seasons at the University of Portland, while LeeAna Busch (6-2, So., Bellingham, WA – Sehome) averaged 3.4 points and two rebounds two years ago at Northwest Nazarene.

Sara Bergner (5-10, Jr., Bellingham, WA) was the NWAACC Northern Region leading scorer, averaging 22 points and nine rebounds and earning first team all-star honors for Whatcom CC.

Tanna Radtke, a 5-6 junior wing from Redmond, was a second team NWAACC Northern Region all-star last year at Bellevue.

The Saints had great balance in their scoring last year with six players averaging between seven and 9.8 points per game. Four of those are back led by Jamey Gelhar (5-5, So., Brush Prairie, WA).

Gelhar, who led the GNAC in free throw percentage (116-128, 90.6) and averaged 9.3 points per game, while Amber Harmon (5-9, Sr., Wenatchee, WA – WVC) averaged 8.9.

Also back in the fold are Kassie Ludeman (6-2, Sr., Waterville, WA – WVC) and Sade Smith (5-11, Jr., Pullman, WA – Centralia CC), who averaging 7.2 and 7.0, respectively.

All but Smith, who was the team's No. 2 rebounder averaging five per game, were starters.

SMU also returns two other players who made contributions a year ago - forward Krissy Bassett (6-0, So., Washougal, WA) and guard Megan Busch (5-7, So., Bellingham, WA – Sehome).

Another player – Amy Layton (5-7, Jr., Toledo, WA – George Fox) – returns after sitting out the 2006-07 season.

Bassett averaged 5.2 and 3.2 points per game, while Busch tossed in 3.2 points per contest. Layton averaged 1.7 points and 2.1 rebounds for SMU's 2005-06 team.

Five freshmen and a junior college all-star fill out this year's roster. The JC transfer is Michelle Short (5-9, Jr., Wenatchee, WA), who earned first team NWAACC East Region honors at Wenatchee Valley, averaging 17.6 points and 5.7 rebounds.

“Michelle is a hard-working, versatile, aggressive player and should make an impact on both sides of the ball,” SMU coach Tim Healy, who begins his 12 th season (134-165) said.

The freshmen class includes guards Nastaja Mealing (5-5, Lacey – Timberline), Roni Jo Mielke (5-6, Harrington, WA – Sprague-Harrington) and Anesse Hansen (5-7, Olympia, WA); forward Dara Zack (5-9, Spokane, WA – University) and post Katie Hawkins (6-0, Yakima, WA – West Valley).

Mealing redshirted a year ago, while Mielke was the Washington State Class B Player-of-the-Year as well as the MVP in the Class B State tournament. She averaged 18.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and five steals in her senior season.

Two of the players - Hawkins (honorable mention 3A) and Zack (second team) – earned all-state honors.

Only two players are back from last year's Western Oregon club that won just three games, including Leada Berkey, who led the GNAC in scoring and was a WBCA and Division II Bulletin honorable mention All-American.

Berkey (5-8, Sr., Amity, OR) averaged 21.1 points a year ago to win the conference scoring title and also ranked second in rebounding (9.0) and sixth in assists (3.04).

Also back is guard Claire Carpenter (5-4, Sr., Gresham, OR - Centennial), who averaged four points and 1.9 rebounds, and also plays volleyball for the Wolves.

Alison Crumb (5-7, Sr., Port Angeles, WA – Peninsula CC), a starter two years ago when she averaged 8.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists is also back.

Crumb will be one of many quality additions to the roster. “Alison is an extremely competent three-point shooter and will offer us a lot of experience at both guard spots,” WOU coach Greg Bruce said.

Among the additions is Vanessa Wyffels (5-10, Sr., Portland, OR – Central Catholic), who will give WOU a big-time low post threat to compliment Berkey.

Wyffels, who played two seasons at Division 1 Wagner and one at Division III Willamette before arriving in Monmouth where she redshirted last year, has scored 984 points (12.8) and has grabbed 501 rebounds (6.5) in her three previous collegiate seasons.

She is a 68.9 percent career field goal shooter and was the 2005-06 NCAA Division III field goal percentage leader when she made a NCAA-record 74.2 percent (173-233). She also ranked 18 th in scoring that year averaging 19 points per game to earn second team Division III All-American honors.

“Vanessa is a born leader and will be a great role model for our younger players,” Bruce (296-161, 16 years) said.

Other key additions include transfers Katie Torland from Nebraska Kearney and Shayla Corder from The Master's College and freshmen Whitney Chase and Danielle Albus.

Torland (5-10, So., Burns, OR) averaged 4.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in her freshman season at UNK, which advanced to its regional final before losing to North Dakota. “Katie has the ability to score from anywhere on the court. Beyond that she's an excellent passer and a tough rebounder.”

Corder (5-10, So., Winchester, OR – Roseburg) played in 25 games at the NAIA school, averaging 2.4 points in 10 minutes per contest. “She shoots the three well, but also has a solid mid-range game,” Bruce said. “She is also an excellent passer and a very smart player and has a chance to make a huge impact on our program in many ways.”

Chase (5-11, Oregon City, OR) brings a wealth of big-time competitive experience from her prep days at Oregon City, which played many high-level games against nationally-ranked programs.

Albus (5-8, Aumsville, OR – Cascade) originally signed at Division I Colorado State, but decided to stay closer to home. “She had a distinguished high school career at the point guard position and will be able to take some of the pressure off Leada (Berkey) having to run the point,” Bruce said.

Chase and Albus are among nine freshmen listed on the WOU roster, which also includes one JC transfer, guard Jessica Goss (5-8, Jr., Arlington, WA) from Edmonds CC.

Second team GNAC all-conference selection Kari Reabold is one of seven returning letter winners and three starters returning for the Nanooks.

Reabold (5-11, Sr., Fairbanks, AK – Lathrop) was a Top 10 ranked player in the GNAC in both scoring and rebounding a year ago, finishing second in point production (16.1) and eighth on the backboards (7.1). She also was UAF's steal leader with 46 and ranked second in assists with 52.

In addition to Reabold, returning starters include guards Cristina Bruketta (5-9, Jr., Ellensburg, WA - Kittitas) and Sheena Brown (5-8, Jr., Fairbanks, AK – Lathrop). Brown was the Nanooks' No. 2 scorer averaging 12.5 points, while Bruketta averaged 8.6 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Four other letter winners also return – forwards Joscelyn Shumate (6-0, Sr., Fairbanks, AK - Lathrop), Brittany Black (5-11, So., Coupeville, WA) and Lexie Black (6-1, So., Coupeville, WA) and guard Sarah Herrin (5-7, So., Nikiski, AK).

Shumate made five starts and contributed 4.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game and was the team's No. 2 shot blocker with 16.

The Black sisters combined for 44 points with Brittany scoring 32 in 21 games and Lexie adding 12 in 12 contests. Herrin played in all 27 games and averaged 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds.

A four-year transfer, a standout from the UAF volleyball team and five freshmen complete the Nanook roster.

Nada Erhardt (5-8, Jr., Surrey, BC) previously played two years at Henderson State. Erhardt played in 26 games in two seasons at Henderson, including on one team that advanced to the Elite Eight.

“I've been impressed with Nada's ability as far back as high school; we initially recruited here to come here before she chose Henderson,” UAF coach Lynne Andrew (40-66, 4 years) said.

Thigpen (5-10, So., Spokane, WA – Mead) is currently finishing up an outstanding volleyball campaign for the Nanooks. She leads the team in kills, digs and points.

Among the freshmen are guards Anna Simmons (5-4, Simi Valley, CA – Chaminade Prep) and Caitlin Hamsley (5-3, North Pole, AK), forwards Grace Miliken (5-10, Healy, AK – Tri-Valley) and Amonda Francis (5-1, Burnaby, BC - Gleneagle) and center Nicole Bozek (6-2, Mukilteo, WA – Kamiak).