Monday, August 30, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – Two of the conference’s newest runners put together tremendous career starts as the winners of the dual between the two Alaska schools leads the first GNAC Athlete of the Week selections for the 2021-22 academic year.

Freshman Kendall Kramer earned Alaska’s first Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week award since 2010 after she won at the UAF Blue/Gold Meet on Saturday. Starting her college cross country career in her hometown, Kramer covered the 5,000-meter course in a time of 18:34, finishing seven seconds ahead of teammate Rosie Fordham. Kendall’s performance led Alaska to a team score of 17 points and a rare win over the Seawolves.

Alaska Anchorage freshman Coleman Nash was tabbed as the Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after he won at the Blue/Gold Meet. Nash covered the 7,000-meter course in 22:53, finishing 13 seconds ahead of teammate Jacob Moos. Alaska Anchorage won the men’s dual with a score of 21 points.

Alaska Anchorage swept the opening week’s volleyball awards after going 3-1 on its road trip to Hawaii. Junior right-side hitter Eve Stephens was named the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged 4.43 kills, 3.04 digs, 0.64 aces and 0.50 blocks per set. Stephens posted double-doubles in both matches against Chaminade. She finished with 22 kills, 15 digs, three aces and three blocks in a four-set loss on Saturday and then added 15 kills, 18 digs and two aces in Sunday’s four-set win.

Junior setter Ellen Floyd picked up Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week accolades after she averaged 3.64 digs, 10.21 assists and 0.50 blocks per set in the four matches. She registered a double-double of 14 assists and 16 digs with two blocks in Saturday’s four-set loss to Chaminade and then bounced back to finish with 17 digs and 36 assists in Sunday’s win. Floyd opened the season with four aces, 27 assists and 11 digs in Friday’s three-set sweep over Hawaii Pacific.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 1
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE
Eve Stephens (Alaska Anchorage, RS, 6-1, Jr., Palmer, Alaska – Colony): Stephens averaged 4.43 kills, 3.07 digs, 0.64 aces and 0.50 blocks per set as Alaska Anchorage went 3-1 on the season-opening trip to Hawaii. Stephens posted double-digit kills in all four matches and had double-doubles in both matches against Chaminade. Her week with topped with totals of 22 kills, 15 digs, three aces and three blocks in Saturday’s four-set loss to the Silverswords. Stephens came up with 15 kills, 18 digs and two aces in Sunday’s four-set win. Also Nominated: Cate Whiting (Alaska)

VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE
Ellen Floyd (Alaska Anchorage, S, 5-10, Jr., Pensacola, Fla. – Pensacola Christian Academy): Floyd opened the season with averages of 10.21 assists, 3.64 digs and 0.50 blocks per set in Alaska Anchorage’s trip to Hawaii. She registered a weekend-high double-double of 14 assists and 16 digs with two blocks in Saturday’s four-set loss to Chaminade. She then added 17 digs to go with 36 assists in Sunday’s four-set win over the Silverswords. Floyd opened the season with four aces, 27 assists and 11 digs in a three-set win over Hawaii Pacific on Friday. Also Nominated: Sophie Schilling (Alaska).

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Coleman Nash (Alaska Anchorage, Fr., Littleton, Colo. - Chatfield): Running in his first collegiate cross country race, Nash won the men’s competition at the UAF Blue/Gold Race on Saturday. He covered the 7,000-meter course in 22:53 to finish 13 seconds ahead of teammate Jacob Moos. Nash helped lead the Seawolves to the team victory with 21 points.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Kendall Kramer (Alaska, Fr., Fairbanks, Alaska – West Valley): With the privilege of competing at home for her first collegiate cross country race, Kramer won the women’s competition at the UAF Blue/Gold Race on Saturday. Kramer covered the 5,000-meter course in 18:34, seven seconds ahead of teammate Rosie Fordham. Alaska won the dual over Alaska Anchorage with 17 points.