Wednesday, November 3, 2021

KEY ROAD TRIP PUTS VIKINGS IN CONTROL: The two-game road trip to Alaska is usually one of the more daunting moments on any GNAC volleyball team’s schedule. For Western Washington, it was simply the final checked box to extend a 10-match winning streak that has vaulted the Vikings to the top of the GNAC.

They beat Alaska on Thursday, dispatching a resilient Nanooks team in five sets before topping arch-rivals Alaska Anchorage in three sets at the Alaska Airlines Center, extending their lead in the GNAC standings to two games over the Seawolves. For the two wins in the 49th state that established them as the team to beat in the conference, the Vikings were named the GNAC Team of the Week.

“I am proud of my team for their focus, energy and preparation during these tough two road matches,” head coach Diane Flick-Williams said. “The GNAC can be a gauntlet when you take a road trip, but we remained focused and gained two very big wins against good opponents.”

The Vikings were helped by two Player of the Week performances from their outside hitters. Junior Gabby Gunterman won the offensive honors after averaging 4.75 kills and four digs per set. Sophomore Calley Heilborn won her third Defensive Player of the Week award of the season with a well-rounded stat line of 5.25 digs and 4.38 kills per set.

KEEPING PACE: Alaska Anchorage and Simon Fraser have big weeks ahead to try and keep pace with the Vikings in the chase for the GNAC championship.

The Seawolves hope that the road will be a kinder place than the Alaska Airlines Center was last week. They travel to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday. On Monday, Alaska Anchorage will meet Western Washington for the second time in nine days in Bellingham. The match is the make-up of one that was postponed in September for health and safety protocols. Alaska Anchorage sits in second place in the GNAC at 9-3.

Simon Fraser will be at home to face Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday. Simon Fraser is one game behind UAA in third place at 9-4.

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
Gabby Gunterman, Western Washington
OH • 5-10 • Junior • Lake Stevens, Wash.

Gunterman averaged 4.75 kills, four digs and 0.75 blocks per set as Western Washington won both matches in Alaska. Gunterman finished with a double-double of 22 kills and 22 digs with three blocks in the Vikings’ five-set win at Alaska on Thursday. She led the Vikings with 16 kills, 10 digs and three blocks in Saturday’s three-set sweep at Alaska Anchorage.

Also Nominated: Lahra Weber (Alaska), Bayli Monck (Montana State Billings), Tia Allen (Saint Martin’s), Brooke Dexter (Simon Fraser), Isabel Hurliman (Western Oregon).

DEFENSIVE
Calley Heilborn, Western Washington
OH • 6-1 • Sophomore • Auburn, Wash.

Heilborn provided 5.25 digs and 4.38 kills per set in Western Washington road wins in Alaska. She led the Vikings with a double-double of 22 digs, 26 kills, two aces and three blocks in Thursday’s five-set win at Alaska. She then came up with 20 digs, nine kills and a block in Saturday’s three-set sweep at Alaska Anchorage.

Also Nominated: Sophie Schilling (Alaska), Christine Funk (Montana State Billings), Jennifer Soha (Saint Martin’s), Bianca Te (Simon Fraser), Sophie Matlock (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska split a pair of home matches last week, dropping a five-set battle to Western Washington on Thursday before taking a four-set win from Simon Fraser on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Lahra Weber led the Nanooks once again, averaging 3.22 kills and 2.56 digs per set in the two matches. Weber fell just short of a double-double with 15 kills and nine digs against Western Washington. She got the double-double against Simon Fraser with 14 kills, 14 digs, three assists and two blocks. Weber is averaging 2.28 kills and 2.19 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter AveRee Reynolds averaged 2.67 kills and 0.78 blocks per set. Reynolds opened the week with 10 kills and two blocks against Western Washington and added totals of 14 kills, six digs and five blocks against Simon Fraser. Reynolds enters the week averaging 2.61 kills and 0.94 blocks per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Sophie Schilling came up with 2.11 kills and 1.44 blocks per set. After finishing with nine kills and five blocks against Western Washington, Schilling came close to a double-double with 10 kills and eight blocks against Simon Fraser. Schilling is eighth in the GNAC with 1.06 blocks per set and is 14th in Division II with 101 total blocks.

• Alaska is averaging 12.59 kills per set. The team ranks third in the GNAC with 16.23 digs per set and second with a .158 opponent hitting percentage. The Nanooks are fourth in the GNAC and 12th in Division II with 2.46 blocks per set and are third with 238.5 total blocks.

• The Nanooks take their final road trip of the season this week, traveling to Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage took rare back-to-back losses in the Alaska Airlines Center last week, falling in four sets to Simon Fraser on Thursday and in three sets to Western Washington on Saturday.

• Junior right-side hitter Eve Stephens led the Seawolves with averages of 2.57 kills and 2.14 digs per set. Stephens opened the week with 10 kills, 10 digs and two blocks against Simon Fraser. She then added eight kills and five digs against Western Washington. Stephens is second in the GNAC with 4.62 points per set and third with 3.81 kills per set. She ranks 29th in Division II in kills per set.

• Freshman outside hitter/middle blocker Mahala Kaapuni averaged 2.29 kills per set. She finished with seven kills, three digs and two blocks against Simon Fraser and added nine kills, six digs and a block against Western Washington. Kaapuni has played in all 24 matches as a freshman, averaging 2.11 kills per set.

• Junior setter Ellen Floyd averaged 9.14 assists, 3.29 digs and 0.71 blocks per set. Floyd finished with 30 assists, eight digs, three kills and five blocks against Simon Fraser. She then added a double-double of 34 assists, 15 digs and three kills against Western Washington. Floyd is third in the GNAC with 10.07 assists per set.

• Alaska Anchorage is second in the GNAC with a .224 hitting percentage and leads the conference with a .152 opponent hitting percentage. The Seawolves are averaging 12.71 kills and 14.74 digs per set. They lead the GNAC and are 19th in Division II with 2.11 aces per set.

• Despite the losses, Alaska Anchorage is still among the teams receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll with 26 points.

• Alaska Anchorage plays its final road matches of the regular season this week, traveling to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday. The Seawolves will then play on Monday at Western Washington in the make-up of a match postponed in September.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington was a winner in its only match of the week, a four-set victory at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Kaufman led CWU in the victory with 13 kills and seven digs. Kaufman is ninth in the GNAC with 2.96 kills per set.

• Sophomore setter/outside hitter Tia Andaya just missed her sixth triple-double of the season, finishing with 24 assists, 10 digs, nine digs, five blocks and three aces. Andaya is averaging 2.13 kills, 5.04 assists and 2.35 digs per set and ranks 10th in the GNAC with 0.32 aces per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Emma Daoud-Hebert contributed 12 kills and three blocks with a .556 hitting percentage off the bench. She leads the GNAC with 1.40 blocks per set.

• Central Washington is averaging 12.13 kills and 15.06 digs per set. The Wildcats are third in the GNAC and eighth in Division II with 2.51 blocks per set.

• Central Washington returns home this week to host Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings went 2-1 last week. After opening with a three-set non-conference win over Rocky Mountain, the Yellowjackets took a four-set loss at Saint Martin’s on Thursday before collecting a four-set win at Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Senior right-side hitter Bayli Monck averaged 4.09 kills, 3.73 digs and 0.64 blocks per set over the three matches. She had double-doubles in each match, topped by 13 kills, 12 digs and three blocks at Rocky Mountain and 21 kills and 16 digs at Western Oregon. Monck is fourth in the GNAC with 3.54 kills and 4.04 points per set.

• Junior outside hitter Skylar Reed averaged 3.18 kills per set over the three road matches. Her best performances came in the two GNAC matches, registering 15 kills at Saint Martin’s along with 12 kills and eight digs at Western Oregon. Reed is averaging 2.84 kills per set.

• Sophomore setter Hannah Hashbarger averaged 8.60 assists per set last week. Her ledger included 36 assists at Rocky Mountain along with a double-double of 40 assists and 12 digs at Western Oregon. Hashbarger is sixth in the GNAC with 8.01 assists per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.42 kills and 15.27 digs per set.

• The Yellowjackets will play just one match this week, traveling to Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• After scoring a four-set non-conference win over Westminster (Utah) on Wednesday, Northwest Nazarene took a four-set loss to Central Washington on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan led the Nighthawks with averages of 4.75 kills and 2.75 digs per set. Sullivan led NNU with 23 kills and 17 digs against Westminster before contributing 15 kills and five digs against Central Washington. Sullivan is second in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 3.88 kills per set.

• Junior middle blocker Tayler Markland averaged 2.12 kills and 0.75 blocks per set over the two matches, finishing with eight kills against Westminster and nine kills and five blocks against Central Washington. Markland is averaging 1.35 kills and 0.54 blocks per set.

• Freshman defensive specialist Molly Anderson continues to impress, averaging 3.75 digs and 1.62 kills per set. Anderson had 19 digs, seven kills, three assists and two aces against Westminster before adding 11 digs and six kills against Central Washington. Anderson has played in 15 matches with 11 starts, averaging 1.90 kills and 3.20 digs per set.

• The Nighthawks enter the week averaging 11.95 kills per set and rank second in the conference with 17.22 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene will host the Alaska schools this week, facing Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s split a pair of home matches last week, taking a four-set victory from Montana State Billings on Thursday before seeing a three-match win streak end with a three-set loss to Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Tia Allen led the Saints with averages of 2.86 kills and 1.57 digs per set. Allen finished with 14 kills and six digs in the win over Montana State Billings and then managed six kills, five digs and three blocks against Seattle Pacific. Allen is eighth in the GNAC with 3.04 kills and 3.56 points per set.

• Senior right-side hitter Emily Gooding averaged 1.86 kills and 1.86 digs per set. Gooding finished with eight kills, seven digs and a block in the win over MSUB and added five kills, six digs and a block against Seattle Pacific. Gooding is averaging 2.58 kills per set.

• Freshman setter Analise Hitchcock averaged 3.57 digs per set in the two matches. Hitchcock opened with 27 assists. 17 digs, a kill, an ace and two blocks against Montana State Billings. She added 14 assists and eight digs against Seattle Pacific. Hitchcock is seventh in the GNAC with 6.77 assists per set.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 11.88 kills per set while leading the conference and ranking 42nd in Division II with 17.77 digs per set. The Saints are 47th in Division II with 37.80 team attacks per set.

• The Saints take to the road for a pair of matches this week, traveling to Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific came off its sweep of the Alaska schools with a split, taking a three-set loss at Western Oregon on Thursday before collecting a three-set win at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Sophomore middle blocker Hannah Hair led the Falcons with her averages of 2.83 kills and 1.17 blocks per set. Hair recorded with nine kills, four blocks and a .450 hitting percentage at Western Oregon. She then posted eight kills and three blocks at Saint Martin’s. Hair is second in the GNAC and fifth in Division II with 1.35 blocks per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Sydney Perry also averaged 2.83 kills per set in the two matches. Perry opened with seven kills at Western Oregon before adding totals of 10 kills and three blocks at Saint Martin’s. Perry has played in 19 matches this season and started nine. She is averaging 1.95 kills per set.

• Freshman setter Emily Tulino averaged 6.50 assists per set as the starter in the Falcons’ two-setter system. Her week was topped by a 22-assist effort at Saint Martin’s. Junior Lindsey Lambert averaged 5.17 assists per set, almost evenly split between 15 at Western Oregon and 16 at Saint Martin’s. Tulino ranks eighth in the GNAC with 6.63 assists per set.

• Seattle Pacific ranks third in the GNAC with 13.08 kills per set and is second in the GNAC with 12.46 assists per set. The Falcons are second in the GNAC and sixth in Division II with 2.61 blocks per set.

• The Falcons play their next three matches in Royal Brougham Pavilion, beginning with a match on Saturday against Montana State Billings.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser procured a split in Alaska last week, beating Alaska Anchorage in four sets on Thursday before taking a four-set loss at Alaska on Saturday.

• Freshman opposite Brooke Dexter averaged 3.75 kills, 0.75 aces, 1.75 digs and 0.62 blocks per set on the road trip. Dexter finished with 10 kills, five digs and five aces at Alaska Anchorage. She then led SFU with 20 kills, nine digs, five blocks and a .410 hitting percentage at Alaska. Dexter leads the GNAC and is 13th in Division II with 4.11 kills per set. She also leads the conference and is 14th in Division II with 4.67 points per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann finished with averages of three kills and 1.25 blocks per set. She led SFU at Alaska Anchorage with 16 kills, seven digs, six blocks, two aces and a .355 hitting percentage. Hartmann then added totals of eight kills and four blocks at Alaska. Hartmann enters the week averaging 2.13 kills and 0.96 blocks per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Camryn Vosloh added averages of 2.50 kills, 4.62 digs and 0.88 blocks per set. She posted double-doubles in each match, finishing with 10 kills, 23 digs and two blocks at Alaska Anchorage before compiling 10 kills, 14 digs and five blocks at Alaska. Vosloh is averaging 2.82 kills and 2.48 digs per set.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is 37th in Division II with 13.44 kills per set. Simon Fraser also leads the GNAC with 12.51 assists per set and sits third with a .220 hitting percentage.

• Simon Fraser received 43 votes in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll to rank second among teams receiving votes.

• Simon Fraser plays its final home matches of the season this week, hosting Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon snapped a 13-match losing streak in exciting fashion Thursday, knocking off Seattle Pacific in three sets. The Wolves closed the week with a four-set loss to Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Isabel Hurliman paced Western Oregon with averages of 3.29 kills and four digs per set with a .306 hitting percentage. She led the Wolves in the win over SPU with nine kills, 11 digs and a .300 hitting percentage. Hurliman added a double-double of 14 kills and 17 digs against Montana State Billings. Hurliman is seventh in the GNAC with 3.03 kills per set.

• Sophomore Lauren Smith posted averages of 2.29 kills and 0.71 blocks per set. Smith finished with five kills and a block against Seattle Pacific before adding 11 kills and four blocks against Montana State Billings. Smith enters the week averaging 1.71 kills per set.

• Freshman setter Laney O’Neil averaged 6.57 assists per set in the two matches. She finished with a double-double of 18 assists and 10 digs against Seattle Pacific before providing 28 assists and eight digs against Montana State Billings. O’Neil is 10th in the GNAC with 5.16 assists per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.90 kills and 14.93 digs per set.

• The Wolves are on the road for their next two matches, playing at Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington made it 10 wins in a row with a rare sweep of the Alaska road trip, beating Alaska in five sets on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage in three sets on Saturday.

• For its successful road trip to take sole possession of first place in the conference, Western Washington was selected as the GNAC Team of the Week.

• Junior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged 4.75 kills, four digs and 0.75 blocks per set on the trip. Gunterman opened with a double-double of 22 kills and 22 digs with three blocks, an assist and an ace at Alaska. She then tallied totals of 16 kills, 10 digs, three blocks, an assist and an ace at Alaska Anchorage. Gunterman is sixth in the GNAC with 3.03 kills and 3.77 points per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after she averaged 5.25 digs, 0.50 blocks and 4.38 kills per set. Heilborn led the Vikings with a double-double of 26 kills and 22 digs with three blocks, three assists and two aces at Alaska. She added nine kills, 20 digs, a block and two assists at Alaska Anchorage. Heilborn is fifth in the GNAC with 3.29 kills, 3.91 points and 4.20 digs per set.

• Western Washington is second in the GNAC with 13.11 kills per set. The Vikings lead the conference and rank 39th in Division II with a .236 hitting percentage. They also lead the GNAC and rank fourth nationally at 2.63 blocks per set.

• Western Washington moved up one spot to No. 18 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll. It is the 118th consecutive week that WWU has appeared in the top 25.

• The Vikings close the home regular-season schedule with matches against Saint Martin’s on Thursday, Western Oregon on Saturday and Alaska Anchorage on Monday.