Wednesday, November 10, 2021

THE TITLE IS ALMOST IN HAND: Western Washington has won the last three GNAC championships and was picked to win it again in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Vikings now stand one win away from making it four in a row.

After a challenging non-conference schedule that included four matches against nationally-ranked teams, Western Washington has been its usual unstoppable self. The Vikings are 14-1 in conference play. Since a four-set loss to Central Washington on September 23, WWU has won 13 matches in a row.

As the conference schedule has progressed, the Vikings have become more efficient. Western had only three three-set matches in its first 13 matches, going 1-2 in those. Since October 14, seven of the team’s nine victories have come in the minimum number of sets.

Western Washington leads the conference and ranks third in Division II with 2.67 blocks per set and also leads the GNAC with a .235 hitting percentage, which is 36th nationally. The Vikings are also among the national leaders in assists per set (12.42, 32nd) and kills per set (13.27, 43rd).

REGIONAL RANKINGS: As has been the trend in recent years, the GNAC was well represented in the first NCAA West Region Rankings, released last Wednesday.

Western Washington leads the way at No. 2 while second-place Simon Fraser is No. 3. Alaska Anchorage sat at No. 5 and Central Washington is No. 7.

The regional rankings will ultimately determine which teams will make the field for the NCAA Division II Championships. The next poll is scheduled for released Wednesday afternoon. The field will be announced via a selection show on NCAA.com on Monday, November 22.

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
Julia Tays, Simon Fraser
S • 5-10 • Senior • Winnipeg, Man.

Tays averaged 11.62 assists, 2.25 digs and one service ace per set as Simon Fraser moved into second place in the GNAC standings. Tays registered a double-double of 46 assists and 10 digs with an ace in Thursday’s four-set win over Western Oregon. On Saturday, Tays was close to a triple-double with totals of 47 assists, seven aces and eight digs in the four-set win over Saint Martin’s.

Also Nominated: Cate Whiting (Alaska), Ashley Kaufman (Central Washington), Emily Gooding (Saint Martin’s), Lauren Smith (Western Oregon), Chloe Roetcisoender (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Leanna Shymanski, Central Washington
MB • 6-0 • Senior • Kennewick, Wash.

Shymanski averaged two blocks per set to go with 2.17 kills per set and a .688 hitting percentage to help lead the Wildcats to a sweep of the Alaska schools at home. Shymanski finished with seven blocks and seven kills in Thursday’s three-set win over Alaska. She then finished with five blocks and six kills in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Alaska Anchorage.

Also Nominated: Sophie Schilling (Alaska), Caroline McMahon (Northwest Nazarene), Kylie Alos (Saint Martin’s), Bianca Te (Simon Fraser), Aubrey Stanton (Western Oregon), Kasey Woodruff (Western Washington).

ALASKA
• Alaska procured a split on its final road trip of the season, dropping a three-set match at Central Washington on Thursday before winning in three sets at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Sophomore middle blocker Sophie Schilling led the Nanooks, averaging 3.33 kills and 1.50 blocks per set. Schilling finished with seven kills, two blocks and a .353 hitting percentage at Central Washington. She led Alaska with 13 kills, seven blocks and a .429 hitting percentage at NNU. Schilling is averaging 2.17 kills per set and is eighth in the GNAC with 1.09 blocks per set. She is 16th in Division II with 110 total blocks.

• Senior outside hitter AveRee Reynolds finished with 2.50 kills per set. She posted totals of 10 kills and a block at Central Washington and then finished with five kills and two blocks at Northwest Nazarene. Reynolds is averaging 2.61 kills and 0.91 blocks per set.

• Senior setter Cate Whiting finished with an average of 10.17 assists and 3.83 digs per set on the road trip. Whiting finished with 27 assists, eight digs and four kills at Central Washington. She then had a double-double of 34 assists and 15 digs with two kills and a block at Northwest Nazarene. Whiting is fourth in the GNAC with 9.49 assists per set and is 18th in Division II with 977 total assists.

• Alaska is averaging 12.59 kills per set. The team ranks third in the GNAC with a .161 opponent hitting percentage. The Nanooks are fourth in the GNAC and 10th in Division II with 2.47 blocks per set and are fourth with 254.5 total blocks.

• The Nanooks close the regular season with a three-match homestand, which begins Saturday when they host Alaska Anchorage.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage went 1-2 on its recent road trip. The Seawolves won in four sets at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday before taking a three-set loss at Central Washington on Saturday and a four-set loss at Western Washington on Monday.

• Junior right-side hitter Eve Stephens paced UAA with averages of 4.27 kills, 3.09 digs and one block per set in the three matches. Stephens led the Seawolves with 20 kills, 16 digs and three blocks at Northwest Nazarene. She closed the trip out with another double-double of 18 kills and 16 digs with four blocks at Western Washington. Stephens is second in the GNAC and 23rd in Division II with 3.86 kills per set. She is also second in the GNAC and 13th in Division II with 4.64 points per set.

• Junior middle blocker Akor Maywin averaged 1.55 kills and 1.36 blocks per set. Maywin finished with four kills and four blocks at Northwest Nazarene and four blocks at Central Washington before coming alive for 11 kills, seven blocks and a .348 hitting percentage at Western Washington. For the season, Maywin is averaging 1.30 kills and 0.93 blocks per set.

• Junior setter Ellen Floyd averaged 9.14 assists and 3.73 digs per set, leading UAA in both categories on the road trip. Floyd had two double-doubles, finishing with 39 assists and 18 digs with seven kills at Northwest Nazarene and 49 assists, 21 digs and five blocks at Western Washington. Floyd is third in the GNAC with 10.04 assists per set.

• Alaska Anchorage is averaging 12.67 kills per set. The Seawolves lead the GNAC with a .156 opponent hitting percentage. They also lead the conference and rank 26th in Division II with 2.04 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage is still among the teams receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll with 15 points and was No. 5 in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Alaska Anchorage plays at Alaska on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington finished with a sweep of the Alaska schools at home last week, scoring three-set wins over Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Senior middle blocker Leanna Shymanski was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after she finished with 12 blocks and 13 kills in the two wins. Shymanski registered seven blocks and seven kills against Alaska and then came up with four blocks and six kills against Alaska Anchorage. She also finished with a .288 hitting percentage with two errors in 16 attempts. Shymanski is fifth in the GNAC and 20th in Division II with 1.16 blocks per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Kaufman paced the offense with 3.50 kills per set. Kaufman opened with nine kills and six digs against Alaska. She then led the Wildcats with 12 kills and four digs against Alaska Anchorage. Kaufman is seventh in the GNAC with three kills per set and ninth with 3.37 points per set.

• Sophomore setter Tia Andaya averaged 2.67 kills, 5.17 assists and 1.33 digs per set. She finished with a solid 10 kills, 17 assists, three digs and two blocks against Alaska before tallying six kills, 14 assists, five digs and three blocks against Alaska Anchorage. Andaya is averaging 2.18 kills, 5.50 assists, 2.27 digs and 0.64 blocks per set. She is tied for third in Division II with five triple-doubles.

• Central Washington is averaging 12.26 kills and 14.62 digs per set and is second in the GNAC with 1.73 aces per set. The Wildcats are third in the conference and sixth in Division II with 2.53 blocks per set.

• The Wildcats received votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll for the first time in three weeks with seven points. They were No. 7 in the first NCAA West Region Rankings, released last Wednesday.

• Central Washington takes its final road trip of the regular season this week, playing at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and at Western Oregon on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings took the loss in its only match of the week, falling in four sets at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Senior right-side hitter Bayli Monck led the Yellowjackets with 10 kills, 12 digs and four blocks. Monck is fourth in the GNAC with 3.49 kills and four points per set while also averaging 2.62 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Skylar Reed also finished with 10 kills to go with eight digs and three aces. She enters the week averaging 2.82 kills and 1.31 digs per set.

• Sophomore setter Hannah Hashbarger joined Monck in double-double territory with 29 assists and 12 digs. Hashbarger ranks sixth in the GNAC with 7.98 assists per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.39 kills and 15.12 digs per set.

• The Yellowjackets wrap up the home portion of their schedule this week, hosting Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene dropped a pair of matches to the Alaska schools last week, falling in four sets to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and in three sets to Alaska on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan had another solid week, averaging 3.43 kills and 3.71 digs per set. Against Alaska Anchorage, Sullivan finished with a double-double of 10 kills and 18 digs with an ace. Against Alaska, she turned in totals of 14 kills, eight digs. one block and one ace. Sullivan is third in the GNAC with 3.84 kills per set and is seventh in Division II with 11.83 attacks per set.

• Junior middle blocker Tayler Markland finished with an average of three kills per set. She opened the week with 12 kills, two blocks and a .385 hitting percentage against Alaska Anchorage. Markland added nine kills, a block, two digs and a .368 hitting percentage against Alaska. Markland is averaging 1.49 kills per set.

• Junior middle blocker Anna Gable averaged 2.17 kills and 1.67 blocks per set. Her best effort came against Alaska Anchorage, finishing just short of a double-double with 11 kills and eight blocks. Gable enters the week averaging 1.71 kills and 0.81 blocks per set.

• The Nighthawks enter the week averaging 11.88 kills per set and rank second in the conference and 45th in Division II with 17.57 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene takes its last road trip of the season this week, traveling to Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped both matches on its trip to the 49th parallel last week, losing in three sets at Western Washington on Thursday and in four sets at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

• Senior right-side hitter Emily Gooding led the Saints with averages of 2.71 kills and 2.86 digs per set. Gooding opened with 11 kills and six digs at Western Washington before tallying eight kills and 14 digs at Simon Fraser. Gooding is averaging 2.62 kills and 1.31 digs per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Tia Allen averaged 2.43 kills per set. Allen came up with nine kills, four digs and two blocks at Western Washington. She then finished with eight kills, three digs and one block at Simon Fraser. Allen is ninth in the GNAC and leads SMU with an average of 2.95 kills per set.

• Freshman setter Analise Hitchcock and sophomore defensive specialist Giselle Benetti each averaged 2.43 digs per set. Hitchcock also averaged 9.71 assists per set and had a double-double of 39 assists and 12 digs at Simon Fraser. Benetti finished with a high of nine digs at Western Washington. Hitchcock is ranked seventh in the GNAC with 7.09 assists per set.

• Saint Martin’s is averaging 11.77 kills and 16.06 digs per set. The Saints lead the GNAC and rank 41st in Division II with 17.67 digs per set and also rank 41st nationally with 37.73 team attacks per set.

• The Saints are back at home for the last time this season, hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific has won four of its last five matches after posting a four-set win over Montana State Billings in its lone match of the week on Saturday.

• Sophomore middle blocker Hannah Hair led SPU to the victory with 14 kills and five blocks. Hair is averaging 2.51 kills per set. She is second in the GNAC and seventh in Division II with 1.35 blocks per set.

• Senior outside hitter Maddie Batiste added 10 kills, four digs and four blocks with a .292 hitting percentage. Batiste leads the Falcons with 2.70 kills per set.

• Freshman setter Emily Tulino added totals of 22 assists, three aces and three digs. She continues to rank eighth in the GNAC with 6.57 assists per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Lindsay Rosenthal led all players in the match with 18 digs. She enters the week averaging 2.10 digs per set.

• Seattle Pacific ranks third in the GNAC with 13.08 kills per set. The Falcons rank second in the GNAC and fourth in Division II with 2.65 blocks per set. They also rank second in the conference and 31st nationally with 12.43 assists per set.

• The Falcons closes the home portion of the schedule this week, hosting Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser has won nine of its last 10 matches after notching four-set wins over Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Senior setter Julia Tays was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 11.62 assists, 2.25 digs and an ace per set in the victories. Tays finished with a double-double of 46 assists and 10 digs to go with two kills and an ace against Western Oregon. She then came up with 47 assists, eight digs, seven aces, two kills and a block against Saint Martin’s. Tays leads the GNAC and is 12th in Division II with 11.05 assists per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Brooke Dexter averaged 4.25 kills and 1.25 digs per set over the two matches. Dexter led all players with 15 kills to go with seven digs and two blocks against Western Oregon. She led SFU once again with 19 kills along with five digs, three blocks and an ace against Saint Martin’s. Dexter leads the GNAC and is 12th in Division II with 4.12 kills per set. She also leads the conference and ranks 12th in Division II with 4.69 points per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann added three kills and 1.38 blocks per set. Against Western Oregon, Hartmann finished with 10 kills, five blocks and a .562 hitting percentage. She then tallied 14 kills and six blocks against Saint Martin’s. Hartmann is averaging 2.22 kills and one block per set.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is 33rd in Division II with 13.47 kills per set. Simon Fraser also leads the GNAC and ranks 29th in Division II with 12.49 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser received 52 votes in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll to rank first among teams receiving votes. The team was ranked No. 3 in last week’s NCAA West Region Rankings.

• Simon Fraser closes the regular season with three matches on the road. The team travels to Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon dropped both matches on the northern road swing last week, falling in four sets to Simon Fraser on Thursday and in three sets to Western Washington on Saturday.

• Sophomore Lauren Smith led the Wolves with 2.57 kills per set. She finished with 12 kills, three digs, two assists and a block at Simon Fraser. Smith then added six kills and two digs at Western Washington. Smith enters the week averaging 1.79 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Isabel Hurliman averaged 2.29 kills and 1.86 digs per set. Hurliman opened with nine kills, seven digs, three assists and an ace at Simon Fraser. She then finished with seven kills, six digs and three blocks at Western Washington. Hurliman is eighth in the GNAC with 2.96 kills per set and seventh with 3.50 points per set.

• Freshman defensive specialist Sophie Matlock led the Wolves with 3.14 digs per set, finishing with 13 digs and five assists at Simon Fraser before coming up with nine digs and five assists at Western Washington. Matlock is ninth in the GNAC with four digs per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.88 kills and 14.94 digs per set.

• The Wolves close the home schedule this week, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington has now won 13 straight and is 11-0 at home. The Vikings scored three-set sweeps over Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday. They clinched a share of the conference title on Monday with a four-set win over Alaska Anchorage.

• Sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn averaged 3.20 kills and four digs per set to lead the Vikings. Heilborn delivered double-doubles of 10 kills and 10 digs against Saint Martin’s and 10 kills and 12 digs against Western Oregon. She finished up with 12 kills, 18 digs and four blocks against Alaska Anchorage. Heilborn is fifth in the GNAC with 3.28 kills and 3.89 points per set.

• Junior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman averaged three kills and 4.20 digs per set in the three victories. She had a double-double of 10 kills and 13 digs against Saint Martin’s and closed the string with 13 kills and 21 digs against Alaska Anchorage. Gunterman is sixth in the GNAC with 3.12 kills and 3.77 points per set.

• Sophomore setter Malia Aleaga finished with 11.60 assists and 2.40 digs per set. Aleaga had a double-double of 33 assists and 12 digs against Saint Martin’s. She added 39 assists against Western Oregon and notched 44 assists and seven digs against UAA. Aleaga is second in the GNAC and 19th in Division II with 10.64 assists per set.

• Western Washington leads the GNAC and is 36th in Division II with a .235 hitting percentage. The Vikings lead the conference and is third in Division II with 2.67 blocks per set.

• Western Washington moved up to No. 16 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll and is No. 2 in the first NCAA West Region Rankings.

• The Vikings hit the road to face Montana State Billings on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.