Tuesday, October 16, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - Its showdown week in the GNAC.

Central Washington (14-4, 8-1), which has won nine straight, heads to Bellingham to take on Western Washington (15-2, 14-4) in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match Thursday.  The winner will move into sole possession of first place in the conference.

During CWU's win streak, it has posted six 3-0 victories and lost just five sets.  The Vikings have been even more dominating posting eight 3-0 conference victories losing a set only in its 3-1 loss to CWU at Ellensburg on Sept. 22.  Since then WWU has reeled off 15 consecutive set victories.

The Vikings bring a No. 15 national ranking into the contest, while the Wildcats are ranked No. 21. 

Western also is among the NCAA national leaders in three categories.  It ranks sixth in hitting percentage (.277) and assists (13.68) and 11th in kills (14.27).  CWU ranks 25th in blocks (2.26). GNAC leader Western Oregon ranks 11th nationally in that category (2.48).

In individual categories, WWU setter Laurie Yearout ranks third in assists (12.31) and Viking libero Samanatha Hutchinson ranks seventh in digs (6.00) just ahead of Erin Compton of MSU Billings who ranks eighth (5.84).

Krissi Kemper of Western Oregon is the top-ranked GNAC player.  She is second nationally with a .436 percentage and is on-pace to break the GNAC single-season record of .418 set by CWU's LeAnne McGahuey in 2004.

Also ranked in the Top 10 nationally is WWU outside hitter Marlayna Geary.  She ranks eighth in kills (4.34) and ninth in points (4.91) in this week's national report.