Monday, October 26, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of record-setting efforts by Western Oregon’s Malik Braxton and Central Washington’s Sabrina Wheelhouse lead this week’s selections for GNAC Player of the Week.

Braxton was named the league’s Football Offensive Player of the Week after he led the Wolves with 199 yards of total offense in their 37-26 win at Simon Fraser, including a GNAC record 99-yard run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with 176 rushing yards and two touchdowns and threw for a third touchdown.

Wheelhouse was named the GNAC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week as she finished with 18 blocks in Central Washington’s two victories over Simon Fraser and No. 11 ranked Western Washington. Against the Clan, Wheelhouse had 11 block assists and one solo block, which set a CWU record for blocks in a five-set match. She led the Wildcats to a team single match with 21 blocks as Central Washington continues to lead Division II in blocks per set.

Central Washington had a sweep of the volleyball awards this week with Kiah Jones earning the offensive honor with 30 kills in the two matches.

Western Washington had two selections in the golf awards, with Brett Johnson sharing the award with Simon Fraser’s Bret Thompson. Both players tied for ninth at the Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Invitational. Jenn Paul was tabbed for the women’s award after she tied for seventh at the Sonoma State Fall Invitational.

A total of 12 student-athletes from seven schools are recognized in this week’s GNAC Player of the Week awards. Western Washington and Central Washington each had three honorees.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 8
FOOTBALL
Offensive: Malik Braxton (Western Oregon, RB/WR, 5-11, 180, Fr., Lynnwood, Wash. - Meadowdale): Braxton led Western Oregon to a 37-26 victory over Simon Fraser with 199 yards of total offense. He had 176 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 13 carries, which included a GNAC record 99-yard run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He also threw for a touchdown. Also Nominated: Justin Buren (Simon Fraser), Andrew Eiffers (Azusa Pacific), Ja’Quan Gardner (Humboldt State), Justln Lane (Central Washington).

Defensive: Jonathan Thropay (Azusa Pacific, DB, 6-4, 21-5, Jr., Monrovia, Calif. – Charter Oak) Thropay led a solid defensive performance for the Cougars. He led three APU players with double-digit tackles with 15 as Azusa Pacific beat South Dakota Mines 56-27. Also Nominated: Chris Hannible (Humboldt State), Shane Kuenzi (Western Oregon).

Special Teams: Jonathan Kuhn (Central Washington, P, 5-11, 222, So., Mercer Island, Wash. – Mercer Island): Kuhn total 283 yards on seven punts, averaging 40.4 yards per punt in the Wildcats’ loss to Humboldt State. His line included two punts inside the 20-yard line, three punts of 50 or more yards and a long punt of 60 yards. Also Nominated: Justin Buren (Simon Fraser), Jacob Hall (Azusa Pacific).

MEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: Fernando Alvarez (Northwest Nazarene, D/F, 6-2, Jr., San Diego, Calif. – Arizona Western Coll.): Alvarez went big in the Crusaders’ 7-0 shutout of Saint Martin’s on Thursday, scoring three goals to go along with three assists. His three assists tie for the best single-match performance in Division II this season and his nine points tie him for fourth best in Division II. Also Nominated: Adam Jones (Simon Fraser), Thiago Novis (Montana State Billings), Matt Paine (Concordia), Adam Talley (Western Washington).

Defensive: Cody Guthrie (Concordia, D, 6-1, Sr., Troutdale, Ore. – Clark CC): Guthrie anchored a Concordia defense that held opponents scoreless for 200 minutes last week. The Cavaliers played No. 9 Seattle Pacific to a 0-0 tie on Thursday and a 1-0 shutout of Saint Martin’s on Saturday. Guthrie played all 200 minutes. Also Nominated: Luke Broz (Northwest Nazarene), Cameron Lee (Montana State Billings), Anthony Van DeVendel (Simon Fraser).

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: Gabriela Pelogi (Western Washington, F, 5-4, Fr., Federal Way, Wash. – Federal Way): Pelogi scored three goals in two matches as the Vikings clinched a spot in the upcoming GNAC Women’s Soccer Tournament. She scored two goals to lead Western Washington in a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Saint Martin’s and added the game-winner in the Vikings’ 4-0 shutout of Simon Fraser. Also Nominated: Brittney Greenback (Montana State Billings), Hannah Holm (Northwest Nazarene), Maddie Krauss (Seattle Pacific), Reilly Retz (Central Washington).

Defensive: Shannon McMahon (Concordia, D, 6-0, Sr., Lake Forest Park, Wash. – Bishop Blanchet): McMahon anchored a Concordia defense that allowed one goal in 200 minutes as the Cavaliers beat Montana State Billings 1-0 in double overtime on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene 2-1 on Saturday. She also scored the game-winner for the Cavaliers at NNU. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Lokay (Montana State Billings), Alyssa Navlet (Central Washington), McCrea Nirider (Northwest Nazarene), Delanee Nilles (Western Washington), Shayla Page (Seattle Pacific).

VOLLEYBALL
Offensive: Kiah Jones (Central Washington, OH, 5-10, Jr., Port Angeles, Wash. – Port Angeles): Jones finished with 30 kills to lead the Wildcats to wins over Simon Fraser and No. 11 ranked Western Washington. She led Central Washington with 19 kills and a .545 hitting percentage in their three-set sweep of the Vikings. For the week, Jones hit .365 with just four attack errors on 76 attempts. Also Nominated: Alisha Bettinson (Western Oregon), Kendra Bodine (Northwest Nazarene), Liz Colon (Saint Martin’s), Sam Harthun (Alaska), Abby Phelps (Western Washington), Jenessa Taylor (Concordia), Katelynn Zanders (Alaska Anchorage).

Defensive: Sabrina Wheelhouse (Central Washington – MB, 6-3, So., Eugene, Ore. - Sheldon): Wheelhouse finished with 18 blocks as the Wildcats beat Simon Fraser and Western Washington. She had 11 block assists and one solo block against Simon Fraser, setting a CWU record for blocks in a five-set match. She led CWU to a school record performance of 21 total team blocks. Also Nominated: Colby Barnette (Concordia), Christie Colasurdo (Western Oregon), Elayna Rice (Northwest Nazarene),

GOLF
Men: Brett Johnson (Western Washington, Jr., Ridgefield, Wash. – Oregon State Univ.): Johnson tied for ninth at the Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Invitational out 99 golfers with an even-par 216. His round of 3-under-par 69 tied for the lowest of the first round. Bret Thompson (Simon Fraser, Sr., Winnipeg, Man. – St. Paul’s): Thompson tied with Johnson and two others for ninth place at the Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Invitational, which included back-to-back rounds of 3-under-par 69. Also Nominated: Ryan Pickthorn (Saint Martin’s).

Women: Jenn Paul (Western Washington, So., Bellingham, Wash. - Bellingham): Paul tied for seventh place at the Sonoma State Fall Invitational with a two-round score of 10-over-par 154.