Wednesday, September 7, 2022

A STRONG START CONFERENCE WIDE: After the first two full weeks of the 2022 season, it is clear that the strength of volleyball across the GNAC may be the best it has ever been.

The conference’s 10 teams have a .706 win percentage in 88 matches played during the non-conference start. Five of the GNAC’s teams have two losses or less so far this season while eight of the 10 are .500 or better.

Saint Martin’s has emerged as the lone undefeated team of the bunch with a 9-0 record. After opening the week with a four-set win over Pacific Lutheran last Tuesday, the Saints rolled to a 4-0 mark at their own SMU Tournament. The schedule included three-set wins over Western New Mexico, Colorado Christian and Westminster (Utah) and a five-set win over Adelphi.

Alaska was named the GNAC Team of the Week after emerging with a 4-0 record at its own Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic. The Nanooks scored four-set victories over Black Hills State, Florida Southern and Ark.-Fort Smith and a five-set victory over Findlay.

Alaska Anchorage, Montana State Billings and Northwest Nazarene all enter conference play with just one loss. The Seawolves are 10-1 after going 3-1 at the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic. In the team’s 11 matches, UAA has lost just five sets.

Northwest Nazarene is 7-1 after winning four matches in the Bay Area over the weekend, which included three-set sweeps of Dominican (Calif.) and Fresno Pacific. Montana State Billings is 6-1 after going 2-1 at the CSC Tournament in Nebraska.

While Western Washington dropped three of four matches at the Division II Premier Challenge, all were competitive affairs against other nationally-ranked teams. The Vikings best Lewis on Friday before taking five-set losses to Concordia-St. Paul and West Florida and a four-set loss to NW Missouri St.

The focus now turns to conference play. Saint Martin’s will face an immediate test to its undefeated mark, traveling to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday. Montana State Billings travels to Simon Fraser and Western Washington while Northwest Nazarene will host Central Washington on Saturday.

STEPHENS EARNS AVCA DIVISION II WEEKLY HONORS: Alaska Anchorage senior right-side hitter Eve Stephens followed up her GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week award earlier today with selection as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II National Player of the Week.

Stephens was honored for her outstanding performance over four matches at the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic where she averaged 5.33 kills, 3.07 digs, 0.73 aces and 0.67 blocks per set with a .406 hitting percentage over 15 sets. The effort earned Stephens selection as the tournament MVP as the Seawolves went 3-1.

Stephens finished with double-doubles (kills and digs) in three of the four matches and posted 20 or more kills twice. She opened the tournament with 20 kills, seven digs, two aces and two blocks with a .528 hitting percentage in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Findlay. On Friday, Stephens finished with a career-high 31 kills with 13 digs, an ace and two solo blocks in a five-set loss to Florida Southern.

The senior wrapped up Friday’s matches with a 10-kill, 10-dig performance in a three-set sweep of Black Hills State. She ended the week on Saturday with an impressive effort of 19 kills, 16 digs, six aces and four blocks in a four-set win over Ark.-Fort Smith.

A three-time First Team All-GNAC selection, Stephens enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked fifth in Division II with 4.84 kills per set. She also leads the conference and is third in Division II with 5.76 points per set. On the Division II lists, Stephens leads all players with 184 total kills, is third with 381 total attacks and ranks 11th with 21 service aces.

2022 GNAC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM SELECTIONS
WWU Volleyball Invitational (Aug. 25-27 at Bellingham): Chloe Roetcisoender, WWU (MVP); Malia Aleaga, WWU; Calley Heilborn, WWU; Kasey Woodruff, WWU; Brooke Dexter, SFU; Serena Gentile, SFU.

Seawolf Volleyball Invitational (Aug. 25-27 at Anchorage): Ellen Floyd, UAA (Co-MVP); Eve Stephens, UAA (Co-MVP); Lisa Januet, UAA; Jessa Long, UAF; Rilee White, UAF.

MSUB Opening Weekend Tournament (Aug. 26-27 at Billings): Hannah Hashbarger, MSUB (MVP); Tia Allen, SMU; Jahsita Fa’ali’i, MSUB; Maddy Gooding, SMU; Lily Gentz, MSUB.

Rosella Meier Fall Classic (Aug. 26-27 at Kearney, Neb.): Tia Andaya, CWU; Hannah Stires, CWU; Ashley Kaufman, CWU.

SMU Tournament (Sept. 1-3 at Lacey, Wash.): Karla Soto, SMU (MVP); Maddy Gooding, SMU; Abbey Halstead, SMU; Madison Hornback, WOU; Sophia Casarez, WOU.

Cal State LA Tournament (Sept. 1-3 at Los Angeles): Tia Andaya, CWU (MVP); Hannah Stires, CWU.

Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic (Sept. 1-3 at Fairbanks): Eve Stephens, UAA (MVP); Rilee White, UAF.

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

Stephens averaged 5.33 kills, 3.07 digs and 0.73 aces per set with a .406 hitting percentage to lead UAA to a 3-1 record at the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic. After finishing with 20 kills in Thursday’s three-set win over Findlay, Stephens posted a career-high 31 kills with 13 digs in Friday’s five-set loss to Florida Southern. She closed the tournament with two more double-doubles, compiling 10 kills and 10 digs in Friday’s three-set sweep of Black Hills State along with 19 kills 16 digs, six aces and five blocks in Saturday’s four-set win over Ark.-Fort Smith.

Also Nominated: Rilee White (Alaska), Tia Andaya (Central Washington), Natalie Sullivan (Northwest Nazarene), Karla Soto (Saint Martin’s), Sarah Brachvogel (Seattle Pacific), Brooke Dexter (Simon Fraser), Madison Hornback (Western Oregon), Chloe Roetcisoender (Western Washington).

DEFENSIVE
Emma Daoud-Hebert, Central Washington
MB • 6-0 • Sophomore • Woodinville, Wash.

Daoud-Hebert averaged 1.69 blocks per set to go along with 1.56 kills per set as Central Washington went 3-1 at the Cal State LA Invitational. She registered an eight-block, eight-kill performance in Thursday’s four-set win over Cal State LA and added nine blocks to go with four kills in Friday’s five-set win over Chaminade. Daoud-Hebert closed the tourney with six blocks and five kills in Saturday’s four-set win over Biola and four blocks and eight kills in a four-set loss to then-No. 7 Cal State San Bernardino.  

Also Nominated: Elizabeth Jackson (Alaska), Talia Leauanae (Alaska Anchorage), Olivia Wright (Northwest Nazarene), Kalyn Hartmann (Simon Fraser), Calley Heilborn (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska improved to 10-2 overall by winning all four matches at the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic. The Nanooks took four-set wins from Black Hills State on Thursday, Florida Southern on Friday and Ark.-Fort Smith on Saturday before closing Saturday night with a five-set win over Findlay.

• Sophomore outside hitter Rilee White was named to the All-Tournament Team after she averaged 3.18 kills, 1.18 aces and 2.06 digs per set in the four wins. Her week included 14 kills, six aces and five digs against Black Hills State; 16 kills, four aces and six digs against Florida Southern and a 15-kill, 13-dig double-double against Ark.-Fort Smith with four aces. White leads the GNAC with 0.64 aces per set and is sixth with 2.84 kills pet.

• Sophomore outside hitter Karli Nielsen averaged three kills per set. Her week included 15 kills with a .387 hitting percentage against Florida Southern and a 16-kill performance against Findlay. Nielsen also has eight aces, including four against Black Hills State. Nielsen is averaging 2.53 kills per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Elizabeth Johnson had 22 kills in the four matches, which included seven blocks against both Ark.-Fort Smith and Findlay. Jackson is fourth in the GNAC with 1.16 blocks per set.

• Alaska is averaging 12.73 kills and 13.77 digs per set. The Nanooks lead Division II in team assists (531), team kills (573), team service aces (114), team total attacks (1,491) and team total blocks (113).

• Alaska was among teams receiving votes in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll, picking up 31 points.

• Alaska opens conference play by hosting Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage went 3-1 at the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic, collecting a three-set win over Findlay on Thursday before taking its first loss of the season in five sets to Florida Southern on Friday. The Seawolves rebounded for a three-set win over Black Hills State on Friday and a four-set win over Ark.-Fort Smith on Saturday.

• Senior right-side hitter Eve Stephens was named tournament MVP, the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week and the AVCA Division II Player of the Week after she averaged 5.33 kills, 3.07 digs, 0.73 aces and 0.67 blocks per set with a .406 hitting percentage. Stephens had double-doubles in three of the four matches. She opened the tourney with a 20-kill performance against Findlay before posting a career-high 31 kills with 13 digs against Florida Southern. Stephens added 10 kills and 10 digs against Black Hills State before closing with 19 kills, 16 digs, five blocks and six aces against Ark.-Fort Smith. Stephens leads the GNAC and is fifth in Division II with 4.48 kills per set. She also leads the conference and is third in Division II with 5.76 points per set.

• Senior outside hitter Lisa Jaunet averaged 3.13 kills per set in Fairbanks. She finished with 10 kills against Findlay, 17 kills against Florida Southern and 13 kills with a .393 hitting percentage against Black Hills State. Januet is fifth in the GNAC with 3.21 kills per set and is 17th in Division II with 122 total kills.

• Alaska Anchorage leads the GNAC and ranks 14th in Division II with 14.03 kills per set. The Seawolves also lead the conference and Division II with a .332 hitting percentage. In the team’s 11 matches, UAA has lost just five sets while winning eight three-set matches.

• Alaska Anchorage moved four spots to No. 16 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll of the season.

• The Seawolves open GNAC play this week, hosting Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington went 3-1 at the Cal State LA Invitational. The Wildcats were four-set winners over Cal State LA on Thursday, five-set winners over Chaminade on Friday and three-set winners over Biola on Saturday. The tourney ended with a four-set loss to then-No. 7 Cal St. San Bernardino on Saturday.

• Sophomore middle blocker Emma Daoud-Hebert was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after she averaged 1.69 blocks per set in the tournament to go with 1.56 kills per set. She had eight kills and eight blocks against Cal State LA, added nine blocks against Chaminade and six against Biola before ending with eight kills and four blocks against Cal St. San Bernardino. Daoud-Hebert leads the GNAC and is eighth in Division II with 1.58 blocks per set.

• Junior setter/outside hitter Tia Andaya was named tournament MVP after she averaged 2.19 kills, 4.50 assists and 1.50 digs per set. She posted a 16-assist performance against Cal State LA, finished with 28 assists against Chaminade and added 11 assists against Biola. Andaya ended with a double-double of 12 kills, 17 assists and five digs against Cal St. San Bernardino. Andaya is averaging 2.19 kills, 4.90 assists and 1.61 digs per set.

• Sophomore libero Hannah Stires was named to the All-Tournament Team after she averaged 3.62 digs and 0.81 aces per set. Her week included 20 digs and five aces against Chaminade and a 17-digs, four-ace performance against Cal St. San Bernardino. Stires is eighth in the GNAC with 3.52 digs per set and fifth with 0.51 aces per set.

• Central Washington is averaging 12.26 kills and 11.90 digs per set. The Wildcats are second in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with 2.48 blocks per set.

• The Wildcats received votes in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll, picking up 28 points.

• Central Washington plays just once this week, traveling to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday to open the conference schedule.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings went 2-1 at the CSC Tournament in Chadron, Nebraska. The Yellowjackets took its first loss of the season on Friday in five sets to Sioux Falls. They rebounded on Saturday for a four-set win over Chadron State and a three-set sweep of Minot State.

• Freshman opposite Lily Gentz led the Yellowjackets, averaging 2.50 kills and 0.92 blocks per set. She opened with 13 kills and five blocks against Sioux Falls, added 13 kills and two blocks against Chadron State and four kills and four blocks against Minot State. Gentz is averaging 2.46 kills and 0.77 blocks per set.

• Senior middle blocker Hannah Hayden averaged 1.33 blocks per set, eight of which came in Saturday’s matches. Hayden finished with eight blocks against Sioux Falls before adding Saturday performances of eight kills and five blocks against Chadron State along with seven kills and three blocks against Minot State. Hayden is averaging 1.19 kills per set and is 10th in the GNAC with 0.92 blocks per set.

• Junior outside hitter Jahsita Fa’ali’i averaged 2.33 kills per set, led by her 14 kills, six digs and three blocks against Chadron State. Fa’ali’i is averaging 2.46 kills per set and is third in the GNAC with 0.58 aces per set.

• Montana State Billings is averaging 11.81 kills per set and is second in the conference with a .140 opponent hitting percentage. The Yellowjackets are second in the GNAC with 15.65 digs per set.

• The Yellowjackets open conference play on the road, traveling to Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene improved to 7-1 with a sweep of its Bay Area matches. The Nighthawks scored a three-set win over Academy of Art on Thursday, a four-set win over Holy Names on Friday and three-set sweeps of Dominican (Calif.) on Friday and Fresno Pacific on Saturday.

• Senior outside hitter Natalie Sullivan led NNU with averages of 3.46 kills and 3.69 digs per set. Her week started with 10 kills, nine digs and four blocks against Academy of Art. Sullivan had a double-double of 14 kills and 20 digs against Holy Names, added 12 kills and nine digs against Dominican and nine kills and 10 digs against Fresno Pacific. Sullivan is third in the GNAC with 3.70 kills per set and is 25th in Division II with 311 total attacks.

• Sophomore right side hitter Miya Koch averaged 2.86 kills, 3.15 digs and 0.77 blocks per set. The week included a 13-kill, 14-dig performance against Holy Names along with a 10-kill, 14-dig and four-block effort against Fresno Pacific. Koch is averaging 2.19 kills per set and is seventh in the GNAC with 3.56 digs per set.

• Senior setter Mackenzie Lee averaged 11.10 assists per set across the three matches. She had a double-double of 30 assists and 11 digs against Academy of Art along with a 51-assist, 12-dig performance against Holy Names. She added a 30-assist performance against Fresno Pacific. Lee leads the GNAC and is third in Division II with 12.05 assists per set.

• Northwest Nazarene is second in the GNAC and 27th in Division II with a .262 hitting percentage. The Nighthawks lead the GNAC and are 17th in Division II with a .103 opponent hitting percentage.

• Northwest Nazarene will host Central Washington on Saturday in both teams’ GNAC season opener.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s is the only remaining undefeated GNAC team after winning five matches last week. After a four-set win over Pacific Lutheran on Tuesday, the Saints swept through its own SMU Tournament with three-set wins over Western New Mexico on Thursday, Colorado Christian on Friday and Westminster (Utah) on Saturday and a five-set win over Adelphi on Friday.

• Junior setter Karla Soto was named the SMU Tournament MVP after she averaged 10.07 assists and 2.79 digs per set. Soto finished with 26 assists and 10 digs against Western New Mexico. She added 30 assists against Colorado Christian and had a double-double of 42 assists and 14 digs against Adelphi. Soto closed with 43 assists and seven digs against Westminster (Utah). Soto is fourth in the GNAC with 9.69 assists per set.

• Sophomore middle blocker Maddy Gooding also earned All-Tournament Team honors with averages of 2.93 kills and 0.64 blocks per set with a .412 hitting percentage. Gooding finished with 11 kills and a .400 hitting percentage against Western New Mexico before adding 12 kills against Adelphi and 13 kills with a .478 hitting percentage against Westminster. Gooding is averaging 2.24 kills per set.

• Sophomore libero Abigail Halstead averaged 3.79 digs per set to earn All-Tournament Team honors. She finished with 11 digs against Colorado Christian, 15 digs against Adelphi and 19 digs against Westminster. Halstead is ninth in the GNAC with 3.50 digs per set.

• Saint Martin’s is averaging 12.18 kills and 14.48 digs per set. The Saints are 13th in Division II with 1,208 total team attacks and 15th with 388 team assists.

• The Saints open GNAC play in the 49th State, traveling to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific dropped three of four matches at the Cal State LA Invitational. The Falcons took a five-set loss to then-No. 7 Cal St. San Bernardino on Thursday before scoring a five-set win over Biola on Friday. They took three-set losses to Cal State LA on Friday and Chaminade on Saturday.

• Junior outside hitter Sarah Brachvogel led the Falcons with an average of 2.80 kills per set. Brachvogel had her best performances in the first half of the tournament, finishing with 12 kills against Cal St. San Bernardino and 19 kills against Biola. She closed the week with four kills against Cal State LA and seven kills against Chaminade. Brachvogel leads SPU with an average of 2.57 kills per set.

• Junior opposite Maddie Pruden averaged 1.94 kills and 0.75 blocks per set in the four matches. Pruden finished with 12 kills against Cal St. San Bernardino, added eight kills and five blocks against Biola and also had eight kills and four blocks against Chaminade. Pruden enters GNAC play averaging 1.90 kills and 0.48 blocks per set.

• Sophomore libero Abigail Cunningham averaged three digs per set, which included 16 against Cal St. San Bernardino and 12 against Chaminade. Cunningham is sixth in the GNAC with 3.72 digs per set.

• Seattle Pacific enters the week averaging 10.76 kills and 12.38 digs per set. They rank sixth in the conference with 1.85 aces per set.

• The Falcons open GNAC play with a trip north, facing Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser finished with a 1-4 record at the Point Loma Seaside Invitational. The Red Leafs took a five-set loss to Concordia on Thursday before scoring a four-set win over Cal St. San Marcos on Friday. They took five-set losses to Cal Poly Pomona on Friday and San Francisco St. on Saturday before closing with a three-set loss to host Point Loma on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Dexter led SFU with 2.73 kills per set and a .255 hitting percentage in San Diego. She opened with a double-double of 17 kills and 11 digs against Concordia before registering 13 kills against Cal St. San Marcos and 16 kills and five blocks against Cal Poly Pomona. Dexter added an 11-kill, 12-dig double-double against San Francisco State. Dexter is 10th in the GNAC with 2.65 kills per set.

• Sophomore outside hitter Jocelyn Sherman averaged 2.27 kills and 2.05 digs per set at the tournament. Sherman registered double-doubles in three of the five matches, going for 12 kills and 10 digs against Concordia, 12 kills and 18 digs against Cal St. San Marcos and 11 kills and 11 digs against San Francisco State. Sherman is averaging 2.25 kills and 2.10 digs per set.

• Junior middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann averaged 1.14 blocks per set, which included a GNAC season-high 11 blocks against Concordia and a six-block performance against San Francisco State. Hartman is fifth in the GNAC with 1.13 blocks per set.

• The Red Leafs are averaging 10.68 kills and 13.27 digs per set. They rank 10th in Division II with 402 team assists and 11th with 427 team kills.

• Simon Fraser is home for the start of the GNAC schedule, hosting Montana State Billings on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon split its matches at the SMU Tournament to equal its win total from the 2021 season. The Wolves took a five-set loss to Adelphi on Thursday before scoring four-set victories over Westminster (Utah) and Western New Mexico on Friday. They closed with a four-set loss to Colorado Christian on Saturday.

• Sophomore outside hitter Madison Hornback was named to the All-Tournament Team after leading WOU with 3.05 kills and 2.76 digs per set. She had a pair of double-doubles, finishing with 14 kills and 14 digs against Adelphi and 12 kills and 17 digs against Western New Mexico. Hornback added totals of 16 kills against Westminster and 10 against Colorado Christian. Hornback is ninth in the GNAC with 2.70 kills per set.

• Sophomore setter Sophia Casarez also earned All-Tournament Team honors after she averaged 5.65 assists per set. She finished with 24 assists against Adelphi and had a high of 31 assists against Colorado Christian. Casarez added a double-double with 22 assists and 14 digs against Western New Mexico. Casarez is 10th in the GNAC with 5.15 assists per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Ella Nordquist averaged 2.47 kills per set in the four matches. Her week included a 10-kill performance against Adelphi, 11 kills against Colorado Christian and a high of 13 kills against Western New Mexico. Nordquist is averaging 2.26 kills per set.

• Western Oregon enters the week third in the GNAC with 12.83 kills per set and is averaging 13.73 digs per set. The Wolves rank 43rd in Division II with 385 team kills and 44th with 352 total assists.

• The Wolves begin the GNAC schedule on the road, playing at Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington went 1-3 at the high-charged Division II Colorado Premier Challenge. The Vikings beat No. 18 Lewis in five sets on Friday before taking a five-set loss to No. 6 Concordia-St. Paul. They took a four-set loss to No. 10 NW Missouri St. on Saturday before closing with a five-set loss to No. 5 West Florida.

• Senior outside hitter Gabby Gunterman averaged 3.06 kills and 2.76 digs per set in the tournament. She posted double-doubles in three of the matches, finishing with 10 kills and 12 digs against Lewis, 13 kills and 18 digs against Concordia-St. Paul and 18 kills and 10 digs against West Florida. She also had an 11-kill performance against NW Missouri St. Gunterman is eighth in the GNAC with 2.77 kills per set.

• Senior middle blocker Chloe Roetcisoender averaged 2.47 kills and 1.11 blocks per set with a .311 hitting percentage. Her best performances came on Saturday with 12 kills and five blocks against NW Missouri St. and a 14-kill, eight-block effort against West Florida. Roetcisoender is averaging 2.53 kills per set. She is second in the GNAC, eighth in Division II with 43 total blocks and 16th in Division II with 1.34 blocks per set.

• Senior outside hitter Calley Heilborn averaged 2.32 kills and 3.26 digs per set. She posted three double-doubles with 14 kills and 21 digs against Lewis, 13 kills and 15 digs against Concordia-St. Paul and 17 kills and 15 digs against West Florida. Heilborn is averaging 2.53 kills and 3.25 digs per set.

• Western Washington enters the week averaging 12.59 kills and 14.19 digs per set. The Vikings are third in the GNAC and 47th in Division II with 2.22 blocks per set.

• Western Washington dropped eight spots to No. 11 in this week’s AVCA Division II Coaches Poll.

• The Vikings open conference play at home, hosting Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.