Tuesday, December 24, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington, which has won the past five GNAC all-sports titles,  has a 13-point lead over Seattle Pacific in the 2013-14 GNAC All-Sports competition at the end of the fall season.

The Vikings, who won the GNAC volleyball title and the regular-season women’s soccer championship, outpointed the Falcons 78-65 in the fall sports.  Simon Fraser is in third place with 64 points, six ahead of fourth-place Alaska Anchorage.

Simon Fraser, which won its fourth straight men’s soccer title and finished third in men’s cross country, leads the men’s competition with 36 points, six ahead of the Vikings.  WWU has a three-point lead over Seattle Pacific 48-45 in the women’s competition.

Western Washington, Alaska Anchorage and Simon Fraser are also ranked in the Top 20 in the Learfield Sports Directors Cup national all-sports competition at the conclusion of the fall championships.

The Vikings, who reached the national semifinals in women’s soccer and also earned points in men’s cross country, women’s cross country and volleyball, rank ninth with 218 points.

Alaska Anchorage ranks 15th with 177 points after finishing fourth in women’s cross country and seventh in men’s cross country and qualifying for the regional volleyball tournament.

Simon Fraser ranks 20th  on the strength of a third-place finish in men’s soccer and a seventh-place in women’s cross country.

Learfield Sports Director’s Cup: 1. Grand Valley State 437, 9. Western Washington 218,  15. Alaska Anchorage 177, 20. Simon Fraser 155, 31. Seattle Pacific 128, 121. Central Washington 25.

GNAC All-Sports: Overall (6 of 16 sports) – Western Washington 78, Seattle Pacific 65, Simon Fraser 64, Alaska Anchorage 58, Central Washington 56, Western Oregon 53, Northwest Nazarene 42, Montana State Billings 36, Saint Martin’s 21, Alaska Fairbanks 17.  

Men (3 of 8 sports) – Simon Fraser 36, Western Washington 30, Western Oregon 23, Alaska Anchorage 20, Seattle Pacific 20, Central Washington 19, Montana State Billings 18, Northwest Nazarene 14, Saint Martin’s 10, Alaska Fairbanks 8.  Affiliates -  Azusa Pacific 12, Dixie State 6, Mary 4, Humboldt State 2, SD Mines 2.  

Women (3 of 8 sports) –   Western Washington 48, Seattle Pacific 45, Alaska Anchorage 38, Central Washington 37, Western Oregon 30, Simon Fraser 28, Northwest Nazarene 28, MSU Billings 18, Saint Martin’s 11, Alaska Fairbanks 9.

Conference Champions: Football – Azusa Pacific.  Men’s Cross Country – Alaska Anchorage.  Women’s Cross Country – Alaska Anchorage.  Men’s Soccer – Simon Fraser.  Women’s Soccer – Seattle Pacific (Regular-Season – Western Washington). Volleyball – Western Washington.