Thursday, November 2, 2017

NATIONAL HONORS FOR JOHNSON: The leading player in Alaska Anchorage’s sweep of two nationally-ranked GNAC programs has been recognized at the national level. Alaska Anchorage junior outside hitter Chrisalyn Johnson was named both the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week and the AVCA/Sport Imports Division II Player of the Week after she finished with 40 kills in a pair of five-set victories over Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene.

In addition to the 40 kills, Johnson average four kills per set and three aces and also had a .248 hitting percentage. In Thursday’s win over the Wildcats, she pounded career-high and then-UAA season-high 24 kills, along with 15 digs, four block assists and an ace. Clinging to a 13-11 lead in the fifth set, Johnson ripped consecutive kills to end the match.

In Saturday’s victory over previously one-loss NNU, she tallied 16 kills on .256 hitting – including match point again – and equaled her season high with 18 digs.

Johnson becomes just the second Seawolf ever to earn the AVCA’s top national weekly award for NCAA Division II, following former All-American Rhea Cardwell, who won the honor on Nov. 18, 2008.

VIKINGS CONTINUE TO ROLL: Western Washington continues to dominate GNAC play. The Vikings enter the week on a 12-match win streak. The team’s last loss came on Sept. 16, a four-set defeat at Northwest Nazarene. The win streak has allowed the Vikings to claim first place in the GNAC standings at 13-1, a match ahead of Northwest Nazarene.

Over the last three weeks, the Vikings have been even more dominant with their last six matches coming in three-set sweeps. In fact, 10 of the 12 matches in the win streak have been in three sets. In the 12 matches, Western Washington is averaging 14.3 kills and 20.4 digs per set and has amassed a .262 hitting percentage while holding opponents to a .112 hitting percentage and an average of 11.3 kills per set.

Western Washington will be well tested over the final three weeks. The Vikings host Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and will host Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene on the final weekend of the regular season.

GNAC FLAVOR IN WEST REGION POLL: The GNAC is well represented in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season, released on Wednesday. Northwest Nazarene is ranked No. 2, followed by Western Washington at No. 3, Central Washington at No. 6 and Alaska Anchorage at No. 8. The poll rankings at the end of the regular season will determine selection to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Chrisalyn Johnson, Alaska Anchorage
OH • 5-8 • Junior • Anchorage, Alaska

Johnson led Alaska Anchorage to a sweep of two of the GNAC’s top-25 teams with 40 kills, an average of 4.00 kills per set, a .248 hitting percentage and three aces. She had a career-high 24 kills to go along with 15 digs in the Seawolves’ five-set win over Central Washington on Thursday and then delivered 16 kills and a season-high 18 digs to go along with two aces in a five-set victory over Northwest Nazarene.

Also Nominated: Maggie McTaggart (Central Washington), Rebecca Mitchell (Central Washington), Alisha Bettinson (Western Oregon).

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

Phelps led Western Washington to its 11th and 12th straight wins with 36 digs, six digs per set and six blocks to go along with 25 kills and a .278 hitting percentage in a pair of three-set road sweeps. She finished with eight kills, 13 digs, two aces and two blocks in Thursday’s win at Western Oregon and had a double-double of 17 kills and 23 digs to go along with four blocks in Saturday’s win at Concordia.

Also Nominated: Keala Kaio-Perez (Alaska Anchorage), Kyla Morgan (Central Washington), Izela Alvarez (Montana State Billings), Hannah Neumann (Saint Martin’s), Libbie Hoene (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
LAST WEEK: Oct. 26: Lost to Northwest Nazarene, 3-1 Oct. 28: Lost to Central Washington, 3-2.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 2: at Simon Fraser, 7 p.m. Nov. 4: at Western Washington, 7 p.m.

• Alaska dropped both of its matches against its nationally-ranked visitors, which included a five-set loss to Central Washington.

• Freshman outside hitter Lahra Weber led the Nanooks with 27 kills to go along with two aces in the two matches. She finished with 20 kills and 11 digs against Northwest Nazarene and seven kills to go with 11 digs and four blocks against Central Washington. Weber enters with week with 206 kills and a .177 hitting percentage.

• Sophmore middle blocker Kim Wong put up a .410 hitting percentage in the two matches with 21 kills. She did her most damage against CWU, finishing with 15 kills, a .520 hitting percentage and three blocks. Wong enters the week third in the GNAC with a .330 hitting percentage.

• Sophomore defensive specialist Jenna Hickel finished with 38 digs in the two matches, topped by her 23-dig performance against Central Washington. She enters the week eighth in the GNAC with 4.64 digs per set.

• Alaska enters the week second in the GNAC with 1.60 aces per set and third with a .213 hitting percentage. The Nanooks also rank fifth in the GNAC with 12.84 kills per set.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
LAST WEEK: Oct. 26: Beat Central Washington, 3-2. Oct. 28: Beat Northwest Nazarene, 3-2.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 2: at Western Washington, 7 p.m. Nov. 4: at Simon Fraser, 7 p.m.

• Alaska Anchorage has now won six straight matches after beating nationally-ranked Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene in five sets.

• The two wins returned the Seawolves to the list of teams receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 with 32 points. The Seawolves are also eighth in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Junior outside hitter Chrisalyn Johnson was named both the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week and AVCA/Sport Imports Division II Player of the Week after she finished with 40 kills and averaged four kills per set in the two matches. She finished with a double-double of 24 kills and 15 digs against Central Washington and then registered 16 kills and 18 digs against Northwest Nazarene. Johnson enters the week averaging 2.98 kills per set and a .155 hitting percentage.

• Junior outside hitter Leah Swiss had a big weekend as well with 37 kills, 3.70 kills per set. She led all players with 25 kills, 11 digs and four blocks against Northwest Nazarene and also had 12 kills and 17 digs against Central Washington. Swiss is 10th in the GNAC with 3.14 kills per set and is second in the GNAC and 30th in Division II with 0.48 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage continues to lead the GNAC and is 23rd in Division II with 1.90 aces per set. In addition to Swiss, senior defensive specialist Keala Kaio-Perez is 24th in Division II with 0.51 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week with 12.14 kills per set and a .190 hitting percentage. The Seawolves are third in the GNAC and 38th in Division II with 2.18 blocks per set.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 26: Lost to Alaska Anchorage, 3-2. Oct. 28: Won at Alaska, 3-2.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 2: vs. Seattle Pacific, 7 p.m. Nov. 4: vs. Saint Martin’s, 7 p.m.

• Central Washington took a split of its Alaska road trip, falling in five sets to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday before beating Alaska in five sets on Saturday.

• The loss to the Seawolves knocked Central Washington out of the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25, but the Wildcats are still among teams receiving votes with 26 points. The Wildcats are sixth in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Junior outside hitter Shelby Mauritson paced the Wildcats with 33 kills in the 10 sets. She had a double-double of 17 kills and 22 digs along with two aces against UAA and led all players with 16 kills and 16 digs against Alaska. Maruitson is fourth in the GNAC with 3.61 kills per set and is 14th in Division II with 12.00 attacks per set.

• Senior middle blocker Sabrina Wheelhouse continues to lead Division II with 1.58 blocks per set, one of three GNAC players in the top-10. She has three blocks in each match and had a high of 13 kills against Alaska Anchorage. As a team, Central Washington is second in Division II with 2.80 blocks per set and fifth with 249 total blocks.

• Sophomore libero Kyla Morgan added 73 digs in the two matches and enters the week fourth in the GNAC with 5.17 digs per set. She finished with 34 digs in the win at Alaska.

• The Wildcats lead the GNAC in blocking and are second in the league with a .151 opponent hitting percentage. Central Washington is hitting .208 as a team and averaging 12.66 kills per set.

CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: Oct. 26: Lost to Simon Fraser, 3-2. Oct. 28: Lost to Western Washington, 3-0. Oct. 31: Won at Western Oregon, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 4: at Montana State Billings, 2 p.m.

• Concordia lost both matches last weekend, including a five-set heartbreaker to Simon Fraser on Thursday, before snapping a four-match losing streak with a three-set sweep of Western Oregon on Tuesday.

• Senior opposite Lindsey Dorsey led Concordia with 42 kills in the three marches. She had a match-high of 18 kills to go with 10 digs against Simon Fraser and had 12 kills and 18 digs at Western Oregon. Dorsey enters the week sixth in the GNAC with 3.50 kills per set, fourth with 4.15 points per set and sixth with 0.34 aces per set.

• Senior middle blocker Colby Barnette had 34 kills and 15 digs to go along with a .284 hitting percentage in the three matches. She had 15 kills and seven blocks against Simon Fraser and eight kills with two blocks and five digs vs. Western Washington. Barnette is sixth in the GNAC with a .290 hitting percentage and 1.15 blocks per set.

• Senior setter Michele Brown finished with 110 assists in the three matches, which included a double-double of 48 assists and 14 digs against Simon Fraser. Brown is third in the GNAC with 10.12 assists per set.

• Concordia enters the week third in the GNAC with 12.87 kills per set and is fifth with a .184 hitting percentage.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: Oct. 24: Lost to Rocky Mountain, 3-0. Oct. 26: Won at Saint Martin’s, 3-2. Oct. 28: Lost at Seattle Pacific, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 2: vs. Western Oregon, 7 p.m. Nov. 4: vs. Concordia, 2 p.m.

• Montana State Billings snapped a seven-match losing streak on Thursday with a five-set win over Saint Martin’s before taking a three-set loss at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Jordan Mix led the Yellowjackets in the victory with 14 kills. Junior outside hitter Katie Campbell and sophomore outside hitter Taylor Sherman each had 10 kills.

• Freshman defensive specialist Izela Alvarez added 87 digs and averaged 7.91 digs in the three matches. She finished with a high for the week of 36 digs in the win over Saint Martin’s. Alvarez leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with 5.69 digs per set.

• Both of MSUB’s freshman setters are ranked in the GNAC top-10 in assists. Kylee Clarke is sixth with 8.18 assists per set while Alexa Smythe is eighth with 7.06 assists per set. Freshman outside hitter Maddi Vigil is ninth in the GNAC with 3.24 kills per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week with a .148 hitting percentage, averaging 11.02 kills and ranks fourth in the GNAC with 17.82 digs per set.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: Oct. 26: Won at Alaska, 3-1. Oct. 28: Lost at Alaska Anchorage, 3-2.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 26: at Alaska, 7 p.m. Oct. 28: at Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m.

• After opening the northern road trip with a four-set win over Alaska, Northwest Nazarene took just its second loss of the season in an exciting five-set affair at Alaska Anchorage.

• The loss dropped the Nighthawks to No. 13 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25. Northwest Nazarene is the top-ranked team in the first NCAA Division II West Region Rankings of the season at No. 2.

• Senior outside hitter Kendra Bodine led the Nighthawks with 35 kills and 37 digs in the two matches. She finished with a double-double of 18 kills and 13 digs at UAF and 17 kills and 24 digs against UAA. Bodine continues to lead the GNAC and is 12th in Division II with 4.34 kills per set. She also leads the GNAC and is 13th in Division II with 4.86 points per set.

• Senior middle blocker Madi Farrell hit .419 in the two matches with 31 kills. She finished with 16 kills and six blocks and hit .429 at Alaska and then finished with 15 kills and four blocks and hit .412 at Alaska Anchorage. Farrell is now the Division II leader with a .431 hitting percentage. She is also second in the GNAC and 30th in Division II with 3.96 kills per set.

• Junior outside hitter Cami Heninger hit .290 in the two matches with 25 kills. She had a high of 13 kills to go along with two aces and two digs at Alaska.

• Northwest Nazarene currently leads the GNAC and is 15th in Division II with a .258 hitting percentage. The Nighthawks are second in the GNAC and 25th in Division II with 13.93 kills per set. They are also the GNAC leaders and rank 13th in Division II with 13.33 assists per set.

SAINT MARTIN’S
LAST WEEK: Oct. 24: Lost to Seattle Pacific, 3-0. Oct. 26: Lost to Montana State Billings, 3-2.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 2: at Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m. Nov. 4: at Central Washington, 7 p.m.

• Saint Martin’s has lost its last three matches, closing out a five-match home stand with a three-set loss to Seattle Pacific on Tuesday and a five-set loss to Montana State Billings on Thursday.

• Senior outside hitter Rebecca Mitchell led Saint Martin’s once again with 29 kills, 3.62 kills per set and 32 digs in the two matches. She finished with nine kills and 14 digs against Seattle Pacific and led all players with 20 kills, 18 digs and four blocks against Montana State Billings. Mitchell is seventh in the GNAC with 3.49 kills per set and eighth with 3.87 points per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Kamille Langford finished with 12 kills in the matches, nine of which came against Montana State Billings. She also had eight kills in the match. Langford is seventh in the GNAC with 1.08 blocks per set.

• Senior defensive specialist Hannah Neumann finished with 55 digs and averaged 6.88 digs per set. She finished with 17 digs against Seattle Pacific and  38 digs to go along with five assists against Montana State Billings. Neumann is 10th in the GNAC with 4.26 digs per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week with a .182 hitting percentage, averaging 11.90 kills and 16.89 digs per set.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Oct. 24: Won at Saint Martin’s, 3-0. Oct. 28: Beat Montana State Billings, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 2: at Central Washington, 7 p.m. Nov. 4: at Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m.

• Seattle Pacific completed a sweep of the week, taking a three-set win at Saint Martin’s and a three-set win over Montana State Billings.

• Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Oddo led the way with 18 kills in the two matches. She finished with eight kills and 14 digs at Saint Martin’s and finished with 10 kills and hit .474 against Montana State Billings. Oddo enters the week eighth in the GNAC with 3.39 kills per set.

• Senior outside hitter Hannah Lautenbach finished with 17 kills in the two matches, paced by a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs against Montana State Billings. Freshman middle blocker Gabi Stegemoller had a .346 hitting percentage in the two matches and had a high of nine kills at Saint Martin’s.

• Junior setter Symone Tran finished with 62 assists and averaged 10.33 assists per set in the two matches, led by a double-double of 32 assists and 10 digs against Saint Martin’s. Tran enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 9.73 assists per set.

• Seattle Pacific has a .174 team hitting percentage, averaging 12.10 kills and 16.52 digs per set. The Falcons are fourth in the GNAC with 2.09 blocks per set.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Oct. 26: Won at Concordia, 3-2. Oct. 28: Won at Western Oregon, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 2: vs. Alaska, 7 p.m. Nov. 4: vs. Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m.

• Simon Fraser has won three straight, and five of their last seven matches, after taking both matches on their Oregon road trip last weekend.

• Sophomore outside hitter Kirsten Pickney led the Clan with 30 kills and an average of 3.75 kills per set in two matches. Led all players with 21 kills and a .241 hitting percentage in the five-set win over Concordia and added nine kills at Western Oregon. Pinkney leads Simon Fraser with 3.08 kills per set in 17 matches.

• Junior middle blocker Tessa May had 20 kills and 14 blocks and finished with a .347 hitting percentage in the two matches. Her week tas topped by 17 kills, eight digs and six blocks at Concordia. May is second in the GNAC and 31st in Division II with her .355 hitting percentage. She is also 10th in the GNAC with 1.05 blocks per set.

• Junior libero Jayme Bratsberg had five aces and 42 digs in the two matches, with her week topped by seven aces and 24 digs at Concordia. Bratsberg is second in the GNAC and 38th in Division II with 5.37 digs per set and is fourth in the GNAC with 0.35 aces per set.

• As a team, Simon Fraser enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and 23rd in Division II with 18.79 digs per set. The Clan has a .192 hitting percentage, averaging 12.86 kills per set.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 26: Lost to Western Washington, 3-0. Oct. 28: Lost to Simon Fraser, 3-0. Oct. 31: Lost to Concordia, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 2: at Montana State Billings, 7 p.m.

• Western Oregon has now lost seven straight matches after a trio of three-set losses to Western Washington, Simon Fraser and Concordia.

• Senior outside hitter Alisha Bettinson led the Wolves with 31 kills and three aces in the three matches. She led WOU with 11 kills against Western Washington and had 13 kills and 12 digs against Simon Fraser. Bettinson is fifth in the GNAC with 3.53 kills per set and sixth with 3.92 points per set.

• Junior setter Leila Holt had 39 assists in the three matches. Her week was topped by a double-double of 16 assists and 12 digs against Western Washington. Holt is 10th in the GNAC with 6.38 assists per set.

• Western Oregon enters its Thursday match at Montana State Billings averaging 11.88 kills and 17.53 digs per set while compiling a .165 hitting percentage.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 26: Won at Western Oregon, 3-0. Oct. 28: Won at Concordia, 3-0.
THIS WEEK: Nov. 2: vs. Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m. Nov. 4: vs. Alaska, 7 p.m.

• The Vikings have now won 12 straight matches after notching a pair of three-set sweeps at Western Oregon and Concordia. Western Washington’s last six wins have all come in three sets.

• The Vikings remained at No. 8 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25. It is the 76th consecutive poll, dating back to the 2012 season, where WWU has been ranked. Western Washington is also No. 3 in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Junior outside hitter Abby Phelps was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week with 36 digs, six digs per set and six blocks to go along with 25 kills and a .278 hitting percentage in the two matches. She finished with eight kills, 13 digs, two aces and two blocks in Thursday’s win at Western Oregon and had a double-double of 17 kills and 23 digs to go along with four blocks in Saturday’s win at Concordia. Phelps enters the week third in the GNAC and 33rd in Division II with 3.92 kills per set and is seventh in the GNAC with 4.70 digs per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Joslyn Bopray finished with 11 blocks and averaged 1.83 blocks per set in the two matches. She had seven of those blocks in the win over Western Oregon. Bopray is second in the GNAC and in Division II with 1.50 blocks per set.

• Junior middle blocker Michaela Hall had a .514 hitting percentage in the two matches with 19 kills. She finished with 11 kills, three blocks and a .588 hitting percentage at Western Oregon and eight kills and two blocks against Concordia. Hall is fifth in the GNAC with a .322 hitting percentage. She is also fourth in the GNAC and 23rd in Division II with 1.22 blocks per set.

• Western Washington enters the week leading the GNAC and is 11th in Division II with 19.42 digs per set. The Vikings also lead the GNAC and are 16th in Division II with 14.05 kills per set. In addition, WWU is fourth in Division II with 2.78 blocks per set.