Monday, November 14, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – Western Washington hit the road for a pair of sweeps to close the 2022 volleyball regular season and earned a sweep of the GNAC Volleyball Player of the Week Awards.

Senior setter Malia Aleaga was named the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged 12.17 assists, 2.83 digs and 0.83 blocks per set in a pair of three-set victories at Montana State Billings on Thursday and at Seattle Pacific on Saturday. She posted a double-double of 34 assists and 10 digs at Montana State Billings. She then finished with 39 assists, seven digs and four blocks at Seattle Pacific.

Senior middle blocker Chloe Roetcisoender was tabbed as the Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week after averaging two blocks and 3.33 kills per set with a .559 hitting percentage in the two matches. Roetcisoender opened with two blocks, seven kills and a .700 hitting percentage at MSUB before posting a double-double of 10 blocks and 13 kills with a .500 hitting percentage at Seattle Pacific.

Seattle Pacific junior forward Shaw Anderson became the first Men’s Basketball Player of the Week of the season after he averaged 30 points per game as the Falcons split at the Cougar Classic. For the week, Anderson shot 57.1% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range while going a perfect 22 of 22 from the free-throw line.

Anderson finished with 28 points on 8 of 14 from the field, 3 of 6 from outside and 9 of 9 from the free-throw line in Friday’s 84-79 win over Chico State. He also finished with five rebounds and two steals. He added a 32-point performance in Saturday’s 83-78 loss to Cal Poly Pomona, again making 8 of 14 from the field while going 3 of 7 from three-point range and 13 of 13 from the free-throw line. His night also included three rebounds, two assists and a block.

Central Washington senior center Samantha Bowman is the first Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for 2022-23 after she averaged 18.5 points and 15 rebounds per game in two wins at the Northwest Nazarene Classic.

Bowman opened with a double-double of 26 points and 17 rebounds in Friday’s 84-63 win over Cal State East Bay. She connected on 10 of 15 from the field and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line to go with three assists, two steals and two blocks. In Saturday’s 86-62 win over Stanislaus State, Bowman connected for 11 points and 13 rebounds with four assists and two blocks.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 13
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE
Malia Aleaga (Western Washington, S, 5-7, Sr., Burien, Wash. – Kennedy Catholic): Aleaga averaged 12.17 assists and 2.83 digs and 0.83 blocks per set as the Vikings secured its NCAA Championships spot with two road wins. Aleaga finished with a double-double of 34 assists and 10 digs in Thursday’s three-set sweep at Montana State Billings, adding two kills, two aces and a block. At Seattle Pacific on Saturday, Aleaga finished with 39 assists, seven digs, four blocks and an ace in a three-set sweep to close the regular season. Also Nominated: Elena Guc (Alaska), Ellen Floyd (Alaska Anchorage), Tia Andaya (Central Washington), Caty Havekost (Montana State Billings), Jocelyn Sherman (Simon Fraser).

VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE
Chloe Roetcisoender (Western Washington, MB, 6-0, Sr., Duvall, Wash. – Cedar Park Christian): Roetcisoender averaged two blocks per set while also amassing 3.33 kills per set and a .559 hitting percentage in two road wins to close the regular season. Roetcisoender had two blocks in the three-set win at Montana State Billings while also finishing with seven kills and a .700 hitting percentage. She added a double-double of 10 blocks and 13 kills with a .500 hitting percentage in Saturday’s three-set win at Seattle Pacific.  Also Nominated: Jessa Long (Alaska), Eve Stephens (Alaska Anchorage), Hannah Stires (Central Washington), Paiten Langston (Montana State Billings), Miriam Jauhianen (Simon Fraser).

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Shaw Anderson (Seattle Pacific, F, 6-6, Jr., Kelso, Wash. – Kelso): Anderson averaged 30 points per game, shot 57.1% from the floor and 46.2% from three-point range and was a perfect 22 of 22 from the free-throw line in the Falcons’ opening weekend at the Cougar Classic. Anderson opened the season with 28 points, five rebounds and two steals in Friday’s 84-79 win over Chico State, making 8 of 14 from the field, 3 of 6 from outside and 9 of 9 from the free-throw line. He then added a 32-point performance in Saturday’s 83-78 loss to Cal Poly Pomona, connecting on 8 of 14 from the field, 3 of 7 from three-point range and 13 of 13 from the free-throw line. He also had three rebounds, two assists and a block. Also Nominated: Bryan Nguyen (Alaska), Da’Zhon Wyche (Alaska Anchorage), Carrington Wiggins (Montana State Billings), Tru Allen (Northwest Nazarene), Georges Lefebvre (Simon Fraser), Cameron Cranston (Western Oregon), Daniel Hornbuckle (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Samantha Bowman (Central Washington, C, 6-3, Sr., Zillah, Wash. – Zillah): Bowman averaged 18.5 points and 15 rebounds per game in a pair of season-opening victories for Central Washington at the Northwest Nazarene Classic. She opened the week with a double-double of 26 points and 17 rebounds in Friday’s 84-63 win over Cal State East Bay, shooting 10 of 15 from the field and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line. She also finished with three assists, two blocks and two steals. Bowman added a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds with four assists and two blocks in Saturday’s 86-62 win over Stanislaus State. For the week, Bowman shot 58.3% from the field. Also Nominated: Kate Robertson (Alaska Anchorage), Cariann Kunkel (Montana State Billings), Jessica Wisotzki (Simon Fraser), Cali McClave (Western Oregon).