• News
• |
• Schedule
• |
• Roster
• |
• Stats
• |
• Archives

Sept. 9, 2012

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - Western Washington University outside hitter Marlayna Geary (Sr., Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) was named Most Valuable Player of the Sonoma State University Seawolf Spike Invitational Volleyball Tournament held Friday and Saturday on the SSU campus.

Geary was one of three Vikings on the seven-person all-tourney team. Also picked were libero Samantha Hutchinson (So., University Place/Curtis) and setter Laurie Yearout (Sr., Spokane/Lewis & Clark).

Nationally No.18-ranked WWU, 7-1 overall, won three of four matches to tie for the tourney title. After a five-set loss to No.25 UC-San Diego, the Vikings swept Cal State Stanislaus, handed Chico State its first loss in seven matches this season with a four-set victory, and prevailed in an epic match against No.23 Sonoma State with none of the four sets being decided by more than three points.

Geary had a tourney-best 76 kills and a .314 attack percentage. She posted three double-doubles, finishing with 40 digs.

Hutchinson totaled 99 digs, averaging 6.19 per set, and Yearout averaged 12.88 assists for a 206 total. All of those figures were tournament highs.

It is the second straight MVP award this season for Geary. Two weeks ago, she earned that honor at the Western Oregon University Invitational. Yearout also was an all-star at that tourney.

WWU, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason favorite, begins league play this weekend at Sam Carver Gymnasium, entertaining Montana State Billings on Friday (7 p.m.) and defending champion Seattle Pacific on Saturday (7 p.m.).

2012 Sonoma State Seawolf Spike All-Tournament Team

Marlayna Geary, Western Washington ( MVP)
Laurie Yearout, Western Washington
Samantha Hutchinson, Western Washington
Nicole Gragnola, Sonoma State
Kelsey Hull, Sonoma State
Alex Shurtz, Chico State
Danielle Dahle, UC San Diego