Tuesday, September 17, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington is ranked 13th and Central Washington is ranked 24th in this week's AVCA Division II national volleyball poll.

Conference play begins this Thursday.  The Vikings, however, will have the week off.  Central Washington, meanwhile, travels to Monmouth to take on Western Oregon in one of four matches on the schedule.

In other openers Thursday, Seattle Pacific heads north to play Alaska Anchorage, Montana State Billings plays at Alaska Fairbanks and Northwest Nazarene visits Saint Martin's.  Simon Fraser, meanwhile, will host a non-conference tournament taking on three other Canadian universities.

Western Washington completed non-conference play with a 7-1 record.  The Vikings are just one of three GNAC teams with winning records along with Simon Fraser (2-1) and Northwest Nazarene (4-2).

WWU has posted some impressive statistics through its first eight matches.  Kayla Erickson ranks second nationally in hitting percentage with a .484 average, well ahead of the GNAC single-season record of .425 set last season by Krissi Kemper of Western Oregon.  The Vikings' Emily Boerger ranks fifth nationally (.453) and is also on pace to break the record.

Both Erickson and Boerger earned all-tournament honors in last week's Sonoma State tournament.

WWU's Samantha Hutchinson, the GNAC Red Lion Defensive Player of the Week, ranks second nationally in digs (6.50) and setter Taylor Dillard ranks seventh in assists (11.65).  In team categories, WWU ranks second in hitting percentage (.333), seventh in kills (14.81) and 10th in assists (13.54).

NNU's Andrea Terpstra, who was selected the GNAC Red Lion Offensive Player of the Week, ranks second in blocks averaging 1.68 per set.  Nikki Lowell of Seattle Pacific ranks fifth (1.41).   Also in the Top 10 is Central Washington's Kaely Kight, who ranks eighth averaging 5.87 digs.

In team categories, Northwest Nazarene ranks second in blocks (2.79) and third in digs (19.89).  Seattle Pacific ranks fifth, averaging 2.63 per set.

For more highlights from last week click on the weekly report under Related Links.

NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Sept. 15): Individuals (Top 30): Points – 13. Andrea Terpstra, NNU, 5.50; 22. Monica Grimsrud, MSUB, 4.68; 27. Sam Harthun, UAF, 4.54; 30. Kayla Erickson, WWU, 4.46. Kills – 19. Monica Grimsrud, MSUB, 4.20; 25. Andrea Terpstra, NNU, 4.11.  Hitting Percentage – 2. Kayla Erickson, WWU, .484; 5. Emily Boerger, WWU, .453. Assists – 7. Taylor Dillard, WWU, 11.65; 22. Catie Fry, CWU, 10.81; 28. Michelle Terpstra, NNU, 10.58.  Aces - 23. Alanna Chan, SFU, 0.67.  Blocks – 2. Andrea Terpstra, NNU, 1.68; 5. Nikki Lowell, SPU, 1.41; 18. Becky Blees, WOU, 1.28; 29. Madeline Hait, SFU, 1.20.  Digs – 2. Samantha Hutchinson, WWU, 6.50; 8. Kaely Kight, CWU, 5.87.  Team (Top 30): Kills – 7. Western Washington 14.81; 23. Northwest Nazarene 13.89.  Hitting Percentage – 2. Western Washington .333.  Aces – 20. Simon Fraser 2.33.  Assists – 10. Western Washington 13.54; 23. Northwest Nazarene 12.84.  Blocks – 2. Northwest Nazarene 2.79; 5. Seattle Pacific 2.63.  Digs – 3. Northwest Nazarene 19.89.