Wednesday, September 22, 2021

FOUR TEAMS OPEN CONFERENCE PLAY UNDEFEATED: The first week of GNAC play proved an exciting one with four conference teams getting through the weekend undefeated.

Alaska and Seattle Pacific top the list as the two programs continue their rise. The Nanooks traveled to the mainland and went home with a pair of three-set sweeps over Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday. Alaska amassed a .224 hitting percentage and limited WOU and SMU to a .105 hitting percentage en route to being named the GNAC Team of the Week.

Senior middle blocker Emily Moorhead was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week for her role in the effort, amassing 11 blocks in the two matches.

Seattle Pacific extended its win streak to six matches and now has a 5-0 record in Royal Brougham Pavilion after four-set victories over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday. The Falcons were also superb at the net with a .282 hitting percentage while averaging 3.25 blocks per set.

Freshman middle blocker Hannah Hair had 16 of those blocks to go along with 2.62 kills per set, earning her selection as the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week. Hair posted a .514 hitting percentage with 21 kills and just two errors on 37 total attempts.

Alaska Anchorage is the conference’s other 2-0 team, scoring a five-set win over Saint Martin’s on Thursday and a three-set sweep over Western Oregon on Saturday.

Western Washington, meanwhile, won the matchup between the conference’s two nationally-ranked teams with a five-set win at Simon Fraser on Saturday. The Vikings bounced back from a 2-1 deficit to score the win, led by 13 kills by sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn.

EXIT POLLING IS FAVORABLE: The coaches in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll are taking notice of the quality of play in the GNAC with five of the conference’s 10 teams earning votes.

Western Washington leads the way, climbing two spots to No. 15 after the win over Simon Fraser. Simon Fraser dropped two spots to No. 22 and has been ranked in each of the last three polls. Alaska Anchorage received votes for the fourth consecutive week.

The two conference newcomers to the poll are Seattle Pacific and Alaska. The Falcons received five votes this week, marking the first time since 2012 that the program has been on the national poll radar. Alaska received two votes, marking the first time in school history that the Nanooks have netted votes in the AVCA poll.

On the season, six GNAC teams have earned votes in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll. Central Washington is the sixth, having received votes in both the preseason and Sept. 13 rankings.

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
Hannah Hair, Seattle Pacific
MB • 6-1 • Freshman • Walla Walla, Wash.

Hair averaged 2.62 kills per set with a .514 hitting percentage and 16 blocks to lead Seattle Pacific to a 2-0 start to conference play. Hair finished with nine kills, a .500 hitting percentage, five blocks and two digs in Thursday’s four-set win over Northwest Nazarene. She then tallied 12 kills, a .526 hitting percentage and 11 blocks in Saturday’s four-set win over Central Washington. The 11-block performance ties Hair for eighth on the GNAC single-match list for blocks in a four-set match.

Also Nominated: Cate Whiting (Alaska), Lisa Jaunet (Alaska Anchorage), Bayli Monck (Montana State Billings), Tia Allen (Saint Martin’s), Brooke Dexter (Simon Fraser), Bailee Hartsook (Western Oregon), Gabby Gunterman (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Emily Moorhead, Alaska
MB • 5-11 • Senior • Chugiak, Alaska

Moorhead averaged 1.83 blocks and 1.17 kills per set to lead the Nanooks to a pair of three-set sweeps on the road. She opened the conference with eight blocks and four kills on Thursday at Western Oregon. Moorhead closed the week with three blocks, three kills and an assist in Saturday’s win at Saint Martin’s.

Also Nominated: Ellen Floyd (Alaska Anchorage), Joelle Mahowald (Montana State Billings), Giselle Benetti (Saint Martin’s), Julia Tays (Simon Fraser), Sophie Matlock (Western Oregon), Kasey Woodruff (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska opened conference play with a pair of victories, beating Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• For its efforts in sweeping opponents on the road, the Nanooks were recognized as the GNAC Team of the Week.

• Senior middle blocker Emily Moorhead was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week for her 1.83 blocks per set in the two matches. She finished with eight blocks to go with four kills against Western Oregon and then finished with three blocks and three kills at Saint Martin’s. Moorhead is third in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 1.24 blocks per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Karli Nielsen led the offense with 3.64 kills per set. She tallied 13 kills with a .346 hitting percentage and four digs against Western Oregon and added nine kills with a .261 hitting percentage against Saint Martin’s. Kielsen is averaging 2.33 kills per set.

• Senior setter Cate Whiting averaged 9.50 assists per set, finishing with 31 assists and seven digs at Western Oregon along with 26 assists and eight digs at Saint Martin’s. Whiting is fourth in the GNAC with 9.56 assists per set.

• Alaska is averaging 12.52 kills per set. They lead the GNAC and rank 40th in Division II with a .129 opponent hitting percentage. The Nanooks are seventh in Division II with 2.68 blocks per set and lead the country with 139.5 total blocks.

• For the first time in program history, Alaska received votes (2) in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll.

• Alaska returns home this week and will host fellow GNAC unbeaten Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage opened conference play with two road wins. The Seawolves won a five-set showdown at Saint Martin’s on Thursday before taking a three-set sweep of Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Lisa Januet led the Seawolves offensively, averaging 3.38 kills per set over the two matches. She opened with 15 kills and three digs at Saint Martin’s and wrapped the week with 12 kills, a .476 hitting percentage, three digs and two blocks at Western Oregon. Jaunet is averaging 2.55 kills per set.

• Junior outside hitter Eve Stephens was just as potent, averaging 3.25 kills and 1.12 blocks per set. She posted a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs with six blocks and an ace at Saint Martin’s before adding 13 kills, two aces and three blocks at Western Oregon. Stephens is second in the GNAC with 3.75 kills per set. She ranks 19th in Division II with 4.65 points per set and leads Division II with 191 total kills.

• Junior setter Ellen Floyd provided 9.12 assists and 3.25 digs per set on the road trip. She posted a double-double of 40 assists and 18 digs with an ace and three blocks against Saint Martin’s and then added 33 assists, eight digs, two aces and three blocks at Western Oregon. Floyd is third in the GNAC with 9.80 assists per set. She ranks third in Division II with 500 total assists.

• Alaska Anchorage enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 12.55 kills per set. The Seawolves lead the GNAC and rank 18th in Division II with 2.24 aces per set.

• Alaska Anchorage remained among teams receiving votes (12) in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll.

• Alaska Anchorage returns home to host Montana State Billings on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split a pair of matches to open conference play, scoring a four-set victory at Montana State Billings on Thursday before taking a four-set loss at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Kaufman led the way, averaging 3.62 kills and 1.50 digs per set on the road trip. She opened the week with 13 kills, seven digs and two blocks at Montana State Billings before coming up with 16 kills, five digs and a .323 hitting percentage at Seattle Pacific. Kaufman is ninth in the GNAC with 3.03 kills per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Marianna Payne averaged 2.38 kills and one block per set. She finished with nine kills, three digs and five blocks against Montana State Billings. She added 10 kills and three blocks at Seattle Pacific. Payne is sixth in the GNAC with 3.23 kills per set and is averaging 0.90 blocks per set.

• Sophomore setter/outside hitter Tia Andaya had balanced numbers of two kills, 0.62 aces and 2.62 digs per set. She had eight kills in each match, adding 15 digs at Montana State Billings and four aces and six digs at Seattle Pacific. Andaya is averaging two kills, 5.32 assists and 2.26 digs per set and ranks seventh in the GNAC with 0.39 aces per set.

• Central Washington is averaging 12.48 kills per set and ranks second in the conference with a .221 hitting percentage and 11.97 assists per set. The Wildcats are fourth in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 2.39 blocks per set.

• The Wildcats are home for their next three matches, hosting Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings opened conference play with a split at home, taking a four-set loss to Central Washington on Thursday and a three-set win from Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Senior right-side hitter Bayli Monck averaged 3.29 kills, 2.43 digs and 0.86 blocks per set and became the ninth MSUB player to surpass 1,000 career kills. She hit the milestone on Thursday against Central Washington with a double-double of 11 kills and 13 digs with four blocks. Monck then added totals of 12 kills, four digs and two blocks against Northwest Nazarene. Monck is third in the GNAC with 3.42 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Joelle Mahowald and sophomore middle blocker Hannah Hayden each had 11 blocks in the two matches. Mahowald had eight blocks to go with seven kills against Central Washington before adding three blocks against Northwest Nazarene. Hayden tallied seven blocks against CWU and four blocks against NNU. Mahowald is fourth in the GNAC and 28th in Division II with 1.19 blocks per set while Hayden is averaging 0.83 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitter Skylar Reed paced the Yellowjackets’ defense with 3.86 digs per set, topped by her 17 digs against Northwest Nazarene. Reed is averaging 2.69 digs per set.

• Montana State Billings enters the week averaging 11.25 kills and 14.81 digs per set.

• The Yellowjackets hit the road for their next two matches, playing at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and at Alaska on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene took two losses to open conference play, falling in four sets at Seattle Pacific on Thursday and in three sets at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Brooke Foster led the Nighthawks with 3.86 kills and 1.57 digs per set on the road trip. Foster opened with 17 kills, four digs and two blocks at Seattle Pacific. She then finished with 10 kills and seven digs at Montana State Billings. Foster is seventh in the GNAC with 3.21 digs per set.

• Junior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan averaged three kills and two digs per set in the GNAC openers. Sullivan finished with eight kills and three digs at Seattle Pacific before posting a double-double of 13 kills and 11 digs at Montana State Billings. Sullivan is eighth in the GNAC with 3.14 kills per set.

• Junior setter Mckenzie Lee added 6.29 assists per set, finishing with 29 assists at Seattle Pacific and 15 assists at Montana State Billings. Lee leads two regular NNU setters with 4.96 assists per set.

• The Nighthawks enter the week averaging 11.17 kills per set. The Nighthawks are second in the GNAC and 22nd in Division II with 18 digs per set. They are also 28th in Division II with 38.34 team attacks per set.

• Northwest Nazarene is home this week, hosting Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s took a pair of losses to open GNAC play, falling in five sets to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and in three sets to Alaska on Saturday. The Saints snapped a five-match losing streak with Tuesday’s three-set non-conference win over Linfield.

• Freshman outside hitter Tia Allen led SMU with 2.92 kills and 2.25 digs per set over the three matches. She posted a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs against Alaska Anchorage before adding totals of 16 kills and 12 digs against Linfield. Allen is fifth in the GNAC with 3.33 kills per set.

• Senior right-side hitter Emily Gooding averaged 1.92 kills per set in the three matches. Gooding finished with seven kills against Alaska Anchorage and posted eight kills against both Alaska and Linfield. She also had four blocks on Tuesday. Gooding is averaging 2.21 kills and 0.48 blocks per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Jennifer Soha led the team with 11 blocks in two matches played, finishing with five blocks against Alaska and six blocks against Linfield. Soha enters the week averaging 1.27 blocks per set in 11 sets played.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week averaging 11.74 kills per set. The Saints lead the conference and rank 21st in Division II with 18.16 digs per set. The Saints also ran 30th in Division II with 690 total digs.

• After three straight home matches, Saint Martin’s hits the road this week for one match at Western Oregon on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific closed a five-match homestand with two conference wins. The Falcons ran its win streak to six matches with four-set wins over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

• Freshman middle blocker Hannah Hair was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged 2.62 kills and two blocks per set with a .514 hitting percentage. Hair opened with totals of nine kills and five blocks with a .500 hitting percentage against Northwest Nazarene. She then had a double-double of 12 kills and 11 blocks with a .526 hitting percentage against Central Washington. Hair leads the GNAC and is third in Division II with 1.65 blocks per set and is fourth in the GNAC with a .331 hitting percentage.

• Senior outside hitter Maddie Batiste averaged 3.62 kills and 2.38 digs per set over the weekend. Batiste had a double-double of 17 kills and 15 digs against Northwest Nazarene. She then delivered 12 kills, four digs and three blocks against Central Washington. Batiste is averaging 2.77 kills and 2.23 digs per set.

• Senior outside hitter Erin Gould added three kills and 3.50 digs per set, led by her double-double of 15 kills and 21 digs against Northwest Nazarene. Gould is averaging 1.35 kills and 2.24 digs per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with 12.59 kills per set. The Falcons lead the conference and rank fifth in Division II with 2.76 blocks per set. Freshman setter Emily Tulino is 30th in Division II with 0.59 aces per set.

• Seattle Pacific received votes in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll. It is the first time since 2012 that the Falcons have received national poll votes.

• The Falcons head north this week to play at Alaska on Thursday and at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser dropped its only match of the week, falling to Western Washington in five sets of a showdown between the conference’s two ranked teams on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Brooke Dexter had a huge offensive performance, finishing with 28 kills, eight digs and a .344 hitting percentage. Dexter leads the GNAC and is fourth in Division II with 4.53 kills per set. She also ranks eighth in Division II with 4.95 points per set.

• Senior setter Julia Tays finished with a double-double of 51 assists and 16 digs. Tays leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with 10.57 assists per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Hanna Kolof was the other SFU player with double-digit kills, finishing with a double-double of 12 kills and 14 digs.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is 32nd in Division II with 13.57 kills per set. The team also leads the conference and ranks 46th in Division II with 12.27 assists per set while leading the GNAC with a .226 hitting percentage.

• Following the loss, Simon Fraser dropped two spots to No. 22 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll.

• Simon Fraser plays on the road this week, traveling to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and to Central Washington on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon opened GNAC play with a pair of three-set losses to Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Bailee Hartsook led the way for the Wolves, averaging 3.83 kills and 2.17 digs per set in the GNAC openers. She just missed a double-double with 13 kills and eight digs against Alaska and then added 10 kills and five digs against Alaska Anchorage. Hartsook is fourth in the GNAC with 3.40 kills per set and seventh with 3.62 points per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Isabel Hurliman averaged 2.83 kills and 3.17 digs per set. Hurliman posted totals of seven kills, 11 digs and two blocks against Alaska and then added 10 kills, eight digs and three blocks against Alaska Anchorage. Hurliman is sixth in the GNAC with 3.63 points per set and 10th with 3.03 kills per set.

• Freshman defensive specialist Sophie Matlock averaged 4.67 digs per set, posting totals of 17 digs against Alaska and 11 digs against Alaska Anchorage. Matlock is fourth in the GNAC with 4.31 digs per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.80 kills and 13.66 digs per set. The Wolves also rank fourth in the conference with 1.66 aces per set.

• The Wolves will play just one match this week, hosting travel partner Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington played just one match in the GNAC’s opening week, winning in five sets over Simon Fraser in a battle of the conference’s two ranked teams.

• Junior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman led the Vikings with 11 kills, 17 digs and four aces. She enters the week averaging 2.62 kills and 3.50 digs per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn also had a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs to go with four blocks. Heilborn is averaging three kills per set and is eighth in the GNAC with 3.94 digs per set.

• Sophomore libero Kasey Woodruff had 16 digs in the victory to go with three aces. Woodruff enters the week averaging 3.44 digs per set.

• The Vikings enter the week averaging 12.41 kills and 14.88 digs per set. The Vikings are third in the GNAC and 14th in Division II with 2.46 blocks per set. They also rank 32nd in Division II with 83.5 total blocks.

• With the win over Simon Fraser, Western Washington climbed two spots to No. 15 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll.

• The Vikings will end a seven-match road trip this weekend, playing at Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.