Monday, October 17, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – As Northwest Nazarene volleyball pulled into a tie for third place in the GNAC standings, senior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan paced the offense and earned GNAC weekly honors.

Sullivan was named the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged 4.43 kills and 2.43 digs per set in a pair of home wins. She posted a double-double of 20 kills and 11 digs in Thursday’s four-set win over Western Oregon before adding 11 kills, six digs and three blocks in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s.

Alaska senior libero Jessa Long was tabbed as the Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week after she averaged 5.12 digs and 1.12 assists per set in a pair of victories. Long finished with 15 digs, four assists and two aces in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Montana State Billings. She then posted totals of 26 digs, five assists and an ace in Saturday’s five-set win over Seattle Pacific.

Northwest Nazarene swept the men’s soccer weekly awards once again after two shutouts that moved the Nighthawks into first place in the GNAC standings. Junior goalkeeper Sawyer Price was named the Defensive Player of the Week after making three saves in Thursday’s 0-0 tie at Seattle Pacific and four saves in Saturday’s 2-0 win at No. 24 Western Washington. Sophomore forward Jimmy Koufidakis earned the offensive award for his goal in Saturday’s win.

The Nighthawks also had the Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week award winner in senior defender Magda Wronski. She anchored a defense that held opponents to just six shots on goal in a 5-0 win over Western Oregon on Thursday and a 2-0 win over Saint Martin’s on Saturday. Wronski also contributed three assists, including on both goals of the Saint Martin’s match.

Western Washington junior forward Estera Levinte netted Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors after she scored three goals last week. She tallied the final goal in Thursday’s 3-0 shutout of Seattle Pacific and scored the game-winner and the final goal in Saturday’s 3-0 shutout at Montana State Billings.

Western Washington junior Claire Moon earned Women’s Golf Player of the Week selection after she led all GNAC players at the WWU Invitational on Monday and Tuesday. Moon placed fourth with a two-round score of 2-over-par 146, which included a low round of 71 on the opening 18 holes. Moon led the Vikings to a third-place team finish.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 9
MEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Jimmy Koufidakis (Northwest Nazarene, F, 6-0, So., Mesa, Ariz. – Red Mountain): Koufidakis scored the insurance goal as the Nighthawks collected a 2-0 road win over No. 24 Western Washington. He was among the NNU offensive leaders for the week with four total shots, two on goal. Also Nominated: Callum Bryan (Montana State Billings), Connor Tollan (Seattle Pacific), Christian Comuzzi (Simon Fraser), Alessandro Tomasi (Western Washington).

MEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Sawyer Price (Northwest Nazarene, GK, 6-3, Jr., Olympia, Wash. – Olympia): Price finished with seven saves on the week as he posted his sixth and seventh shutouts of the season. Price finished with three saves in Thursday’s 0-0 tie with Seattle Pacific in Seattle. He then turned away four shots in Saturday’s 2-0 victory at No. 24 Western Washington. The defensive effort helped the Nighthawks move into first place in the conference standings. Also Nominated: Lars Helleren (Seattle Pacific), Ali Zohar (Simon Fraser), Patrick Restum (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Estera Levinte (Western Washington, F, 5-7, Jr., Bothell, Wash. – Bothell): Levinte scored three goals as the Vikings clinched its berth in the GNAC Women’s Soccer Championships last week. Levinte tallied the final goal of the match in the 67th minute of Thursday’s 3-0 shutout of Seattle Pacific. She then tallied the game-winner in the 13th minute and added an insurance strike in the 35th in Saturday’s 3-0 shutout at Montana State Billings. Also Nominated: Jordan Bartlow (Central Washington), Ashley Parton (Northwest Nazarene), Chelsea Crocq (Simon Fraser).

WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Magda Wronski (Northwest Nazarene, D, 5-4, Sr., Anaheim, Calif. – Torrance): Wronski anchored a Nighthawks’ defense that allowed just six shots on goal as NNU posted its seventh and eighth consecutive shutouts. Wronski contributed an assist on a 61st-minute insurance goal while playing 42 minutes in Thursday’s 5-0 blanking of Western Oregon. Playing 84 minutes on Saturday, Wronski had set-piece assists on both goals in NNU’s 2-0 win over Saint Martin’s. Also Nominated: Clare Keenan (Montana State Billings), Nicole Anderson (Simon Fraser), Asia Hardin (Western Washington).

VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE
Natalie Sullivan (Northwest Nazarene, OH, 6-0, Sr., Boise, Idaho – Bishop Kelly): Sullivan averaged 4.43 kills and 2.43 digs per set as the Nighthawks won both home matches to pull into a tie for third place in the conference standings. Sullivan notched a double-double of 20 kills and 11 digs in Thursday’s four-set win over Western Oregon. She then added 11 kills, six digs and three blocks in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s. Also Nominated: Elena Guc (Alaska), Eve Stephens (Alaska Anchorage), Emma Daoud-Hebert (Central Washington), Olivia Schwartz (Montana State Billings), Jocelyn Sherman (Simon Fraser), Gabby Kepley (Western Washington).

VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE
Jessa Long (Alaska, L, 5-4, Sr., Dixon, Ill. – Florida A&M Univ.): Long averaged 5.12 digs and 1.12 assists per set to help lead the Nanooks to a pair of wins. Long finished with 15 digs, four assists and two aces in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Montana State Billings. She then came up with 26 digs to go with five assists and an ace in Saturday’s five-set win over Seattle Pacific.  Also Nominated: Talia Leauanae (Alaska Anchorage), Tia Andaya (Central Washington), Christine Funk (Northwest Nazarene), Calley Heilborn (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S GOLF
Claire Moon (Western Washington, Jr., Olympia, Wash. – Olympia): Moon was the top GNAC finisher at the WWU Invitational, placing fourth with a two-round score of 2-over-par 146. She shot 1-under-par over the opening 18 holes, tying for the second-lowest round of the tournament to lead the Vikings to a third-place team finish. Also Nominated: Kassie Muanyam (Simon Fraser).