Tuesday, September 20, 2022

SEAWOLVES, NIGHTHAWKS CONTINUE ON IMPRESSIVE ROLLS: At the beginning of the season, a great roll of momentum can help set the table for success and potential runs into postseason play.

Alaska Anchorage and Northwest Nazarene enter the third week of the conference season on a pair of impressive runs. The Seawolves enter the week having won six matches in a roll posting a three-set win at Montana State Billings on Thursday and a five-set victory at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

With the wins, Alaska Anchorage is 14-1 on the season and has matched the 2015 and 2016 squads for the best start in program history after 15 matches. The Seawolves started the season with an eight-match win streak, the third longest in program history.

Ranked No. 14 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll, the Seawolves will tangle with No. 10 Western Washington in the biggest conference match so far this season. The Vikings are 8-3 overall and improved to 3-0 in GNAC play with a three-set sweep of Simon Fraser on Saturday.

Northwest Nazarene is the owner of an eight-match win streak after collecting a five-set win at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and a four-set win at Western Oregon on Saturday. The Nighthawks have not lost since taking a five-set defeat to Texas A&M-International at NNU’s own tournament on August 26.

At 10-1 overall, Northwest Nazarene needs three more wins to match its largest win total since 2017. The Nighthawks went 13-14 in 2019.
The Nighthawks will have the benefit of the home court this week, hosting Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.

ANDAYA GETS TRIPLE-DOUBLE RECORD: It was only a matter of time before Central Washington junior Tia Andaya broke the conference’s triple-double record. She made it official on Thursday with 14 kills, 23 assists and 13 digs in the Wildcats’ victory at Western Oregon on Thursday.

It was Andaya’s 10th triple-double in a CWU uniform, which eclipsed the previous career record of nine set by Mindy Swanson of Northwest Nazarene between 2001 and 2003. Andaya set the single-season record with eight triple-doubles last year. She has two so far this season.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Eve Stephens, Alaska Anchorage
RS • 6-1 • Senior • Palmer, Alaska

Stephens led Alaska Anchorage with 4.38 kills per set, 0.88 aces per set and 1.00 blocks per set with a .414 hitting percentage as the Seawolves improved to 4-0 in conference play and 14-1 overall. Stephens finished with 15 kills, four aces and three blocks with a .538 hitting percentage in a three-set sweep at Montana State Billings on Thursday. She then led UAA with a double-double of 20 kills, 11 digs, three aces and five blocks in Saturday’s five-set win at Seattle Pacific.

Also Nominated: Tia Andaya (Central Washington), Natalie Sullivan (Northwest Nazarene), Brooke Dexter (Simon Fraser), Olivia Fairchild (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Caroline McMahon, Northwest Nazarene
L • 5-8 • Junior • Medford, Ore.

McMahon averaged 4.78 digs per set at the Nighthawks improved to 3-0 in conference play, 10-1 overall, and extended their eight-match win streak. She finished with 27 digs, five assists and an ace in Thursday’s five-set win at Saint Martin’s. McMahon added totals of 16 digs and five assists in Saturday’s four-set win at Western Oregon.  

Also Nominated: Talia Leauanae (Alaska Anchorage), Emma Daoud-Hebert (Central Washington), Chloe Roetcisoender (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska split on its first GNAC road trip of the season, taking a four-set loss at Seattle Pacific on Thursday before scoring a three-set sweep of Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Rilee White led the Nanooks as she averaged 3.29 kills, 1.71 digs and one block per set. White led UAF with 14 kills, eight digs, five blocks and two aces at Seattle Pacific. She added nine kills, four digs and two blocks at Montana State Billings. White is seventh in the GNAC with 2.89 kills per set and is 27th in Division II with 176 total kills.

• Sophomore outside hitter Karli Nielsen added an average of 2.71 kills per set last week. She equaled White with 14 kills at Seattle Pacific to go along with an ace, two digs and a block. Nielsen then finished with five kills, one ace and a block at Montana State Billings. Nielsen ranks ninth in the GNAC with 2.77 kills per set. She is also seventh in the GNAC with 0.46 aces per set and 15th in Division II with 28 total aces.

• Sophomore middle blocker Kristina Head averaged two kills and 1.86 blocks per set. She came alive for eight kills and nine blocks at Seattle Pacific and tacked on six kills and four blocks at Montana State Billings. Head ranks sixth in the GNAC with 0.94 blocks per set and is third in Division II with 65 blocks. Her teammate, sophomore middle blocker Elizabeth Jackson, leads Division II with 74 blocks.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 12.74 kills and 13.70 digs per set. The Nanooks lead the conference and are 12th in Division II with 2.51 blocks per set. They also lead the GNAC and rank 18th in Division II with 2.41 aces per set.

• The Nanooks return home this week. They host Simon Fraser for a rare Thursday day match at 11:30 a.m., before hosting Western Washington on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage ran its current win streak to six matches with a three-set win at Montana State Billings on Thursday and a five-set win at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Senior right-side hitter Eve Stephens was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season after she averaged 4.38 kills, 1.62 digs, one block and 0.88 aces per set with a .414 hitting percentage. Stephens finished with 15 kills, four aces, three blocks and two digs at MSUB. She then led the way with 20 kills, 11 digs, three aces and five blocks at Seattle Pacific. Stephens leads the GNAC and ranks ninth in Division II with 4.58 kills per set. She is also first in the GNAC and 10th in Division II with 0.69 aces per set while also ranking 26th in Division II with her .393 hitting percentage.

• Senior outside hitter Lisa Jaunet added 2.50 kills and 0.62 blocks per set in the two wins. She opened the week with seven kills and four digs at MSUB. Jaunet then added totals of 13 kills, three digs and five blocks at Seattle Pacific. Jaunet ranks fifth in the GNAC with 3.02 kills per set.

• Senior libero Talia Leauanae paced the UAA defense with 2.88 digs per set. She was most effective at Seattle Pacific, finishing with 17 digs, three assists and an ace. Leauanae is fourth in the GNAC with 3.98 digs per set.

• Alaska Anchorage is second in the GNAC and 42nd in Division II with 13.15 kills per set. The Seawolves lead the conference and rank second in Division II with a .302 hitting percentage. They also rank 25th in Division II with 2.29 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage remained at No. 14 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll of the season.

• The Seawolves come home this week, hosting No. 10 Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington won both road matches last week, taking a three-set sweep at Western Oregon on Thursday and a four-set win at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Junior setter/outside hitter Tia Andaya became the GNAC career leader in triple-doubles with her 10th on Thursday, finishing with 14 kills, 23 assists and 13 digs at Western Oregon. She surpassed the previous record of nine set by Northwest Nazarene’s Mindy Swanson between 2001 and 2003. Andaya just missed her 11th triple-double on Saturday wtih 17 kills, 19 assists and nine digs at Saint Martin’s. Andaya is ninth in the GNAC with 2.78 kills per set and 10th with five assists per set. She ranks third in Division II with two triple-doubles on the season.

• Junior outside hitter Ashley Kaufman averaged 4.43 kills and 2.14 digs per set in the two victories. Kaufman led the Wildcats with 18 kills with five digs at Western Oregon. She then added a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs at Saint Martin’s. Kaufman is sixth in the GNAC with 2.98 kills per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Emma Daoud-Hebert averaged 2.57 kills per set and had a .531 hitting percentage last week. After finishing with four kills and three blocks at WOU, Daoud-Hebert came alive for 12 kills, four blocks and a .684 hitting percentage at Saint Martin’s. Daoud-Hebert leads the GNAC and is fourth in Division II with 1.44 blocks per set. She is also first in the GNAC and 23rd in Division II with a .396 hitting percentage.

• Central Washington is averaging 12.73 kills and 12.20 digs per set. The Wildcats are second in the GNAC and 23th in Division II with 2.48 blocks per set and are third in the GNAC and 48th in Division II with 2.12 aces per set.

• Central Washington continues to receive votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll with 32 points.

• After an 11-match road trip to open the season, Central Washington will host Montana State Billings on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings dropped a pair of three-set matches to the Alaska schools last week, falling to the Seawolves on Thursday and the Nanooks on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Caty Havekost led the way with 3.17 kills per set. She posted nine kills with a dig and a block against Alaska Anchorage and then led MSUB with 10 kills against Alaska. Havekost enters the week averaging 2.45 kills per set.

• Junior outside hitter Olivia Schwartz averaged 2.75 kills per set in the two matches. She did her most damage against Alaska Anchorage, finishing with nine kills and a block. Schwartz added two kills against Alaska. Schwartz is averaging 1.16 kills per set in eight matches.

• Senior setter Hannah Hashbarger averaged 6.17 assists per set. She finished with 19 assists and four digs against Alaska Anchorage before compiling 18 assists, six digs, an ace and a block against Alaska. Hashbarger is sixth in the GNAC with 5.89 assists per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.32 kills per set and is second in the GNAC with 14.61 digs per set.

• The Yellowjackets are on the road this week, playing at Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene ran its win streak to eight matches on the road with a five-set win at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and a four-set win at Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Junior libero Caroline McMahon was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after she averaged 4.78 digs per set in the two victories. McMahon came up with 27 digs, five assists and an ace against Saint Martin’s before adding totals of 16 digs and five assists at Western Oregon. McMahon is third in the GNAC with 4.08 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan led the NNU offense with averages of 4.56 kills and two digs per set. Sullivan posted a double-double of 19 kills and 12 digs with a block at Saint Martin’s. She led the way with 22 kills, six digs, a block and a .396 hitting percentage at Western Oregon. Sullivan is second in the GNAC and 30th in Division II with 3.87 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Olivia Wright averaged 2.22 kills and 0.67 blocks per set in the two victories. She had 10 kills in both matches, adding a dig and two blocks at Saint Martin’s and five digs and four blocks at Western Oregon. Wright is fourth in the GNAC with 3.46 kills per set and third with a .387 hitting percentage.

• Northwest Nazarene is second in the GNAC and 17th in Division II with a .266 hitting percentage. The Nighthawks lead the GNAC and rank 28th in Division II with 13.54 kills per set. They also lead the conference and rank36th in Division II with 16.90 digs per set.

• The Nighthawks return home this week, hosting Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped a pair of hard-fought matches last week, taking a five-set loss to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and a four-set loss to Central Washington on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Tia Allen averaged 3.89 kills, 2.33 digs and 0.44 aces per set to lead the Saints. Allen had a double-double of 17 kills and 13 digs with four aces against Northwest Nazarene. She then finished with 18 kills and eight digs against Central Washington. Allen is third in the GNAC with 3.56 kills per set and is 25th in Division II with 178 total kills.

• Sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Soha averaged 2.44 kills per set in the two matches. She registered 13 kills and three digs against Northwest Nazarene before adding nine kills and a block against Central Washington. Soha enters the week averaging 1.91 kills per set and is sixth in the GNAC with a .360 hitting percentage.

• Junior setter Karla Soto averaged 8.78 assists and 2.11 digs per set. She had a double-double with 45 assists and 14 digs against Northwest Nazarene before registering totals of 34 assists and five digs against Central Washington. Soto is fourth in the GNAC with 9.35 assists per set.

• Saint Martin’s is averaging 11.65 kills and 14.02 digs per set on the season. The Saints are third in the conference with a .172 opponent hitting percentage.

• The Saints play a non-conference match at Linfield on Tuesday before hosting Western Oregon on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific split against the Alaska schools last week, posting a four-set win over Alaska on Thursday before battling in a five-set loss to Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Senior opposite Ashley Antoniak paced the Falcons with averages of 3.44 kills and 2.11 digs per set. Antoniak led SPU with 17 kills, nine digs and a .429 hitting percentage against Alaska. She then posted a double-double of 14 kills and 10 digs with two aces against Alaska Anchorage. Antoniak enters the week averaging 2.34 kills and 2.10 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Sarah Brachvogel averaged 2.44 kills and 0.56 blocks per set. Her ledger includes 12 kills, three digs and three blocks against Alaska along with 10 kills, two digs and two blocks against Alaska Anchorage. Brachvogel leads SPU with 2.44 kills per set and is averaging 0.34 blocks per set.

• Junior opposite Maddie Pruden averaged 2.22 kills and 0.78 blocks per set. She posted totals of six kills and four blocks against Alaska before adding 14 kills and three blocks against Alaska Anchorage. Pruden is averaging 1.98 kills and 0.54 blocks per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 10.87 kills and 12.33 digs per set. The Falcons are fifth in the GNAC with 1.85 aces per set.

• The Falcons hit the road this week for matches at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser dropped its only match of the week, taking a three-set loss at Western Washington on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Dexter led the offense with 10 kills and a .348 hitting percentage to go along with two digs and two blocks. Dexter is eighth in the GNAC with 2.86 kills per set.

• Junior middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann tallied six kills, two digs and a block in the loss. She ranks fourth in the GNAC with 1.12 blocks per set and is ranked 15th in Division II with 56 total blocks. Hartmann is also averaging 1.56 kills per set.

• Sophomore setter Serena Gentile finished with a double-double of 12 assists and 13 digs in the match. She ranks fifth in the GNAC with 6.30 assists per set.

• The Red Leafs enter the week averaging 11.18 kills and 13.53 digs per set. Simon Fraser is 32nd in Division II with 107 total blocks.

• Simon Fraser head north to Alaska this week, facing the Nanooks in a Thursday morning match before returning south to face Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon took a pair of losses in its home season debut, taking a three-set loss to Central Washington on Thursday and a four-set loss to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Bailey Hartsook led the Wolves with an average of 3.71 kills per set. She led WOU with her 14 kills, five digs and a block against Central Washington. She then finished with 12 kills and two digs against Northwest Nazarene. Hartsook is averaging 2.60 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Madison Hornback finished the week with averages of 2.43 kills and 2.43 digs per set. She opened with a five-kill, six-dig performance against Central Washington before posting a double-double of 12 kills and 11 digs against Northwest Nazarene. Hornback leads the Wolves with 2.62 kills per set.

• Sophomore defensive specialist Ally Henry averaged 4.43 digs per set to lead the WOU defense. Henry finished with 11 digs and five assists against Central Washington. She added totals of 20 digs, two assists and two blocks against Northwest Nazarene.

• Western Oregon is averaging 12.44 kills and 13.56 digs per set for the season.

• The Wolves play just once this week, traveling to Lacey, Washington to face Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington was a winner in its lone match of the week, dispatching Simon Fraser in three sets on Saturday.

• Senior middle blocker Olivia Fairchild led the Vikings with 10 kills, five blocks and a .500 hitting percentage. She ranks fourth in the GNAC with a .373 hitting percentage and eighth with 0.92 blocks per set.

• Senior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman finished with eight kills and 11 digs in the victory while senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn added eight kills, seven digs, two blocks and two assists. Gunterman is averaging 2.74 kills and 2.69 digs per set while Heilborn is averaging 2.59 kills and 3.29 digs per set.

• In addition to Fairchild’s five blocks, senior middle blocker Chloe Roetcisoender and sophomore outside hitter Gabby Kepley each had five-block nights. Roetisoender is second in the GNAC and 16th in Division II with 1.27 blocks per set. She is also 30th in Division II with 52 total blocks.

• Western Washington enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 13.05 kills per set and fourth with 14.34 digs and 2.15 blocks per set. The Vikings rank 44th in Division II with 12.14 assists per set.

• Western Washington dropped one spot to No. 10 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll.

• The Vikings play in Alaska this week. A nationally-ranked showdown with No. 14 Alaska Anchorage awaits on Thursday before a trip to face the Nanooks on Saturday.