Wednesday, October 27, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – Two of the top performers for their teams and among six four-time honorees, Alaska senior outside hitter Lahra Weber and Saint Martin’s senior right-side hitter Emily Gooding lead a record 107 selections to the 2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team, presented by Barnes & Noble College.

Weber, who carries a 3.95 GPA as a chemistry major, has been a key contributor for the Nanooks her entire career. In 23 matches and 77 sets this season, Weber is averaging 2.17 kills and 2.14 digs per set. Gooding, who has a 3.95 GPA as a business administration major, is averaging 2.64 kills per set in 20 matches and 73 sets as she has moved into a full-time starting role this season.

Weber and Gooding lead a total of 52 repeat selections to the Volleyball All-Academic Team and six four-time honorees. Also on the four-time list are Alaska seniors Emily Moorhead and Cate Whiting, Alaska Anchorage senior Vera Pluharova and Simon Fraser senior Bianca Te. The repeat honoree list includes 19 three-time selections.

The team includes 10 student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA and 33 student-athletes with a 3.9 GPA or higher. Those with a 4.0 GPA include Alaska senior Colleen File and freshman Rilee White, Central Washington sophomore Laynie Erickson, freshman Rachel Lambrecht and freshman Kylie Thorne; Montana State Billings sophomores Hannah Hashbarger and Marissa Logozzo, Northwest Nazarene freshman Sarah Lyons, and Western Oregon freshmen Bella Maclellan and Emily Olson.

Central Washington and Seattle Pacific lead all conference programs with 14 selections apiece. Alaska, Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin’s had 12 selections apiece.

To qualify for the GNAC All-Academic Teams, presented by Barnes & Noble College, nominees must be of sophomore eligibility or greater, have a minimum cumulative GPA or 3.20 or greater, be a letterwinner on their team and must be in their second year at the nominating institution.

Thanks to eligibility waivers provided by the NCAA due to the cancellation of the 2020 season, players who continue to hold freshman eligibility but are in their second season of competition at the nominating institution were eligible for selection to the GNAC All-Academic Team.