Tuesday, November 8, 2022

SEAWOLVES AIM FOR TITLE, FOUR TEAMS AIM FOR POSTSEASON: Entering the final week of the regular season, the GNAC championship is Alaska Anchorage’s for the taking.

The Seawolves closed out their 2022 home schedule with an exclamation mark, beating Central Washington in three sets on Saturday in front of a crowd of 3,888 fans that set the Division II regular-season attendance record. The crowd eclipsed the previous record of 3,520 fans that saw Nebraska-Kearney host Omaha on Oct. 15, 1996. If you include postseason matches, it was the fourth-largest crowd in Division II history.

With the win, Alaska Anchorage closed the regular season with a 13-0 mark at the Alaska Airlines Center. More importantly, the wins give UAA a chance to secure its first GNAC championship since 2016 as it hits the road this week to face Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday. The Seawolves enter the week with a 25-2 overall record and a 15-1 conference mark.

Defending champion Western Washington, however, hopes to make its case for at least a share of the title. Currently in second place at 14-2 (19-5), an Alaska Anchorage loss opens the door for the Vikings to claim at least a share of a fifth consecutive GNAC championship.

The Vikings are also on the road this week, traveling to Montana State Billings on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington were ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in last week’s Division II West Region Rankings, which ultimately determine the eight teams that will make the regional tournament.

At least two other GNAC teams are vying for strong finishes to make their case for at-large berths for the Division II Championships. Central Washington was ranked No. 6 in last week’s West Region Rankings while Northwest Nazarene was ranked No. 8. The Wildcats and Nighthawks will square off in Ellensburg on Saturday in both team’s final match of the year.

Central Washington has won three of its last five matches, with the losses coming to UAA and WWU. Northwest Nazarene is looking to stop a four-match losing streak. The Nighthawks swept the Wildcats in the team’s first meeting of the season back on Sept. 10.

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

Stephens averaged 6.14 kills, 4.71 digs, 1.14 blocks and 7.14 points per set as the Seawolves closed the home regular-season schedule undefeated. Stephens posted a double-double of 22 kills and 20 digs with two assists and two blocks in Thursday’s four-set victory over Northwest Nazarene. She then turned in a 21-kill, 13-dig performance in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Central Washington, which also included six blocks, two aces and an assist.

Also Nominated: Elizabeth Jackson (Alaska), Olivia Wright (Northwest Nazarene), Jocelyn Sherman (Simon Fraser), Bailey Hartsook (Western Oregon), Calley Heilborn (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Ellen Floyd, Alaska Anchorage
S • 5-10 • Senior • Pensacola, Fla.

Floyd averaged 5.57 digs, 9.71 assists, 0.86 kills, 0.57 blocks and 0.43 aces per set in two home victories for Alaska Anchorage. She opened the week with totals of 15 digs, 37 assists, two kills and two aces in Thursday’s four-set win over Northwest Nazarene. She added another double-double of 24 digs and 31 assists to go with four blocks and an ace in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Central Washington.  

Also Nominated: Emma Daoud-Hebert (Central Washington), Caroline McMahon (Northwest Nazarene), Miriam Jauhiainen (Simon Fraser), Kasey Woodruff (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska closed the home portion of its schedule with a split, dropping a four-set match with Central Washington on Thursday before scoring a five-set win over Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Karli Nielson averaged 2.78 kills and 0.44 blocks per set to lead the Nanooks. Neilson finished with 12 kills and two digs against Central Washington. She then added 13 kills and four blocks against Northwest Nazarene. Nielson is ninth in the GNAC with 2.71 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Rilee White averaged two kills, 0.44 aces and 2.22 digs per set in the two matches. She opened the week with seven kills, two aces, nine digs and three blocks against Central Washington. She notched a double-double against Northwest Nazarene with 11 kills and 11 digs to go with two aces and four blocks. White is averaging 2.57 kills per set. She leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with 0.56 aces per set.

• Sophomore Elizabeth Jackson averaged 0.89 blocks per set to go with 1,44 kills per set. She posted four kills and a block against CWU before adding nine kills and seven blocks against NNU. Jackson is third in the GNAC and 14th in Division II with 1.20 blocks per set.

• Alaska is averaging 12.09 kills and 13.68 digs per set. The Nanooks are third in the GNAC and 14th in Division II with 2.41 blocks per set. They also rank second in the conference and 38th in Division II with 2.09 aces per set.

• Alaska closes the season on the road, traveling to Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage has now won four straight, closing the 2022 home schedule with a four-set win over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and a three-set sweep over Central Washington on Saturday.

• On Saturday, UAA set the NCAA Division II volleyball regular-season attendance record, welcoming 3,888 fans to the Alaska Airlines Center. That bettered the previous record of 3,520 set by Nebraska-Kearney against Omaha on Oct. 15, 1996. It is the fourth largest crowd ever in Division II history, bettered only by three postseason matches at Nebraska-Kearney.

• Senior right-side hitter Eve Stephens earned her sixth GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week award of the season after she averaged 6.14 kills, 4.71 digs, 1.14 blocks, 0,43 assists and 0.29 aces per set in the two wins. Stephens finished with 22 kills, 20 digs, two assists and two blocks against NNU.She then added 21 kills, 13 digs, four blocks and two aces against CWU. Stephens leads the GNAC and is third in Division II with 4.81 kills per set.

• Senior setter Ellen Floyd earned the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week award after averaging 5.57 digs and 9.71 assists per set. Floyd finished with 15 digs, 37 assists, two kills, two digs and two aces against NNU. She then finished with 24 digs, 31 assists, four kills and four blocks against CWU. Floyd is second in the GNAC with 10.18 assists per set and seventh with 0.41 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage leads the GNAC and ranks 11th in Division II with a .275 hitting percentage. They also lead the GNAC and rank 11th in Division II with 2.33 aces per set while also leading the conference with 13.21 kills per set.

• The Seawolves moved up to No. 5 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll and was one of three teams to receive a first-place vote. The Seawolves were No. 1 in the second NCAA West Region Rankings released last Wednesday.

• Alaska Anchorage will aim to clinch its first GNAC championship since 2016 on the road, traveling to Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split on its final road trip of the regular season, taking a four-set win at Alaska on Thursday before taking a three-set loss at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Ashley Kaufman led the CWU offense, averaging 3.29 kills and 2.29 digs per set. Kaufman opened the week with 11 kills, eight digs, two aces and a .419 hitting percentage at Alaska. She then added totals of 12 kills and eight digs at Alaska Anchorage. Kaufman is sixth in the GNAC with 3.07 kills per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Emma Daoud-Hebert averaged 2.29 kills and 2.29 blocks per set on the road trip. At Alaska, Daoud-Hebert finished with 11 kills and nine blocks. She then added five kills and seven blocks at Alaska Anchorage. Daoud-Hebert is averaging 2.02 kills per set. She leads Division II with 1.54 blocks per set and is 23rd with a .380 hitting percentage.

• Sophomore outside hitter Kylie Thorne averaged 2.57 kills and 2.71 digs per set in the two matches. Thorne had a double-double of 12 kills and 10 digs with two blocks and a .407 hitting percentage at Alaska. She finished with six kills, nine digs and a block at Alaska Anchorage. Thorne is averaging 2.31 kills per set.

• Central Washington is fourth in the GNAC with 12.83 kills per set and is averaging 13.98 digs per set. The Wildcats lead the GNAC and rank fourth in Division II with 2.57 blocks per set. They also rank 45th in Division II with a .234 hitting percentage.

• Central Washington was fifth among teams receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll with 26 points. The Wildcats were No. 6 in last Wednesday’s Division II West Region Rankings.

• The Wildcats close the regular season by hosting Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings started a three-match homestand to close the season with a four-set loss to Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Caty Havekost led the Yellowjackets with 10 kills, three digs and a block. She leads MSUB with 2.62 kills per set.

• Senior setter Hannah Hashbarger notched a double-double of 12 assists and 15 digs to go with an ace and a kill. Hashbarger is sixth in the conference with 5.64 assists per set.

• Junior outside hitter Jahsita Fa’ali’i finished with totals of six kills, eight digs and three blocks. She enters the week averaging 2.40 kills per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 10.55 kills per set and is third in the conference with 14.77 digs per set.

• The Yellowjackets close the season by hosting Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene has lost four matches in a row after taking a four-set loss at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and a five-set loss at Alaska on Saturday.

• Senior middle blocker Olivia Wright led the Nighthawks with averages of 3.44 kills and 1.22 blocks per set on the road trip. Wright finished with 10 kills, three blocks and two digs at Alaska Anchorage. She then posted impressive totals at Alaska with 21 kills, eight blocks, four digs and a .543 hitting percentage. Wright is third in the GNAC with 3.45 kills per set.

• Senior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan finished with averages of 2.44 kills and 2.33 digs per set. She finished with nine kills, 12 digs, two blocks and two aces at Alaska Anchorage. Sullivan then added totals of 13 kills and nine digs at Alaska. Sullivan is second in the GNAC with 3.56 kills per set and she ranks 28th in Division II with 10.78 attacks per set.

• Sophomore right-side hitter Miya Koch added averages of 2.22 kills, 2.22 digs and 1.11 blocks per set. Koch notched totals of 11 kills, eight digs and six blocks at Alaska Anchorage. She then posted nine kills, 12 digs and four blocks at Alaska. Koch enters the week averaging 2.03 kills, 2.97 digs and 0.70 blocks per set.

• Northwest Nazarene leads the GNAC with 16.57 digs per set while ranking third with 12.91 kills per set. The Nighthawks are third in the GNAC and 43rd in Division II with a .234 hitting percentage.

• The Nighthawks were ranked No. 8 in the latest NCAA Division II West Region Rankings, released last Wednesday.

• Northwest Nazarene closes the season on Saturday with a key conference and regional matchup at Central Washington.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped both matches on its final road trip of the season, taking a four-set loss at Simon Fraser on Thursday and a three-set loss at Western Washington on Saturday.

• Freshman middle blocker Loredana Fouonji led the Saints with averages of 3.20 kills and one block per set. Fouonji opened the week with nine kills, two blocks and a .400 hitting percentage at Simon Fraser. She then added totals of seven kills and three blocks at Western Washington. Fouonji is averaging 2.01 kills and 0.77 blocks per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Emmy Hansen averaged two kills and one block per set on the road trip. Hansen finished with eight kills, six blocks and five digs at Simon Fraser. She then posted six kills and a block at Western Washington. Hansen is averaging 2.11 kills and 0.30 blocks per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Tia Allen averaged 1.86 kills and 2.86 digs in the two matches. Allen came up with six kills and nine digs at Simon Fraser. She then finished with seven kills and 11 digs at Western Washington. Allen is fourth in the GNAC with 3.24 kills per set.

• Saint Martin’s is averaging 11.97 kills and 14.22 digs per set.

• The Saints will be at home to finish the 2022 season, hosting Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific has now won three straight matches and has moved into third place in the GNAC standings after a four-set win at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Junior opposite Maddie Pruden led the Falcons offensively with 12 kills and four blocks. Pruden is averaging 2.06 kills and 0.63 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitter/opposite Sarah Brachvogel came off the bench to finish with 11 kills, four aces and four digs. Brachvogel has played in 18 matches and leads the Falcons with 2.46 kills per set.

• Senior opposite Ashley Antoniak finished with a double-double of 11 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and three aces. She enters the week with 2.34 kills and 2.19 digs per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 11.32 kills and 13.18 digs per set. The Falcons are fourth in the conference with 1.84 aces per set.

• The Falcons are home to finish out the regular season, hosting Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser has won three matches in a row after closing the home schedule with a four-set win over Saint Martin’s on Thursday and a five-set win over Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Jocelyn Sherman led the Red Leafs with averages of 3.11 kills and 2.89 digs per set. Sherman opened the week with a double-double of 13 kills and 15 digs against Saint Martin’s. She added another double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs to go with four blocks against Western Oregon. Sherman is averaging 2.61 kills and 2.43 digs per set.

• Sophomore opposite Brooke Dexter averaged 2.67 kills and 1.22 digs per set. Dexter led the Red Leafs with 15 kills, six digs and three blocks against Saint Martin’s. She then added totals of nine kills, five digs, two blocks and two aces against Western Oregon. Dexter enters the week ranked seventh in the GNAC with 2.89 kills per set.

• Freshman setter Eva Person averaged 7.22 assists and 2.22 digs per set. Person finished with a double-double of 39 assists and 12 digs against Saint Martin’s. Against Western Oregon, Person finished with 26 assists and eight digs. Person is fifth in the GNAC with 5.85 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser enters the week averaging 11.74 kills and 14.11 digs per set. The Red Leafs are ranked 49th in Division II with 219 total blocks.

• The Red Leafs conclude the 2022 season on the road, playing at Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon dropped both matches on its final road trip of the 2022 season, falling in four sets at Western Washington on Thursday and in five sets at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Bailey Hartsook averaged 3.78 kills and 1.44 digs per set to lead the Wolves. She registered totals of 15 kills, seven digs and a block at Western Washington. Hartsook rebounded for totals of 19 kills, six digs and a block at Simon Fraser. Hartsook is averaging 2.51 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Delaney Smith averaged 2.56 kills per set with a .488 hitting percentage. Smith led WOU with 15 kills and a .636 hitting percentage at Western Washington. She then added totals of eight kills and three blocks at Simon Fraser. Smith is averaging 1.94 kills per set. She leads the GNAC and is 19th in Division II with a .388 hitting percentage.

• Sophomore outside hitter Madison Hornback averaged 2.22 kills and 1.56 digs per set. Hornback amassed 14 kills, nine digs and three aces at Western Washington. She then finished with six kills, five digs and three blocks at Simon Fraser. Hornback is averaging 2.49 kills per set and ranks 10th in the GNAC with 0.36 aces per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with 12.50 kills per set and is also averaging 13.84 digs per set.

• The 2022 season ends for Western Oregon at home, hosting Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington continued to keep pace in the GNAC standings and West Region rankings, scoring a four-set win over Western Oregon on Thursday and a three-set win over Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn led the WWU offense once again, averaging 5.43 kills, 3.29 digs and 0.57 aces per set with a .410 hitting percentage. Heilborn finished with 21 kills, nine digs, a block and an ace against Western Oregon. She added a double-double of 17 kills and 14 digs against Saint Martin’s to go with three aces and three blocks. Heilborn is fifth in the GNAC with 3.17 kills per set and is 10th with 3.29 digs per set.

• Senior middle blocker Chloe Roetcisoender averaged 2.14 kills and 1.43 blocks per set with a .400 hitting percentage in the two victories. Against Western Oregon, Roetcisoender finished with 10 kills and eight blocks. She then posted totals of five kills and two blocks with a .714 hitting percentage against Saint Martin’s. Roetcisoender is averaging 2.54 kills per set. She is second in the GNAC and sixth in Division II with 1.28 blocks per set.

• Senior setter Malia Aleaga averaged 7.40 assists per set. compiling 37 assists, three digs and four blocks against Western Oregon. Aleaga is third in the GNAC with 10.14 assists per set.

• Western Washington ranks second in the GNAC with 13 kills per set and is fourth with 14.42 digs per set. The Vikings rank second in the GNAC and 11th in Division II with 2.44 blocks per set while also ranking 36th in Division II with a .242 hitting percentage.

• The Vikings climbed one spot to No. 8 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. They were ranked No. 2 in last week’s NCAA West Region Rankings.

• The regular season for Western Washington closes with matches at Montana State Billings on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.