Monday, November 23, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – A big career-ending performance by the league’s all-time kills leader and another solid week for one of the league’s top women’s basketball players lead this week’s selections for GNAC Players of the Week.

Alaska outside hitter Sam Harthun was selected as the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week as she led the Nanooks to a split of their season-ending matches against Western Oregon and Concordia. The senior from Oregon City, Ore., finished with 43 kills and a .238 hitting percentage, paced by a 27-kill performance in the season finale against Concordia. Harthun closed her career with 1,513 kills, bettering the GNAC record by 52.

Kyla Militante-Amper was named the Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week after she helped Alaska Anchorage clinch the GNAC championship and the league’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division II Tournament. The freshman from Hillsboro, Ore., had 38 digs in the Seawolves two three-set sweeps, led by a 21-dig performance against Western Oregon on Saturday.

The Seawolves’ Megan Mullings put together two solid performances in Hawaii to earn selection as the GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. The GNAC Preseason Player of the Year from Glendale, Ariz., scored 36 points and made 75 percent of her shots to lead Alaska Anchorage to wins over defending PacWest Conference champion Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii-Hilo. In the win over the Vulcans on Thursday, Mullings led all scorers with 24 points on 11 of 14 from the field.

Central Washington’s Gary Jacobs was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after being named the most valuable player at the Sodexo Classic in Seattle. Jacobs scored 45 points and shot 69.2 percent from the field as the Wildcats improved to 3-0 win wins over Hawaii-Hilo and BYU-Hawaii. The senior from Las Vegas toop his week with a 23-point effort over Hawaii-Hilo where he shot 8 of 11 from the field.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 12
VOLLEYBALL
Offensive: Sam Harthun (Alaska, OH, 6-1, Sr., Oregon City, Ore. – Oregon City): The GNAC’s all-time kills leader ended her career with 43 kills and a .238 hitting percentage as the Nanooks split their weekend matches. She finished with 16 kills and a .256 hitting percentage in Alaska’s three-set sweep over Western Oregon on Thursday and had 27 kills against Concordia on Saturday. Also Nominated: Kendra Bodine (Northwest Nazarene), Julia Mackey (Alaska Anchorage), Brenna Huwe (Concordia), Abby Phelps (Western Washington).

Defensive: Kyla Militante-Amper (Alaska Anchorage, L, 5-3, Fr., Hillsboro, Ore. - Century): Militante-Amper helped the Seawolves clinch the GNAC championship with 38 digs in three-set sweeps of Western Oregon and Concordia, topped by a 21-dig performance against Western Oregon on Saturday. Also Nominated: Colby Barnette (Concordia), Christie Colasurdo (Western Oregon), Linnea Phillips (Northwest Nazarene).

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Gary Jacobs (Central Washington, G, 6-2, 173, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev. – Pierce JC) Jacobs was named the most valuable player of the Sodexo Classic after scoring 45 points and shooting 69.2 percent from the field in wins over BYU-Hawaii and Hawaii Hilo. He scored 23 points and shot 8 of 11 from the field in the win over Hawaii-Hilo and then scored 22 against BYU-Hawaii. Also Nominated: Andy Avgi (Western Oregon), Riley Hawkin (Concordia), Bangaly Kaba (Alaska), Marc Matthews (Montana State Billings), Jeffrey Parker (Western Washington), Cole Preston (Saint Martin’s), Mike Wright (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Megan Mullings (Alaska Anchorage, F, 6-0, Sr., Glendale, Ariz. – South Mountain CC): Mullings scored 36 points and connected on 75 percent from the field (24-32) in victories in Hawaii over defending PacWest champ Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii Hilo. She scored 24 points on 11 of 14 from the field and had three assists in the win over the Vulcans and had 12 win the win over Hawaii Pacific. Also Nominated: Bailey Cartwright (Concordia), Jordan Mottershaw (Western Oregon), Krista Stabler (Saint Martin’s), Vanessa Stavish (Montana State Billings), Stephanie Toumson (Alaska), Lexi Tubbs (Northwest Nazarene).