Monday, October 3, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – It was a great week for a pair of Hannahs on the volleyball court as Seattle Pacific junior Hannah Hair and Central Washington sophomore Hannah Stires headline the GNAC Player of the Week selections.

Hair was selected as the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after the middle blocker averaged 2.86 kills and 1.14 blocks per set with a .613 hitting percentage in a pair of victories. She committed just one attack error in 31 attempts. On Thursday, Hair finished with nine kills, six blocks and a .533 hitting percentage in the four-set win over Western Oregon. She added totals of 11 kills, two blocks and a .688 hitting percentage in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s.

Stires was named the Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week after she averaged 5.89 digs per set in a hard-fought split. The libero finished with 22 digs and a pair of assists in Thursday’s four-set loss at No. 12 Western Washington before posting totals of 31 digs, eight assists and two aces in Saturday’s five-set victory at Simon Fraser.

Saint Martin’s sophomore forward Ethan Jud earned Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors after he scored four goals in a pair of victories. Jud scored the game-winner in the 48th minute of Thursday’s 3-0 shutout at Montana State Billings. He then scored a first-half hat trick in the Saints’ 5-2 victory over Western Oregon on Saturday, connecting in the third minute, 38th minute and 45th minute.

Simon Fraser junior defender Niko Papakyriakopoulos was named the Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Red Leafs’ two matches. He scored the opening goal in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Northwest Nazarene as the SFU defense locked down to limit the Nighthawks to seven shots.

Central Washington freshman defender Payton Lindell picked up the Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week award after she netted her first collegiate goal against Saint Martin’s on Saturday. It ended up being the game-winner in the Wildcats’ 2-1 victory.

Western Oregon sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Holdenried was named the Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week as she made five saves in a pair of 0-0 draws. She made two saves against Central Washington on Thursday and three saves against Northwest Nazarene on Saturday to run her current scoreless streak to 230 minutes.

Saint Martin’s freshman Alauna Carstens ran to the Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week award after she won the John Payne Curtis Invitational on Saturday. She covered the 5,000-meter course in a time of 18:43.3 to lead the Saints to the team victory with 25 points.

Western Oregon senior Bailey Smith is the Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after he placed third at Friday’s Mike Johnson Classic in a time of 24:43.6 over 8,000 meters. He was just six seconds behind the race winner and led the Wolves to a third-place team finish.

Montana State Billings junior Kevin Kolb and Western Washington senior Jordan Lee shared Men’s Golf Player of the Week honors after a pair of solid finishes. Kolb was the winner by one stroke at the Beartooth Invitational, carding a two-round score of 2-under-par 142. His scorecard included a career-low 4-under-par 68 over the final 18 holes.

Lee placed third against a 17-team field at the WWU Invitational, turning in a three-round score of 6-under-par 210. He carded a 5-under-par 67 in the second round of play and drained an eagle on the final hole of the third round to help lead the Vikings to the team title.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 7
MEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Ethan Jud (Saint Martin’s, F, 5-8, So., Camas, Wash. – Camas): Jud exploded for four goals, including a hat trick, to lead the Saints to a pair of wins. Jud scored the game-winner in the 48th minute of Thursday’s 3-0 shutout at Montana State Billings. Against Western Oregon on Saturday, Jud registered the Saints’ first hat trick since 2018, scoring goals in the third minute, 38th minute and 45th minute to lead SMU to the 5-2 victory. Also Nominated: Jonathan Cardona (Northwest Nazarene), Alden Massey (Seattle Pacific), Alan Soto (Simon Fraser), Johan Espinoza (Western Washington).

MEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Niko Papakyriakopoulos (Simon Fraser, D, 5-11, Jr., New Westminster, B.C. – Western Michigan Univ.): Papakyriakpoulos played all 180 minutes for the Red Leafs last week. He had two shots, one on goal, in Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Seattle Pacific and he scored the opening goal in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Northwest Nazarene. He keyed a defense that limited NNU to just seven shots on the day. Also Nominated: Lars Helleren (Seattle Pacific), Mitchell Hutter (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Payton Lindell (Central Washington, D, 5-6, Fr., Washougal, Wash. – Washougal): Lindell scored her first collegiate goal, netting the game-winning goal unassisted in the 41st minute in the Wildcats’ 2-1 victory over Saint Martin’s on Saturday. She was also a key part of the defense in CWU’s 1-0-1 week. Also Nominated: Savanna Herz (Northwest Nazarene), Chloe Gellhaus (Seattle Pacific), Jazz Dev (Simon Fraser), Tera Ziemer (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Olivia Holdenried (Western Oregon, GK, 5-7, So., Windsor, Calif. – Windsor): Holdenried collected five saves against 13 shots as the Wolves fought to a pair of 0-0 draws. Holdenried made two saves as the WOU defense held Central Washington to three total shots on Thursday. She then made three saves in Saturday’s deadlock with Northwest Nazarene. Holdenried currently has a streak of 230 scoreless minutes. Also Nominated: Kassandra Jaggard (Central Washington), Clare Keenan (Montana State Billings), Alexis Montoya (Northwest Nazarene), Mercedes Cullen (Seattle Pacific), Sarah Loewen (Simon Fraser), Claire Henninger (Western Washington).

VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE
Hannah Hair (Seattle Pacific, MB, 6-1, Jr., Walla Walla, Wash. – Walla Walla): Hair was nearly perfect in leading Seattle Pacific to a pair of victories. She opened with nine kills, six blocks and a .533 hitting percentage in Thursday’s four-set win over Western Oregon. Hair added totals of 11 kills, two blocks and a .688 hitting percentage in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s. For the week, Hair averaged 2.86 kills and 1.14 blocks per set and had a .613 hitting percentage with just one attack error in 32 attempts. Also Nominated: Karli Nielson (Alaska), Tia Andaya (Central Washington), Brooke Dexter (Simon Fraser), Gabby Kepley (Western Washington).

VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE
Hannah Stires (Central Washington, DS/L, 5-5 So., Nine Mile Falls, Wash. – Lakeside): Stires averaged 5.89 digs per set to help lead the Wildcats to a 1-1 week. Stires finished with 22 digs and a pair of assists in Thursday’s four-set loss at No. 12 Western Washington. She then added totals of 31 digs, eight assists and two aces in Saturday’s five-set victory at Simon Fraser.  Also Nominated: Jessa Long (Alaska), Talia Leauanae (Alaska Anchorage), Kalyn Hartmann (Simon Fraser), Calley Heilborn (Western Washington).

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Bailey Smith (Western Oregon, Sr., Cody, Wyo. – Trinidad State JC): Smith was the top GNAC finisher at Friday’s Mike Johnson Classic, placing third with a time of 24:43.6 over 8,000 meters. Smith averaged 4:58 per mile and was just six seconds behind winner Juan Rosales of San Diego Mesa College. Smith led Western Oregon to a third-place team finish. Also Nominated: Sean Sands (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Alauna Carstens (Saint Martin’s, Fr., Shelton, Wash. – Shelton): Carstens was the winner of the women’s race at the John Payne Curtis Invitational, covering the 5,000-meter course in a time of 18:43.3. Averaging 6 minutes, 1 second per mile, Carstens finished 11 seconds ahead of second-place teammate Sara Sabra and led the Saints to the team victory with a score of 25 points. Also Nominated: Annika Esvelt (Seattle Pacific), Ali Clifton (Western Oregon), Sidra Miller (Western Washington).

MEN’S GOLF
Kevin Kolb (Montana State Billings, Jr., Spearfish, S.D. - Spearfish): Kolb won the Beartooth Invitational by one stroke last Monday and Tuesday, turning in a two-round score of 2-under-par 142. His scorecard included a career-low 4-under-par 68 that made up a three-stroke first-round deficit for the victory.

Jordan Lee (Western Washington, Sr., Tacoma, Wash. – Bellarmine Prep): Lee placed third against a 17-team field at the WWU Invitational, carding a three-round score of 6-under-par 210. He carded a 5-under-par 67 in the second round and delivered an eagle to end the final round that helped the Vikings secure the team title. Also Nominated: Bailey Bjornson (Simon Fraser).