Tuesday, October 2, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – GNAC Insider returned Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. (PDT) with a packed show as we enter the month of October.

Leading off the lineup was Sonja Robinson, the NCAA's director of inclusion. The Office of Inclusion focuses on providing and enabling programming and education across dimensions of diversity including gender equity, race and education background, among other items of focus. Robinson has been with the NCAA since 2015, previously serving as a postdoctoral fellow and institutional researcher at the University of New Mexico's Division for Equity and Inclusion.

It's a big week for inclusion as the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and national Student-Athlete Advisory Commitees host the SAAC Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign. The campaign is a platform for student-athletes, administrators, coaches and fans across the country to start the discussion, speak out on and promote diversity and inclusion as key elements of student-athlete success. 

GNAC Insider was also joined by Azusa Pacific athletic director Gary Pine. Pine has held his position with the Cougars since 2011, being promoted inside the athletic department after holding the position of Associate Director of Athletics and Sports Information Director. It's a big week for APU as the football team will host Central Washington in a nationally-televised game on ESPN3 this Saturday at Citrus Stadium.

Making her GNAC Insider debut was Western Washington women's soccer midfielder Jordyn Bartelson. Now a junior, Bartelson is in her third season in Bellingham.

Bartelson is the reigning GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after a pair of sensational efforts over the weekend. The Puyallup, Washington-native anchored a defense that did not allow a shot on goal in road wins over Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon. She also added an assist in each of the matches.

Over on the volleyball court, Alaska is the GNAC Team of the Week after recording back-to-back GNAC sweeps at home for the first time since 2004. The Nanooks dominated in both matches, defeating Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia to cap the week.

The team will travel to Washington on Thursday for a big matchup at Seattle Pacific as the Nanooks look for their first three-match winning streak of the season. Joining the show to recap UAF's big week and preview the road ahead was head coach Brian Scott. Scott is in his fourth year in Fairbanks after successful stints as an assistant at Division I Weber State and Utah State.