Tuesday, November 1, 2022

RALLYING THE TROOPS WITH THE TITLE ON THE LINE: Every match matters in the final two weeks of the regular season, but even more so for Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington.

The two teams are separated by one win in the standings. The Seawolves are 23-2 overall and 13-1 in GNAC play after taking a four-set win over Alaska on Saturday in the team’s only match of the week.

Western Washington improved to 17-5 overall and 12-2 in GNAC play after fighting hard for two road wins against a pair of teams that are also fighting for the NCAA Championships berths. The Vikings collected a four-set win at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and a five-set win at Central Washington on Saturday.

The effort by the Vikings to keep pace in the title change earned them selection as the GNAC Team of the Week.

Both UAA and WWU close the home portions of their regular-season schedules this week, both hoping the other will unusually trip up on their home floor. Alaska Anchorage is 11-0 at the Alaska Airlines Center while Western Washington is 10-1 at Carver Gym with the one loss coming to Alaska Anchorage.

Alaska Anchorage will host Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday. During the Saturday match, the Seawolves will be trying to break the Division II all-time single-match regular-season attendance record of 3,520 set by Nebraska-Kearney against Omaha on Oct. 15, 1996. Four NCAA Championships matches have had higher attendance marks, all in Kearney, Nebraska.

Alaska Anchorage’s largest all-time crowd is 2,710 against Western Washington in the finals of the 2016 NCAA West Regional.

Western Washington will close the regular-season home schedule by hosting  Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

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

Heilborn led all GNAC players last week with averages of five kills and 4.67 digs per set as WWU kept pace in the conference title conversation. She opened the week with a double-double of 23 kills and 23 digs with two aces and four blocks in Thursday’s four-set win at Northwest Nazarene. Heilborn came back to finish with 22 kills, 19 digs, two assists and five blocks in Saturday’s five-set win at Central Washington. Heilborn also averaged one block and 5.72 points per set in the two wins.

Also Nominated: Ellen Floyd (Alaska Anchorage), Kylie Thorne (Central Washington), Jahsita Fa’ali’I (Montana State Billings), Maddie Pruden (Seattle Pacific), Hanna Kolof (Simon Fraser).

DEFENSIVE
Emma Daoud-Hebert, Central Washington
MB • 6-0 • Sophomore • Woodinville, Wash.

Daoud-Hebert averaged 1.75 blocks per set in two matches and also had 2.62 kills per set and a .474 hitting percentage. She opened the week with six blocks and 11 kills with a .588 hitting percentage in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Simon Fraser. Daoud-Hebert then contributed eight blocks and 10 kills in Saturday’s five-set loss to Western Washington. Daoud-Hebert leads the GNAC and Division II in blocks per set.  

Also Nominated: Leilani Elder (Alaska Anchorage), Kennedy Juranek (Montana State Billings), Kalissa Beltran (Simon Fraser), Calley Heilborn (Western Washington).

ALASKA
• Alaska dropped its third straight match, falling in four sets at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Freshman right-side hitter Ella Bines came off the bench to lead the Nanooks with 11 kills and a .240 hitting percentage. Bines has played in all 26 matches and started nine. She is averaging 2.01 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Rilee White finished with seven kills, four aces, three digs and three blocks. White averages 2.62 kills per set and ranks eighth in the GNAC with 3.42 points per set. She leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with 0.57 aces per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Karli Nielson also had seven kills in the loss along with a dig and four blocks. Nielson is ranked ninth in the GNAC with 2.70 kills per set.

• Alaska enters the week averaging 12.19 kills and 13.68 digs per set. The Nanooks rank second in the GNAC and 37th in Division II with 2.10 aces per set. They also are second in the GNAC and 13th in Division II with 2.44 blocks per set.

• Alaska wraps up its 2022 home schedule this week, hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage improved to 23-2 overall and 13-1 in GNAC play with a four-set win over in-state rival Alaska on Saturday.

• Senior right-side hitter Eve Stephens led the offensive effort with 19 kills, six digs, a block and an ace. Stephens leads the conference and ranks fourth in Division II with 4.70 kills per set. She also ranks second in Division II with 5.71 points per set. Stephens ranks second in the GNAC and 26th in Division II with 0.55 aces per set.

• Senior setter Ellen Floyd finished with 35 assists, nine kills, seven digs and two blocks in the victory. She ranks third in the GNAC with 10.22 assists per set and is sixth with 0.41 aces per set. She also averages 1.09 kills and 2.77 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Lisa Jaunet also had nine kills in the victory to go with three blocks. Jaunet is seventh in the GNAC with 2.94 kills per set

• Alaska Anchorage leads the GNAC and ranks sixth in Division II with a .284 hitting percentage. They also lead the GNAC and rank 15th in Division II with 2.30 aces per set while also leading the conference with 13.18 kills and 12.25 assists per set.

• The Seawolves moved up to No. 6 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll and was one of three teams to receive a first-place vote. They were also among four teams listed as “under consideration” in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Alaska Anchorage closes the regular-season home schedule by hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday. At Saturday’s match, UAA is hosting a promotion to try and break the Division II regular-season single-match attendance record of 3,520 fans.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split its matches for the second straight week, beating Simon Fraser in three sets on Thursday before battling in a hard-fought five-set loss to Western Washington on Saturday.

• Sophomore middle blocker Emma Daoud-Hebert was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 1.75 blocks and 2.62 kills per set. Daoud-Hebert finished with six blocks and 11 kills with a .588 hitting percentage against Simon Fraser. She then posted totals of eight blocks and 10 kills with a .381 hitting percentage against Western Washington. Daoud-Hebert leads Division II with 1.48 blocks per set. She also leads the GNAC and ranks 21st in Division II with a .383 hitting percentage.

• Sophomore outside hitter Kylie Thorne averaged 3.62 kills, 3.62 digs and 0.62 blocks per set. She finished with 14 kills, seven digs, a block and a .542 hitting percentage against Simon Fraser. Thorne added a double-double of 15 kills and 22 digs with four blocks and three aces against Western Washington. Thorne enters the week averaging 2.28 kills and 2.42 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Ashley Kaufman averaged 2.88 kills and 3.50 digs per set. After opening with five kills and 10 digs against SFU, Kaufman registered a double-double of 18 kills and 18 digs against Western Washington. Kaufman is fifth in the GNAC with 3.06 kills per set.

• Central Washington ranks fourth in the GNAC with 12.87 kills per set and averages 13.76 digs per set. The Wildcats lead the conference and rank sixth in Division II with 2.52 blocks per set.

• Central Washington returned to the list of teams receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll, receiving 19 points. The Wildcats were among four GNAC teams “under consideration” in the first NCAA West Region Rankings.

• The Wildcats head to Alaska this week to take on the Nanooks on Thursday and the No. 6 Seawolves on Sunday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings is still looking for its first conference win on the season after taking a four-set loss at Western Oregon on Thursday and a five-set loss at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Jahsita Fa’ali’i led the Yellowjackets with averages of 2.33 kills and 2.56 digs per set. Fa’ali’i opened with totals of eight kills, 11 digs and two aces at Western Oregon. She then added a double-double of 13 kills and 12 digs at Saint Martin’s. Fa’ali’i is averaging 2.45 kills per set and ranks 10th in the GNAC with 0.37 aces per set.

• Junior outside hitter Olivia Schwartz averaged two kills per set. She finished with nine kills, two digs and two blocks at Western Oregon before coming up with seven kills, two digs and a block at Saint Martin’s. Schwartz is averaging 1.88 kills per set.

• Senior setter Hannah Hashbarger averaged 4.33 assists per set, finishing with a double-double of 17 assists and 11 digs at Western Oregon before adding 22 assists and eight digs at Saint Martin’s. She also had an ace in both matches. Hashbarger is fifth in the GNAC with 5.78 assists per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 10.74 kills per set and is second in the conference with 14.75 digs per set.

• The Yellowjackets finish the 2022 season with three matches at home. They will host Seattle Pacific on Thursday and No. 9 Western Washington on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene dropped both matches in its final home contests of the season, falling in four sets to Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan averaged four kills, 2.50 digs and 0.50 blocks per set to lead the Nighthawks. Sullivan posted a double-double of 15 kills and 14 digs with three aces and two blocks against Western Washington. She then finished with 17 kills, six digs and two blocks against Simon Fraser. Sullivan is second in the GNAC with 3.68 kills and 4.17 points per ser. She ranks 22nd in Division II with 10.95 attacks per set.

• Senior middle blocker Olivia Wright averaged three kills and 1.25 blocks per set. Wright finished with 12 kills, five blocks and two digs against Western Washington. She finished with another 12 kills against Simon Fraser and also had six blocks. Wright ranks third in the GNAC with 3.45 kills per set and is fifth with 1.14 blocks per set.

• Sophomore right-side hitter Miya Koch averaged 1.50 kills and 2.88 digs per set. She came up with seven kills and nine digs against Western Washington before adding five kills and 14 digs against Simon Fraser. Koch enters the week averaging 2.01 kills and 3.05 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene is second in the GNAC with 13.05 kills per set. The Nighthawks lead the conference with 16.48 digs per set while ranking fifth in the conference and 40th in Division II with 2.20 blocks per set.

• The Nighthawks were among four GNAC teams listed as “under consideration” in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Northwest Nazarene plays its final three regular-season matches on the road, starting with matches at No. 6 Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s took a four-set loss to Seattle Pacific on Thursday before snapping a seven-match losing streak with a five-set come-from-behind victory over Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Tia Allen averaged 2.33 kills and 3.67 digs per set to lead the Saints. Allen opened the week with six kills and 11 digs against Seattle Pacific. She then led SMU with a double-double of 15 kills and 22 digs against Montana State Billings. Allen is fourth in the conference with 3.36 kills and 3.75 points per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Emmy Hansen averaged 2.22 kills and 1.56 digs per set in the two matches. She opened with a seven-kill, five-dig performance against Seattle Pacific before coming up with 13 kills, nine digs and a block against Montana State Billings. For the season, Hansen is averaging 2.12 kills per set.

• Junior setter Karla Soto averaged 7.78 assists per set and had all but 10 of SMU’s assists for the week. she posted double-doubles in both matches, finishing with 28 assists and 11 digs against Seattle Pacific before posting 42 assists and 14 digs against Montana State Billings. She also had four kills in both matches. Soto is fourth in the GNAC with 9.40 assists per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 12.15 kills per set. The Saints rank fourth in the conference with 14.26 digs per set.

• The Saints take their final road trip of the season this week, traveling to Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific succeeded in two wins last week, collecting a four-set win at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and a three-set sweep at Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Senior opposite Ashley Antoniak was the prime mover for the Falcons last week, averaging 2.43 kills and 2.86 digs per set. Antoniak opened with nine kills, 13 digs and two blocks at Saint Martin’s. She then added eight kills, seven digs and two aces at Western Oregon. Antoniak enters the week averaging 2.32 kills and 2.17 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter/opposite Sydney Perry averaged 2.29 kills and 0.57 aces per set. Perry finished with 11 kills, four digs, a block and three aces at Saint Martin’s. She then came up with five kills and two digs at Western Oregon. Perry is averaging 1.47 kills per set on the season.

• Sophomore Abigail Cunningham averaged 4.29 digs per set to lead the Falcons. Cunningham finished with 16 digs at Saint Martin’s and then added a 14-dig performance at Western Oregon. Cunningham is sixth in the GNAC with 3.77 digs per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 11.28 kills and 13.09 digs per set. The Falcons are fourth in the conference with 1.74 aces per set.

• The Falcons make their final road trip of the season this week, playing at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser split on its road trip last week, dropping a three-set match at Central Washington before scoring a four-set win at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Hanna Kolof averaged three kills per set to lead the SFU offense. Kolof opened the week with five kills and two digs at Central Washington. She then came up with 16 kills, six digs and a block at Northwest Nazarene. Kolof is averaging 1.21 kills and 2.17 digs per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Jocelyn Sherman averaged 2.71 kills and 2.86 digs per set in the two matches. Sherman registered six kills and nine digs at Central Washington. She added a double-double of 13 kills and 11 digs with two blocks and three assists at Northwest Nazarene. Sherman is averaging 2.56 kills and 2.39 digs per set.

• Sophomore opposite Brooke Dexter and junior middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann each averaged 2.57 kills per set in the two matches. Dexter finished with a double-double of 15 kills and 13 digs at Northwest Nazarene. Hartmann posted her weekly high of 12 kills and four blocks at NNU. Dexter is eighth in the GNAC with 2.91 kills per set. Hartmann is averaging 1.78 kills per set and ranks ninth in the GNAC with 0.99 blocks per set.

• Simon Fraser enters the week averaging 11.72 kills and 14.11 digs per set.

• The Red Leafs close out their 2022 home schedule this week, hosting Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon scored a four-set win over Montana State Billings at home on Thursday before taking a three-set loss to Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Madison Hornback led the Wolves once again, averaging three kills, 2.29 digs and 0.71 aces per set. Hornback led WOU with a double-double of 13 kills and 13 digs against Montana State Billings to go with three aces. She then added totals of eight kills, three digs and two aces against Seattle Pacific. Hornback is averaging 2.52 kills, 2.68 digs and 0.36 aces per set.

• Senior middle blocker Delaney Smith averaged three kills per set and had a .484 hitting percentage in the split. Smith finished with 13 kills and a .500 hitting percentage against Montana State Billings. She then finished with five kills and a .444 hitting percentage against Seattle Pacific. Smith is averaging 1.86 kills and 0.72 blocks per set.

• Senior outside hitter Sarah Crowell finished the week with three kills per set. Crowell was of three WOU players to finish with 13 kills in the Montana State Billings match. She then finished with eight kills against Seattle Pacific. Crowell is averaging a team-leading 2.55 kills per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with 12.62 kills per set and is also averaging 13.98 digs per set.

• The Wolves take their final road trip of the season, playing at No. 9 Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington took to the road and scored with a four-set win at Northwest Nazarene and a five-set win at Central Washington on Saturday.

• Thanks to battling to the key wins to keep pace in the conference championship race, Western Washington was named the GNAC Team of the Week.

• Senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn was named the GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged five kills, 4.67 digs and a block per set in the two victories. Heilborn notched a big double-double with 23 kills and 23 digs at Northwest Nazarene with four blocks and two aces. She added totals of 22 kills, 19 digs and five blocks at Central Washington. Heilborn is sixth in the GNAC with 2.98 kills per set and 10th with 3.29 digs per set.

• Senior middle blocker Chloe Roetcisoender averaged 2.78 kills and one block per set with a .413 hitting percentage. She opened the week with 14 kills and four blocks at Northwest Nazarene. Roetcisoender added totals of 11 kills and five blocks at Central Washington. Roetcisoender is averaging 2.58 kills per set. She ranks second in the GNAC and seventh in Division II with 1.27 blocks per set.

• Senior middle blocker Anna Maracich averaged 2.22 kills and 1.44 blocks per set. After finishing with seven kills and seven digs at Northwest Nazarene, Maracich added totals of 13 kills and six blocks with a .550 hitting percentage at Central Washington. Maracich is averaging 1.55 kills and 0.87 blocks per set.

• Western Washington is third in the GNAC with 12.92 kills per set. The Vikings rank third in the GNAC and 15th in Division II with 2.39 blocks per set.

• The Vikings climbed one spot to No. 9 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. They were also one of four GNAC teams listed as “under consideration” in the first NCAA West Region Rankings.

• Western Washington closes the regular-season home schedule by hosting Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.