Wednesday, October 13, 2021

CLOSE RACE AS FIRST HALF WRAPS UP: The first half of the conference season is coming to a close and it continues to be a close race with just two matches separating the top four spots.

Alaska Anchorage continues to hold the top spot with a 7-0 record. The Seawolves ran their current win streak to seven matches over the weekend, coming from a 2-1 deficit to knock off then-No. 25 Central Washington on Thursday before collecting a three-set sweep from Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

Of the seven GNAC victories, only three have gone more than three sets. In the conference matches, the Seawolves have outhit their opponents .283 to .117.

Western Washington is just behind Alaska Anchorage at 5-1. The Vikings ran their current win streak to four matches four-set road victories over Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday. Unlike UAA, Western Washington has yet to see a conference match go the minimum three sets. The Vikings have played in only two three-set matches this season, losing both. In conference matches, Western Washington is hitting a robust .231 and averaging 12.38 kills per set.

Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington have yet to face each other this season. The teams will not meet each other until Saturday, October 30 after the first meeting of the season on Thursday, September 30 was postponed to Monday, November 8 due to health and safety protocols.

Alaska sits in third with a 6-2 mark with the program’s only conference losses coming on the recent road trip to Simon Fraser and Western Washington. The Nanooks swept their way back into the win column last weekend, beating Northwest Nazarene in three sets and downing Central Washington in four sets.

Seattle Pacific is just behind Alaska at 5-2. The Falcons enter the week having won three straight, scoring a three-set road victory over Montana State Billings on Saturday in their only match last week.

SIMPLY THE BEST: The following GNAC plays have been named to all-tournament teams during the 2021 season.

Seawolf Invitational (Sept. 2-4): Cate Whiting (UAF), Ellen Floyd (UAA), Eve Stephens (UAA).
Yellowjacket Invitational (Sept. 3-4): Tia Allen (SMU, MVP), Kylie Alos (SMU), Joelle Maohwald (MSUB), Bayli Monck (MSUB).
WWU Invitational (Sept. 3-5): Malia Aleaga (WWU, MVP), Gabby Gunterman (WWU), Olivia Fairchild (WWU), Tess Biscup (WWU), Marianna Payne (CWU), Tia Andaya (CWU).
CWU/SPU Invitational (Sept. 9-11): Hannah Hair (SPU), Emily Tulino (SPU), Erin Gould (SPU), Hannah Stires (CWU), Leanna Shymanski (CWU), Ashley Kaufman (CWU), Brooke Dexter (SFU), Julia Tays (SFU), Bailee Hartsook (WOU).
Hawaii Challenge (Sept. 9-12): Bayli Monck (MSUB).

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

Stephens averaged 5.12 kills and 2.25 digs per set with a .391 hitting percentage to lead the Seawolves to two wins. Stephens matched her career-high with 26 kills with eight digs, four blocks, three aces and a .357 hitting percentage in a five-set win over No. 25 Central Washington on Thursday. She came back for a double-double of 15 kills and 10 digs with three blocks and a .452 hitting percentage in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Northwest Nazarene.

Also Nominated: Sophie Schilling (Alaska), Skylar Reed (Montana State Billings), Emily Gooding (Saint Martin’s), Erin Smith (Seattle Pacific), Brooke Dexter (Simon Fraser), Calley Heilborn (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Vera Pluharova, Alaska Anchorage
MB/RS • 6-2 • Senior • Nechanice, Czech Republic

Pluharova averaged 1.62 blocks, 1.75 kills and 0.75 digs per set in the Seawolves two wins. She opened with nine blocks, seven kills, four digs and an ace in Thursday’s five-set win over No. 25 Central Washington on Thursday. Pluharova then posted four blocks, two digs and seven kills in Saturday’s three-set sweep over Northwest Nazarene.

Also Nominated: Dani Dodge (Alaska), Jennifer Soha (Saint Martin’s), Bianca Te (Simon Fraser), Kasey Woodruff (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• After losing both ends of a road trip last week, Alaska returned home and posted a three-set win over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and a four-set win over nationally-ranked Central Washington on Saturday.

• Alaska is now 7-1 in matches played at the Patty Center.

• Sophomore middle blocker Sophie Schilling led the Nanooks with averages of four kills and 0.86 blocks per set with a .469 hitting percentage. Schilling opened with nine kills and four blocks against Northwest Nazarene. She then had 19 kills, a .457 hitting percentage, four digs and two blocks against Central Washington. Schilling is fifth in the GNAC with a .294 hitting percentage and is eighth in Division II with 78 total blocks.

• Freshman outside hitter Karli Nielson added 3.86 kills and 1.14 digs per set in the two wins. She matched Schilling with nine kills against Northwest Nazarene with three aces before posting 18 kills and six digs with a .353 hitting percentage against Central Washington. Nielson shares the Alaska lead with senior AveRee Reynolds at 2.73 kills per set.

• Senior setter Cate Whiting was solid offensively and defensively, averaging 12 assists and three digs per set. Whiting had double-doubles in both matches, finishing with 29 assists and 11 digs against Northwest Nazarene along with 55 assists and 10 digs against Central Washington. Whiting is fourth in the GNAC with 9.75 assists per set and is second in Division II with 731 total assists.

• Alaska is third in the GNAC with 12.84 kills and 16.44 digs per set. The Nanooks lead the conference with a .145 opponent hitting percentage. They are also third in the GNAC and sixth in Division II with 2.54 blocks per set.

• Alaska plays just one match this week, traveling to Alaska Anchorage for an in-state rivalry battle on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage has now won seven matches in a row after taking a five-set affair from nationally-ranked Central Washington on Thursday and a three-set sweep from Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Junior right-side hitter Eve Stephens was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged 5.12 kills and 2.55 digs per set with a .391 hitting percentage in the two matches. Stephens matched her career-high with 26 kills to go with eight digs, four blocks and three aces against Central Washington. She came back on Saturday to finish with 15 kills, 10 digs, three blocks and a .452 hitting percentage against Northwest Nazarene. Stephens leads the GNAC and is seventh in Division II with 4.82 points per set. She is second in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 3.91 kills per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker/right-side hitter Vera Pluharova earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Week accolades after averaging 1.62 blocks and 1.75 kills per set. Against Central Washington, Pluharova finished with nine blocks and seven kills. She added four blocks and seven more kills against Northwest Nazarene. Pluharova is averaging 1.81 kills and 0.97 blocks per set and is second in the GNAC with her .351 hitting percentage.

• Alaska Anchorage leads the GNAC and is 38th in Division II with a .239 hitting percentage and is averaging 12.67 kills per set. The GNAC leader in aces, the Seawolves are 14th in Division II with 2.22 aces per set.

• With the win over CWU, Alaska Anchorage made the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll for the first time this season at No. 23. The Seawolves received votes in each of the first six polls.

• Alaska Anchorage plays one match this week, hosting Alaska for a critical in-state battle on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington dropped both legs of its Alaska road trip last week, falling in five sets at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and in four sets at Alaska on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Kaufman led the Wildcats with averages of 2.67 kills and 1.89 digs per set on the road trip. She posted a double-double of 15 kills and 11 digs at Alaska Anchorage and then finished with nine kills and six digs at Alaska. Kaufman is eighth in the GNAC with 3.08 kills per set.

• Sophomore setter/outside hitter Tia Andaya continues to impress with averages of 1.78 kills, 4.11 assists and 2.56 digs per set. Andaya fell just short of her sixth triple-double of the season on Thursday at UAA with eight kills, 18 assists and 15 digs. She added totals of eight kills, 19 assists and eight digs at UAF. Andaya is averaging 2.27 kills, 5.02 assists and 2.42 digs per set. She shares the Division II lead with five triple-doubles.

• Freshman middle blocker Emma Daoud-Hebert added 10 blocks on the week, posting four blocks at Alaska Anchorage and six at Alaska. She is thirds in the GNAC with 1.31 blocks per set as the Wildcats rank fourth in the GNAC and 15th in Division II with 2.40 blocks per set.

• Central Washington is averaging 12.25 kills and 15.19 digs per set. They rank third in the conference at 1.69 aces per set.

• Central Washington fell out of the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll after sitting at No. 25 each of the last two weeks. The Wildcats still received 23 votes.

• The Wildcats return home to Ellensburg this week to host Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• After opening the week by taking a three-set sweep from crosstown rival Rocky Mountain on Tuesday, Montana State Billings lost its only GNAC match of the week in three sets to Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Skylar Reed led the Yellowjackets with an average of 4.33 kills per set last week. She finished with 12 kills against Rocky Mountain with a .473 hitting percentage before registering 14 kills against Seattle Pacific. Reed is ninth in the GNAC with 3.55 kills per set.

• Senior right-side hitter Bayli Monck was solid all-around, finishing with averages of 3.83 kills and 3.33 digs per set. She had a double-double against Rocky Mountain with 10 kills and 13 digs and added 13 kills and seven digs against Seattle Pacific. Monck is fourth in the GNAC with 3.55 kills per set and sixth with a .292 hitting percentage.

• Sophomore setter Hannah Hashbarger averaged 10.50 assists per set as the Yellowjackets’ primary setter. She finished short of a double-double with 31 assists and eight digs against Rocky Mountain before adding 32 assists and five digs against Seattle Pacific. Hashbarger is fifth in the GNAC with 7.81 assists per set.

• Montana State Billings is averaging 11.39 kills and 14.41 digs per set. The Yellowjackets are fifth in the GNAC with 2.09 blocks per set.

• The Yellowjackets are on the road for their next two matches, traveling to Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene dropped both matches in the Last Frontier, taking three-set losses at Alaska on Thursday and at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Junior middle blocker Tayler Markland led the Nighthawks offensively with an average of 2.83 kills per set and a .571 hitting percentage. She opened the week with seven kills and two blocks at Alaska before putting together a 10-kill performance at Alaska Anchorage. Markland is averaging 1.04 kills and 0.58 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan added 2.50 kills and one dig per set in the two matches. She finished with 12 kills at Alaska and then added three kills and six digs at Alaska Anchorage. Sullivan is third in the GNAC with 3.66 kills per set and fourth with 4.06 points per set.

• Freshman defensive specialist Molly Anderson and sophomore libero Caroline McMahon each averaged three digs per set in Alaska. Both had their weekly highs against Alaska on Thursday with Anderson finishing with 12 digs and McMahon with 11. McMahon is second in the GNAC with 4.58 digs per set.

• The Nighthawks are averaging 11.57 kills per set and rank second in the GNAC with 16.89 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene returns home for a pair of matches this week, hosting Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped a pair of home matches last week, falling in three sets to Simon Fraser on Thursday and in four sets to Western Washington on Saturday.

• Senior right-side hitter Emily Gooding led Saint Martin’s with an average of 2.86 kills and two digs per set. Gooding finished with seven kills against Simon Fraser before putting together a double-double of 13 kills and 13 digs against Western Washington. Gooding is averaging 2.43 kills per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Tia Allen added averages of 2.29 kills and three digs per set. She just missed a double-double in both matches, putting together seven kills and 10 digs against Simon Fraser and nine kills and 11 digs against Western Washington. Allen is seventh in the GNAC with 3.12 kills per set and is 16th in Division II with 11.35 total attacks per set.

• Freshman Analise Hitchcock averaged seven assists per set and moved up to eighth in the GNAC with a season average of 6.22 digs per set. Hitchcock finished with 15 assists and five digs against Simon Fraser before putting up 34 assists and eight digs against Western Washington.

• Saint Martin’s is averaging 11.97 kills per set. The Saints lead the GNAC and are 25th in Division II with 17.92 digs per set. The Saints also rank 42nd in Division II with 37.90 team attacks per set.

• The Saints hit the road this week to play at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and at Central Washington on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific improved to 5-2 in GNAC play its only match of the week, a three-set sweep of Montana State Billings on Saturday in Billings.

• Senior outside hitter Erin Gould led the Falcons with 15 kills, a .636 hitting percentage, seven digs and three blocks. Gould is averaging 1.94 kills and 2.08 digs per set on the season.

• Senior outside hitter Maddie Batiste was also in fine form, finishing with 14 kills, a .385 hitting percentage, five digs and three blocks. Batiste leads the Falcons with 2.71 kills per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Hannah Hair finished with four blocks to go with six kills and a .427 hitting percentage. Hair leads the GNAC and is third in Division II with 1.45 blocks per set. Three other SPU players had three blocks as the Falcons lead the GNAC and rank fourth in Division II with 2.60 blocks per set.

• Seattle Pacific leads the GNAC and is 44th in Division II with 13.34 kills per set. The Falcons also lead the GNAC and rank 18th in Division II with 12.66 assists per set.

• Seattle Pacific heads north for its next two matches, facing Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser swept its road matches last week, beating Saint Martin’s in three sets on Thursday and Western Oregon in three sets on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Brooke Dexter led the Simon Fraser offense, averaging five kills and three digs per set. Dexter opened the trip with 12 kills, seven digs, two blocks and a .360 hitting percentage at Saint Martin’s. She added a double-double of 18 kills and 11 digs with three blocks and a .567 hitting percentage at Western Oregon. Dexter leads the GNAC and is 10th in Division II with 4.27 kills per set. and ranks ninth in Division II with 4.77 points per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Jocelyn Sherman averaged 2.50 kills and 2.83 digs per set in the wins. She was consistent in both matches, finishing with seven kills and eight digs at Saint Martin’s along with eight kills and nine digs at Western Oregon. Sherman is averaging 1.97 kills per set in 57 sets played.

• Sophomore middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann also averaged 2.50 kills per set to go with 1.17 blocks per set. She finished with seven kills and three blocks at Saint Martin’s and added eight kills and four blocks at Western Oregon. Hartmann is SFU’s leading blocker with 0.79 blocks per set.

• Simon Fraser is second in the GNAC and 48th in Division II with 13.25 kills per set while also ranking second in the conference and 41st in Division II with 12.29 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser received votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll for the third consecutive week. The team has either received votes or been ranked in six of seven polls this season.

• Simon Fraser will be at home to face Montana State Billings on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon took a pair of losses on its return to Monmouth, falling in four sets to Western Washington on Thursday and in three sets to Simon Fraser on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Isabel Hurliman paced the Wolves once again with averages of three kills and 2.71 digs per set. Against Western Washington, Hurliman notched her sixth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 11 digs. She then added eight kills and eight digs against Simon Fraser. Hurliman is 10th in the GNAC with 2.95 kills per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Bailee Hartsook added averages of 2.86 kills and 1.57 digs per set. She finished with 10 kills, three digs and two blocks against Western Washington before tallying 10 kills and eight digs against Simon Fraser. Hartsook is averaging 2.92 kills per set.

• Freshman setter Laney O’Neil averaged 4.29 assists and 3.43 digs per set. Playing in a two-setter system, O’Neil had a double-double of 17 assists and 17 digs against Western Washington and then notched 13 assists and seven digs against Simon Fraser. O’Neil has played in 10 matches this season, starting four, with averages of 5.35 assists and 2.19 digs per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.73 kills and 14.25 digs per set.

• The Wolves are on the road for the next three matches, starting with Central Washington on Thursday and at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington improved to 5-1 in conference play with a pair of road wins, scoring four-set wins at Western Oregon on Thursday and at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn led the Vikings with averages of 3.25 kills, 3.88 digs and 0.75 blocks per set. She posted double-doubles in both matches, connecting for 13 kills, 16 digs and three blocks against Western Oregon before coming up with 13 kills, 15 digs and three blocks at Saint Martin’s. Heilborn leads the Vikings and is sixth in the GNAC with 3.16 kills and 4.05 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman also had a stout stat line with 3.12 kills and 2.75 digs per set. She opened the road trip with a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs with two aces at Western Oregon. She then added nine kills and 12 digs at Saint Martin’s. Gunterman is averaging 2.87 kills per set and is ninth in the GNAC with 3.45 points per set.

• Sophomore libero Kasey Woodruff averaged 5.50 digs per set in the two matches. She led the Vikings with 21 digs at Western Oregon and added 23 digs with two assists at Saint Martin’s. Woodruff is eighth in the GNAC with 3.82 digs per set.

• Western Washington is averaging 12.60 kills and 15.85 digs per set. The Vikings are second in the GNAC and fifth in Division II with 2.55 blocks per set and rank 24th with 140.5 total team blocks.

• Western Washington climbed one spot to No. 20 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll. It is the 115th consecutive week that WWU has appeared in the top 25.

• The Vikings return home this week and welcome Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.