Wednesday, September 11, 2019

COME ON DOWN, IT’S SHOWCASE TIME: For the fourth consecutive year, the West Region’s volleyball teams are gathered together for a three-day festival that often sets the baseline for NCAA Championships selection.

The Division II West Region Volleyball Showcase, this year hosted by the California Collegiate Athletic Conference, will feature all 36 of the West Region’s volleyball programs spread across six sites, or pods.

This year’s tournament features a change in team assignments for each pod. Where in the past teams were placed based on their finish in the previous year, with the top teams from each conference were featured at the same location, this year’s pods were “snaked” so that teams are more evenly distributed.

This is the sixth overall year for the Showcase and the fourth year in which all three West Region conferences are involved (the CCAA did not participate in the first two years). The GNAC enters with a 107-79 record in the first five years of the tournament.

Central Washington and Western Washington have been the GNAC’s most successful teams in the Showcase, both entering this year with a a 17-3 record.

WESTERN WASHINGTON EARNS TEAM OF THE WEEK HONOR: The 2018 national runner-up and No. 3 Western Washington volleyball team returned to Bellingham after a perfect 4-0 record at the West Florida Invitational, earning GNAC Team of the Week honors.

The Vikings opened their 2019 season with a pair of matches against nationally-ranked opponents. As far as season openers go, the Vikings couldn’t have scripted it any better than with a thrilling five-set victory over tournament host and No. 24 West Florida Thursday night. The Vikings would follow that with a 3-1 victory over No. 13 Wheeling on Friday afternoon.

The Vikings got off to a slow start in the third match on Friday, dropping the first set 25-16 to Spring Hill. They would answer with three straight convincing set wins to top the Badgers 3-1. Rounding out the trip to Florida was a sweep of Florida Tech on Saturday to keep the Vikings unbeaten.

“I am really pleased with the opening weekend,” said Diane Flick-Williams, who is in her 20th season as head coach of the program. “We asked a lot of our players to cross the country for the opening week of play, against good competition.” Read More

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Calley Heilborn, Western Washington
RS • 6-1 • Freshman • Auburn, Wash.

Heilborn had a big opening weekend to her career, averaging 3.50 kills and 2.75 digs per set as the Vikings went 4-0 at the West Florida Invitational. Heilborn opened with 11 kills, 11 digs and three blocks against No. 24 West Florida. On Friday, Heilborn notched 13 kills against No. 13 Wheeling and added 20 kills, 17 digs and three blocks against Spring Hill. She ended the tournament with 12 kills, 10 digs and a .303 hitting percentage in a sweep of Florida Tech.

Also Nominated: Diana Fa’amausili (Central Washington), Jessica Wheeler (Concordia), Bayli Monck (Montana State Billings), Brooke Foster (Northwest Nazarene), Mackenzie Carter (Saint Martin’s), Betsie de Beer (Simon Fraser), Sianna DeCarli (Western Oregon).

DEFENSIVE
Gabby Gunterman, Western Washington
OH • 5-10 • Sophomore • Lake Stevens, Wash.

Gunterman averaged five digs, 3.31 kills and 0.19 blocks per set in the Vikings’ four wins at the West Florida Invitational and scored double-doubles in three matches. She opened with 15 digs and 17 kills against No. 24 West Florida, provided for 25 digs and 16 kills against No. 13 Wheeling and notched 12 kills and 21 digs against Spring Hill. Gunterman closed out with 19 digs and eight kills against Florida Tech.

Also Nominated: Kyla Morgan (Central Washington), Callie Wilkins (Concordia), Kylie Alos (Saint Martin’s), Julia Tays (Simon Fraser), Allyson Crisp (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska came away from the Oredigger Classic with a 2-2 record. The Nanooks scored a four-set win over UC-Colorado Springs in the opener on Friday and a three-set sweep of Fresno Pacific on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Lahra Weber paced the Nanooks’ offense with 49 kills and 26 digs in the four matches. She opened with 16 kills against UC-Colorado Springs and then smashed 19 kills with a .593 hitting percentage and seven aces against Fresno Pacific. Weber is third in the GNAC with 4.39 points per set and tied for fourth at 3.50 kills per set. Weber is also third in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with 0.79 aces per set.

• Junior outside hitter AveRee Reynolds opened her UAF career with 30 kills and 12 blocks. Her best match came against host Colorado Mines on Saturday, finishing with 10 kills, a .296 hitting percentage and six blocks.

• Senior middle blocker Kim Wong enters the week sixth in the GNAC with her 1.17 blocks per set. She had five blocks against UC-Colorado Springs and finished with 12 kills and six blocks against Colorado Mines. The Nanooks enter the week rank 15th in Division II with 2.43 blocks per set.

• Alaska enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with a .215 hitting percentage and fourth with 12.07 kills per set. The Nanooks rank third in the league in blocks and fourth in assists.

• Alaska will be in Los Angeles for the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, playing Cal State LA and Cal State East Bay on Thursday, Hawaii Pacific on Friday and Azusa Pacific on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• One of two GNAC teams playing at home on the opening weekend, Alaska Anchorage went 2-2 in its UAA Invitational. The Seawolves scored a three-set sweep over Concord and a four-set win over Biola, both on Friday.

• Sophomore right-side hitter Eve Stephens led the way for the Seawolves with 62 kills, 3.88 kills per set, 38 digs and 15 blocks. Stephens opened with a monster double-double of 19 kills and 13 digs in Thursday’s five-set match with Regis and had 16 kills and 11 digs against Biola. Stephens is third in the GNAC in kills per set and second in the GNAC and 22nd in Division II with 4.69 points per set.

• Senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes opened her final season with 54 kills, 13 service aces and 24 digs. She opened the season with 17 aces, five aces and five digs against Regis and has a double-double of 14 kills and 10 digs against Biola. She had at least one ace in each match. Hayes is tied for first in the GNAC and 20th in Division II with freshman defensive specialist Maggie Schlueter with 0.81 aces per set.

• Returning to the court after a four-year absence, junior middle blocker Kayla McGlathery finished with 31 kills and 18 blocks in the tournament, smashing 12 kills against Regis and registering seven blocks against Biola. McGlathery, the 2014 GNAC Newcomer of the Year, is fourth in the GNAC with 1.20 blocks per set and ninth with a .268 hitting percentage.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week third in the GNAC with a .211 hitting percentage and 12.25 kills per set. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and rank ninth in Division II with three aces per set. They also lead the GNAC and rank eighth in Division II with 2.50 blocks per set.

• Alaska Anchorage will be San Bernardino for the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase with matches against Cal State San Marcos and Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday, Biola on Friday and Point Loma on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington went 2-2 at the Capitol Plaza Invitational in Topeka, Kansas. The Wildcats scored a five-set win over Drury on Friday and a four-set win over Emporia State on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Ashley Kaufman led the Wildcats with 46 kills and 47 digs. She finished with double-doubles in each of the last three matches of the tournament, topped by 14 kills and 18 digs against Emporia State. She had 13 kills and 12 digs against both Drury and Washburn. Kaufman is averaging 2.88 kills and 2.94 digs per set.

• Back on the court after a redshirt season, junior transfer outside hitter Diana Fa’amausili finished with 41 kills and 23 blocks in the four matches. She had her best effort against Drury, finishing with 11 kills and 13 blocks. She closed the tournament with 11 kills and six blocks against Washburn. Fa’amausili and junior middle blocker Julia Mellander are tied for first in the GNAC and 14th in Division II with 1.44 blocks per set. Both are also tied for third in Division II with 23 total blocks.

• Senior libero Kyla Morgan enters the week tied for second on the GNAC with five digs per set. She had a high of 25 digs against Emporia State. Senior setter Gabrielle Aihara is fourth in the GNAC with 9.50 assists per set.

• Central Washington enters the week averaging 12.25 kills and 15.38 digs per set. The Wildcats are second in the GNAC and 14th in Division II with 2.44 blocks per set and are sixth nationally with 39 total blocks.

• After opening the season at No. 23, Central Washington slipped two spots to No. 25 in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25.

• Central Washington will be in Los Angeles for the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase with matches against Cal State East Bay and Cal State LA on Thursday, Azusa Pacific on Friday and Hawaii Pacific on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• One of two GNAC teams to open the season home, Concordia went 0-3 in its own Concordia Volleyball Classic. The ledger included five-set losses to Cal St. Monterey Bay and Cal Poly Pomona.

• Senior outside hitter Jessica Wheeler paced the Cavaliers’ offense with 42 kills and 32 digs. She opened the season with 16 kills and 18 digs against Cal St. Monterey Bay and also had 16 kills against Cal Poly Pomona. Wheeler is eighth in the GNAC with 3.23 kills per set and 10th with 3.42 points per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Camille Guerrero added 22 kills and 47 digs to go along with 10 service aces. She opened with a double-double of 12 kills and 17 digs plus three aces against Cal St. Monterey Bay. Against Cal Poly Pomona, Guerrero came up with 10 kills, 22 digs and six aces. Guerrero is averaging 1.69 kills per set and ranks fifth in the GNAC and 27th in Division II with 0.77 aces per set.

• Concordia enters the week averaging 10.69 kills per set and ranks fourth in the GNAC with 15.92 digs per set. The Cavaliers are second in the GNAC and 46th in Division II with 2.23 aces per set and is 46th nationally with 29 total aces.

• Concordia will be in San Francisco for the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. The Cavaliers will play Cal St. Dominguez Hills and San Francisco State on Thursday, Dominican (Calif.) on Friday and Fresno Pacific on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings took four losses in the Best Western West Hills Inn Eagle Classic in Chadron, Nebraska. The schedule included a pair of five-set losses to South Dakota Mines on Friday and host Chadron State on Saturday.

• Junior right-side hitter Bayli Monck led the Yellowjackets with 48 kills and 44 digs in the tournament. Monck opened with a big double-double of 20 kills and 19 digs with a .286 hitting percentage against South Dakota Mines. She also had a double-double of 16 kills and 18 digs against Chadron State. Monck is averaging three kills and 2.75 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Maddi Vigil finishes with 48 kills and 44 digs in the four matches. She had a double-double of 12 kills and 11 digs against South Dakota Mines and also finished with 13 kills and 18 digs against Chadron State. Vigil enters the week averaging 2.88 kills and 2.75 digs per set.

• Junior middle blocker Joelle Mahowald opened her MSUB career with 16 blocks in the four matches, topped by her five blocks against South Dakota Mines in the opener. She enters the week averaging 0.75 blocks per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 10.81 kills and 14.81 digs per set. The Yellowjackets are ranked 49th in Division II with 562 total attacks.

• The Yellowjackets will play in San Diego for the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase with matches against Chico State and UC San Diego on Thursday, Concordia Irvine on Friday and Academy of Art on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene went 1-2 in the season-opening Dixie State/Garden Inn By Wyndham Classic. After losses to Colorado Christian and St. Cloud State, the Nighthawks closed with a three-set sweep of Dixie State on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Foster led the Nighthawks with 45 kills, 30 digs and 11 blocks. She opened with 18 kills and five blocks against Colorado Christian, had 11 kills and 12 digs against St. Cloud State and added 16 kills and four blocks against Dixie State. Foster leads the GNAC and is 18th in Division II with 4.77 points per set. She also leads the GNAC and is 24th in Division II with 4.09 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Natalie Sullivan added 31 kills and 14 digs in the three matches. She posted back-to-back 11-kill performances against Colorado Christian and St. Cloud State and finished with nine kills and 11 digs against Dixie State. Sullivan is averaging 2.82 kills per set.

• Balancing youth with experience, junior outside hitter Abbey Blum finished with 25 kills and 32 digs in the tournament. She opened with a double-double of 11 kills and 16 digs against Colorado Christian and then had 10 kills and 10 digs against St. Cloud State. Blum is averaging 2.27 kills per set.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week averaging 11.36 kills per set. The Nighthawks lead the GNAC and rank 20th in Division II with 18.55 digs per set. They are also ranked fourth in the GNAC and 35th in Division II with 2.18 blocks per set.

• The Nighthawks head to Turlock, California for their D2 West Region Showcase matches. They face Sonoma State and Stanislaus State on Thursday, Notre Dame de Namur on Friday and Holy Names on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s opened the season with five losses at the Cougar Classic in San Marcos, California. The ledger included a five-set loss to Western New Mexico on Thursday and a four-set loss to Eastern New Mexico on Friday.

• Sophomore libero Kylie Alos was named to the All-Tournament Team after she finished with 97 digs in the five matches. She posted 27 digs in Friday against Eastern New Mexico and finishes with 26 digs against Bentley on Friday. Alos leads the GNAC with her 97 total digs.

• Junior outside hitter Mackenzie Carter opened her Saints career leading the team with 51 kills and 37 digs in four matches. She posted a high of 18 kills against Western New Mexico and had a double-double of 14 kills and 14 digs against Eastern New Mexico along with 10 kills and 10 digs against Bentley. Carter currently ranks second in the GNAC with 3.92 kills per set and is 29th in Division II with 164 total attacks.

• Employing two setters, freshman Emily Kinsley-DeLeon is 10th in the GNAC with 7.22 assists per set (65 total) while sophomore Alyssa Bartlett is averaging 6.67 assists per set (60 total).

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging nine kills and 15.61 digs per set. The Saints are ranked 10th in Division II with 646 total attacks.

• The Saints are in San Diego for the D2 West Region Showcase with matches against UC San Diego and Chico State on Thursday, Academy of Art on Friday and Concordia Irvine on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific went 1-3 as it opened the season at the Point Loma Tournament in San Diego. The Falcons opened the tournament with a win, sweeping Cal State East Bay in three sets.

• Senior outside hitter Gabby Oddo led the Falcons as she finished with 50 kills, 10 aces and 43 digs in the four matches. She posted a double-double of 17 kills and 11 digs against Concordia Irvine and ended the tournament with a double-double of 14 kills and 14 digs against Point Loma. Oddo is 10th in the GNAC with 3.12 kills per set and is seventh with 0.62 aces per set.

• Junior outside hitter Maddie Batiste registered 45 kills and 52 digs in the tournament. She posted double-doubles in three matches, topped by 11 kills and 14 digs against Concordia Irvine and 12 kills and 10 digs against Point Loma. Batiste is averaging 2.81 kills and 3.25 digs per set.

• Adding to the net offense, senior outside hitter Jaeden Hooker and sophomore outside hitter Erin Gould each finished with 24 kills in the tournament. Hooker posted a high of 12 kills against Concordia Irvine while Gould had seven kills against both Concordia Irvine and San Francisco State.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 11.62 kills and 13 digs per set. The Falcons are third in the GNAC with 1.93 aces per set and are 37th in Division II with 31 total aces.

• Seattle Pacific will be in Pomona, California for the D2 West Region Showcase with matches against Cal Poly Pomona and Cal St. Monterey Bay on Thursday, Hawaii Hilo on Friday and Chaminade on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser went 2-2 as it opened the season at the Dixie State/Garden Inn By Wyndham Classic. The Clan won its first and last matches of the tournament, taking three-set sweeps from Dixie State on Friday and Colorado Christian on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Betsie de Beer led the Clan with 41 kills and 50 digs in the four matches. She posted a double-double of 14 kills and 14 digs in a five-set loss to Stanislaus State and finished with 11 kills and 14 digs against Colorado Christian. de Beer is 10th in the GNAC with a.266 hitting percentage while averaging 2.73 kills and 3.33 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Kirsten Pinkney also had 41 kills in the tournament to go with six blocks. She registered 15 kills against Stanislaus State and added a 12-kill performance against St. Cloud State. Pinkney is averaging 2.73 kills per set.

• Junior libero Bianca Te is tied for second in the GNAC with five digs per set, topped by her 24 digs against St. Cloud State. Junior setter Julia Tays is second in the GNAC with 9.73 assists per set, topped by her 41 against Stanislaus State.

• Simon Fraser enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with 12.87 kills and 18.27 digs per set. The Clan ranks 27th in Division II in digs per set and is 31st nationally with 274 total digs.

• Simon Fraser travels to San Bernardino, California for the D2 West Region Showcase with matches against the host Coyotes and Cal State San Marcos on Thursday, Point Loma on Friday and Biola on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon opened the season and the Stacy Metro era with three losses at the Concordia Volleyball Classic. The Wolves took four-set losses to MSU Denver and Cal St. Monterey Bay and a three-set loss to Cal Poly Pomona.

• Junior outside hitter Sianna DeCarli led the Wolves with 33 kills in the four matches to go along with seven blocks. She finished with nine kills against both MSU Denver and Cal Poly Pomona before registering 15 kills and a .312 hitting percentage. DeCarli is averaging three kills per set and leads the team with a .250 hitting percentage.

• Freshman defensive specialist Sarah Crowell and senior middle blocker Allyson Crisp each finished with 20 kills in the tournament. Crowell complemented the kills with 13 digs while Crisp added 10 blocks. Crowell opened the tournament with 11 kills and five digs against MSU Denver. Crisp had nine kills and four blocks against the Roadrunners. Crisp is ranked second in the GNAC with a .429 hitting percentage.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.09 kills and 9.18 digs per set. The Wolves are also sixth in the conference with a .178 hitting percentage.

• The Wolves travel to Turlock, California for the D2 West Region Showcase and will face Stanislaus State and Sonoma State on Thursday, Holy Names on Friday and Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington returned from the West Florida Invitational with a 4-0 record. The Vikings beat No. 24 West Florida in five sets on Thursday, No. 13 Wheeling in four sets on and Spring Hill in four sets on Friday. The weekend ended with a three-set sweep of Florida Tech on Saturday.

• For their efforts against two ranked teams and three 2018 NCAA Championships contenders, the Vikings were selected as the GNAC Team of the Week.

• Redshirt freshmen right-side hitter Calley Heilborn was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged 3.50 kills and 2.75 digs per set in the tournament. Heilborn opened with 11 kills, 11 digs and three blocks against West Florida. On Friday, Heilborn notched 13 kills against No. 13 Wheeling and added 20 kills, 17 digs and three blocks against Spring Hill. She ended the tournament with 12 kills, 10 digs and a .303 hitting percentage in a sweep of Florida Tech. Heilborn is tied for fourth in the GNAC with 3.50 kills per set and is sixth with 4.08 points per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Gabby Gunterman earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for her five digs, 3.31 kills and 0.19 blocks per set in the Vikings’ four wins. She opened with 15 digs and 17 kills against No. 24 West Florida, provided for 25 digs and 16 kills against No. 13 Wheeling and notched 12 kills and 21 digs against Spring Hill. Gunterman closed out with 19 digs and eight kills against Florida Tech. Gunterman is seventh in the GNAC with 3.31 kills per set and eighth with 3.75 points per set.

• Heilborn, Gunterman and senior middler blocker Kayleigh Harper were all named to the West Florida Invitational’s All-Tournament Team.

• Freshman setter Malia Aleaga finished with 195 assists in the four matches and finished her first collegiate weekend leading Division II in the category. Her 12.19 assists per set is sixth in Division II. Aleaga finished with 50 or more assists in three of the four matches, topped by 55 in the opener against West Florida.

• Senior middle blocker Joslyn Bopray leads the GNAC with a .457 hitting percentage. She posted seven kills each against West Florida and Spring Hill and eight kills against Florida Tech.

• Western Washington maintained its No. 3 ranking in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll.

• The Vikings enter the week leading the GNAC with a .266 hitting percentage, 14.38 kills per set and 13.56 assists per set. Western Washington is 13th in Division II assists per set and kills per set and ranks third with 233 total kills.

• Western Washington is in Pomona, California for the D2 West Region Showcase with matches against Cal St. Monterey Bay and Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday, Chaminade on Friday and Hawaii Hilo on Saturday.