Wednesday, October 6, 2021

ANDAYA PUTS HER NAME IN RECORD BOOK: Central Washington sophomore Tia Andaya has been a GNAC player for all of 11 matches but she has already etched her name in the conference record book.

In the Wildcats’ lone match of the week, a five-set win over Northwest Nazarene on Friday, Andaya recorded her fifth triple-double of the season with 14 kills, 21 assists and 17 digs to go with six blocks and two aces. The five triple-doubles matches the conference single-season record set by Northwest Nazarene’s Kaitlyn Tuholski in 2011.

Andaya, a transfer this season from Division I Gonzaga, is one of just four players in the conference to have five triple-doubles in their career. She is already closing in on the career record of nine set by NNU’s Mindy Swanson between 2001 and 2003.

Andaya is one of 26 Division II players to record triple-doubles this season. Second on the list is Heather Pedrick of Wilmington with four.

RUNNING THE BLOCK: The GNAC has, year in and year out, been one of the top conferences in Division II in terms of blocking. This season is no different.

The conference enters the week with five of 10 teams ranked in the Division II top-50 in blocks per set. Alaska leads the list, ranked fourth with 2.60 blocks per set. Seattle Pacific is sixth with 2.57 blocks per set while Western Washington is seventh with 2.52 blocks per set.
Central Washington is ranked 15th with 2.47 blocks per set and Montana State Billings rounds out the top-50 with 2.12 blocks per set to rank 50th.

Seattle Pacific freshman Hannah Hair leads three GNAC players in the Division II top-30, ranked sixth at 1.46 blocks per set. Western Washington junior Olivia Fairchild is ninth with 1.36 blocks per set while Alaska senior Emily Moorhead is 18th with 1.23 blocks per set.

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
Bayli Monck, Montana State Billings
RS • 5-10 • Senior • Colorado Springs, Colo.

Monck averaged 4.25 kills, 2.50 digs and one block per set with a .429 hitting percentage in two wins. She finished with 21 kills, nine digs, four blocks and a .459 hitting percentage in Thursday’s five-set win over Western Oregon. Monck then posted a double-double of 13 kills and 11 digs with four blocks in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s.

Gabby Gunterman, Western Washington
OH • 5-10 • Junior • Lake Stevens, Wash.

Gunterman put together a huge double-double with 20 kills and 20 digs with five blocks and a .240 hitting percentage in the Vikings’ five-set win over Alaska on Saturday.

Also Nominated: Cate Whiting (Alaska), Ellen Floyd (Alaska Anchorage), Tia Andaya (Central Washington), Sydney Perry (Seattle Pacific), Brooke Dexter (Simon Fraser), Isabel Hurliman (Western Oregon).

DEFENSIVE
Calley Heilborn, Western Washington
OH • 6-1 • Sophomore • Auburn, Wash.

Heilborn had a big double-double of 27 digs and 19 kills to go along with six blocks in the Vikings’ five-set win over Alaska on Saturday.

Also Nominated: Dani Dodge (Alaska), Vera Pluharova (Alaska Anchorage), Hannah Hayden (Montana State Billings), Bianca Te (Simon Fraser), Bella MacLellan (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska took a pair of hard-fought road losses last week, dropping a four-set match at Simon Fraser on Thursday and a five-set battle at Western Washington on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Karli Neilson led the Nanooks with three kills per set in the two matches. She opened with 13 kills, six digs and two blocks at Simon Fraser and added totals of 14 kills, three digs and two blocks at Western Washington. Neilson is averaging 2.56 kills per set on the season.

• Senior setter Cate Whiting had a double-double in both matches, averaging 9.22 assists and 4.56 digs per set. Whiting finished with 32 assists, 16 digs and three kills against Simon Fraser. She then finished with 51 assists, 25 digs and four kills at Western Washington. Whiting is fourth in the GNAC with 9.51 assists per set and is fourth in Division II with 647 total assists.

• Senior outside hitter AveRee Reynolds averaged 2.78 kills per set and had 10 blocks in the two matches. At Simon Fraser, Reynolds finished with 10 kills and seven blocks. At Western Washington, she posted totals of 15 kills and three blocks. Reynolds is averaging 2.73 kills and 0.99 blocks per set.

• Alaska is averaging 12.51 kills per set and is third in the GNAC with 16.54 digs per set. The Nanooks lead the GNAC and are fourth in Division II with 2.60 blocks per set and lead the nation with 176.5 total blocks. Alaska is also fifth in Division II with 851 team kills and sixth with 786 team assists.

• Alaska returns home this week to host Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage improved to 5-0 in conference in its only match of the week, a four-set win at Simon Fraser on Saturday. Thursday’s scheduled match at Western Washington was postponed due to health and safety protocols.

• Junior outside hitter Eve Stephens led the Seawolves offensively with a double-double of 17 kills and 10 digs. Stephens is third in the GNAC with 3.75 kills per set and is tied for third in the GNAC with teammate Talia Leauanae with 0.49 aces per set. Stephens is also sixth in Division II with 229 total kills.

• Sophomore outside hitter Lisa Jaunet came off the bench to finish with 14 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Jaunet is averaging 2.64 kills per set.

• Junior setter Ellen Floyd had another solid night with 44 assists, four aces, six digs and three blocks. Floyd is third in the GNAC with 9.85 assists per set. She leads the conference and is 15th in Division II with 0.59 aces per set. Floyd is also third in Division II with 36 total aces and 10th with 601 total assists.

• Alaska Anchorage leads the GNAC and is 45th in Division II with a .232 hitting percentage and is averaging 12.54 kills per set. The Seawolves are second in Division II with 140 total aces and 43rd with 117 total blocks.

• Alaska Anchorage remained among teams receiving votes (31) in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll.

• Alaska Anchorage will host Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday inside of the Alaska Airlines Center.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington has now won three in a row after winning its only match of the week, a five-set battle with Northwest Nazarene on Friday.

• Sophomore setter/outside hitter Tia Andaya posted her fifth triple-double of the season, finishing with 14 kills, 21 assists and 17 digs to go with six blocks and two aces. The triple-double ties the GNAC single-season record set by Kaitlyn Tuholski of Northwest Nazarene in 2011 and leads Division II this season. Andaya is averaging 2.37 kills, 5.21 assists and 2.40 digs per set.

• Freshman outside hitter Marianna Payne came off the bench to lead the Wildcats with 16 kills to go with four digs and a block. Payne is ninth in the GNAC with 3.14 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Kaufman added a double-double of 12 kills and 14 digs while sophomore setter Sydney Remsberg had a double-double of 27 assists and 11 digs. Kaufman is seventh in the GNAC with 3.16 kills per set while Remsberg is averaging 5.35 assists per set.

• Central Washington is second in the GNAC with a .218 hitting percentage and third with 12.67 kills per set. The Wildcats are fourth in the GNAC and 15th in Division II with 2.47 blocks per set.

• Central Washington is ranked No. 25 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll for the second consecutive week.

• The Wildcats head north to Alaska for a pair of matches this week, playing at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and at Alaska on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings is on a three-match win streak after taking a five-set victory from Western Oregon on Thursday, a three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s on Saturday and a three-set sweep of crosstown rival Rocky Mountain on Tuesday.

• Senior right-side hitter Bayli Monck shared GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after she averaged 4.25 kills, 2.50 digs and one block per set with a .419 hitting percentage in the two conference matches. Monck finished with 21 kills, nine digs, four blocks and three aces against Western Oregon and added a double-double of 13 kills and 11 digs with four blocks against Saint Martin’s. Monck opened this week with 10 kills and 13 digs against Rocky Mountain. Monck is fourth in the GNAC with 3.51 kills per set.

• Junior outside hitter Skylar Reed averaged 3.45 kills per set over the three matches. She opened the week with 13 kills, seven digs and three aces against Western Oregon, added 13 kills against Saint Martin’s and 12 kills against Rocky Mountain. Reed is averaging 2.85 kills per set on the season.

• Senior middle blocker Joelle Mahowald posted 11 more blocks in the three matches and is fifth in the GNAC with 1.08 blocks per set. After one block with 14 kills against Western Oregon, Mahowald finished with seven blocks against Saint Martin’s and three blocks against Rocky Mountain.

• Montana State Billings is averaging 11.28 kills and 14.74 digs per set. The Yellowjackets are fifth in the GNAC with 2.09 blocks per set and entered the week ranked 50th in Division II.

• The Yellowjackets close out a four-match homestand on Saturday, hosting Seattle Pacific.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene split a pair of matches last week, winning a four-set non-conference tilt at Westminster (Utah) on Tuesday before taking a five-set loss at Central Washington on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan averaged four kills and 2.44 digs per set. She notched a double-double of 22 kills and 12 digs at Westminster and then finished with 14 kills, 10 digs and five blocks at Central Washington. Sullivan is second in the GNAC with 3.81 kills per set and is 12th in Division II with 11.68 attacks per set.

• Freshman defensive specialist Molly Anderson averaged 2.89 kills and 3.89 digs per set. She had a double-double in both matches, registering 14 kills and 17 digs at Westminster and 12 kills, 18 digs, two aces and two blocks at Central Washington. Anderson is averaging two kills and 2.52 digs per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Anna Gable and junior middle blocker Tayler Markland each had 11 blocks in the two matches. Gable’s week was paced by her 12 kills and eight blocks at Central Washington. Markland had five blocks at Westminster and six at Central Washington. Gable is averaging 0.85 blocks per set while Markland is averaging 0.61 blocks per set.

• The Nighthawks are averaging 11.55 kills per set. The Nighthawks rank second in the GNAC and 41st in Division II with 17.49 digs per set.

• Northwest Nazarene is on the road for two conference matches this week, playing at Alaska on Thursday and at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped both matches last week, falling in three sets at Seattle Pacific on Thursday and at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Tia Allen paced the Saints with averages of 2.67 kills and two digs per set. She finished with eight kills in both matches, adding two digs and two blocks at Seattle Pacific and 10 digs and two aces at Montana State Billings. Allen is fifth in the GNAC with 3.23 kills per set and is 16th in Division II with 11.42 attacks per set.

• Senior right-side hitter Emily Gooding averaged 2.50 kills per set, tallying totals of eight kills, three digs and two blocks at Seattle Pacific and seven kills and two digs at Montana State Billings. Gooding is averaging 2.38 kills per set this season.

• Freshman Analise Hitchcock averaged 6.83 assists per set, posting totals of 18 assists at Seattle Pacific and 23 assists and five digs at Montana State Billings. Hitchcock is ninth in the GNAC with 6.12 assists per set.

• Saint Martin’s is averaging 11.96 kills per set. The Saints lead the GNAC and are 25th in Division II with 18.02 digs per set. The Saints also rank 41st in Division II with 955 team digs.

• A scheduled Tuesday non-conference match at Evergreen State was canceled. The Saints will host Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific improved to 7-0 at Royal Brougham Pavilion with a pair of three-set victories over Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Sydney Perry and sophomore opposite Maddie Pruden each had 18 kills in the two wins, averaging three kills per set. Perry led the way with 11 kills and three blocks against Saint Martin’s and added seven kills against Western Oregon. For the week, Perry had a .417 hitting percentage. Pruden’s week was punctuated by her 12 kills and four blocks against Western Oregon. Perry is averaging two kills and 0.73 blocks per set while Pruden is averaging 1.69 kills per set.

• Senior outside hitter Erin Gould also averaged three kills per set and had a .346 hitting percentage in the two matches. Gould finished with 10 kills, four digs and a block against Saint Martin’s. She then had five kills and a .571 hitting percentage against Western Oregon. Gould is averaging 1.74 kills per set.

• The Falcons’ two-setter system saw freshman Emily Tulino average 6.83 assists per set and junior Lindsey Lambert average 6.40 assists per set. Tulino’s week was topped by 26 assists against Western Oregon. Lambert had 22 assists against Saint Martin’s. Tulino is seventh in the GNAC with 6.62 assists per set.

• Seattle Pacific is second in the GNAC with 13.11 kills per set. The Falcons lead the GNAC with 12.43 assists per set and are third in the GNAC with 1.72 aces per set. Seattle Pacific is second in the GNAC and sixth in Division II with 2.57 blocks per set.

• Seattle Pacific is on the road for its lone match of the week, taking on Montana State Billings on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser split at home with the Alaska schools last week, beating the Nanooks in four sets on Thursday before losing to the Seawolves in four sets on Saturday.

• Freshman outside hitter Brooke Dexter paced the SFU offense once again, averaging 3.88 kills and 1.88 digs per set. Dexter went big with 20 kills, six digs and three blocks in Thursday’s win over Alaska and then had 11 kills, nine digs and two blocks against Alaska Anchorage. Dexter leads the GNAC and is 11th in Division II with 4.17 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Camryn Vosloh and sophomore middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann both averaged 2.50 kills per set. Vosloh’s week was topped by a double-double of 14 kills and 14 digs with two blocks and two aces against Alaska. Hartmann added 11 kills against Alaska and nine kills against Alaska Anchorage. Vosloh is averaging 2.61 kills per set for the season and Hartmann is averaging 1.74 kills per set.

• Senior setter Julia Tays registered 11 assists per set in the two matches. Tays finished with a double-double of 52 assists and 12 digs against Alaska. She just missed a double-double with 36 assists and nine digs against Alaska Anchorage. Tays leads the GNAC and is 19th in Division II with 10.66 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC with 13.11 kills per set and is second in the GNAC with 12.15 assists per set.

• Simon Fraser continues to receive votes (8) in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll. The team has been ranked in five of the poll’s six weeks.

• Simon Fraser hits the road this week to play at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and at Western Oregon on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon has now lost eight straight matches after taking a hard-fought five-set loss at Montana State Billings on Thursday and a three-set loss at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Isabel Hurliman led the Wolves with averages of 2.50 kills and 3.38 digs per set. She opened the week with a double-double of 16 kills and 17 digs at Montana State Billings to go with an ace and a block. She added totals of four kills and 10 digs at Seattle Pacific. Hurliman is averaging 2.94 kills and 2.71 digs per set for the season.

• Freshman outside hitter Bailee Hartsook also averaged 2.50 kills per set and also averaged 1.75 digs per set. Hartsook opened with 12 kills, five digs and a block at Montana State Billings and then added totals of eight kills, nine digs and three blocks at Seattle Pacific. Hartsook is averaging 2.94 kills and 2.71 digs per set.

• Junior setter Aubrey Stanton averaged 6.12 assists per set on the road trip, posting 38 assists at Montana State Billings and 11 assists at Seattle Pacific. Stanton is eighth in the GNAC with 6.22 assists per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week averaging 10.65 kills and 13.83 digs per set.

• The Wolves return home this week to host Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington went the distance to win its only match of the week, taking a five-set thriller from Alaska on Saturday. Thursday’s scheduled match with Alaska Anchorage was postponed due to health and safety protocols.

• Junior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman was named the GNAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week after she led the Vikings with a monster double-double of 20 kills and 20 digs to go along with five blocks and two assists. Gunterman is averaging 2.83 kills per set and is 10th in the GNAC with 3.62 digs per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn was selected as the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after she came up with 27 digs, six blocks and 19 kills in the victory. Heilborn is sixth in the GNAC this season with 4.09 digs per set and is eighth with 3.15 kills per set.

• The Vikings totaled 19 team blocks in the match. Junior middle blocker Olivia Fairchild had nine of those blocks to go with 10 kills and five assists. Fairchild is second in the GNAC and ninth in Division II with 1.36 blocks per set.

• Western Washington is averaging 12.53 kills and 15.47 digs per set. The Vikings are third in the GNAC and seventh in Division II with 2.52 blocks per set and rank 39th in Division II with 118.5 total blocks.

• Western Washington dropped one this week to No. 21 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll. It is the 114th consecutive week that WWU has appeared in the top 25.

• The Vikings hit the road for two matches this week, playing at Western Oregon on Thursday and at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.