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Oct. 15, 2012

AVCA DII Top 25 Poll

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - With first-place in the league standings on the line, the Western Washington University volleyball team plays host to arch-rival Central Washington University on Thursday (7 p.m.), Oct. 18, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match between two nationally ranked teams at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

It is the "Dig Pink" match for the Vikings, who also entertain Northwest Nazarene on Saturday (7 p.m.), Oct. 20, in another GNAC contest. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout the country and on Thursday WWU wants to show its support for breast cancer survivors, patients, victims and research to cure the disease.

THE LAST MEETING Western Washington 1 Central Washington 3 September 22, 2012 Ellensburg, WA WWU falls in four sets at Central Washington Western Washington University was outhit .308 to .148, falling to arch-rival Central Washington University, 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball contest Saturday at Nicholson Pavilion on the CWU campus. Recap | Box Score

THE LAST MEETING Western Washington 3 Northwest Nazarene 0 September 20, 2012 Nampa, ID No.13 WWU earns sweep at Northwest Nazarene Middle blocker Kayla Erickson and outside hitter Marlayna Geary combined for 30 kills as Western Washington University swept Northwest Nazarene University, 25-15, 27-25, 25-18, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball contest Thursday at Johnson Sports Center on the NNU campus. Recap | Box Score

The Vikings, who dropped one spot to No.15 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, are 15-2 overall and tied for first in the GNAC standings at 8-1 with No. 21 Central Washington, which is 14-4 overall and riding a nine-match winning streak. The Wildcats won the first meeting against WWU this season in four sets on Sept. 22 at Ellensburg.

WWU is working on a five-match victory string, all sweeps, and has 11 three-set wins this season. The Vikings' last three triumphs have all been on the road.

WWU has won its last nine home matches and is 4-0 at Carver Gym this season. The Vikings are 22-1 at home since late in 2009.

WWU has a winning percentage of .901(109-12) at home after going to a SportCourt surface in 2000 and is 224-78 overall (74.2 percent) overall at Carver Gym.

Senior outside hitter Marlayna Geary (Tacoma/Bellarmine) ranks eighth nationally among Division II statistical leaders in kills (4.34 per set, 256) and ninth in points (4.91). She leads the GNAC in each category, while also being fifth in service aces (21, 0.36), seventh in attack percentage (.309) and 13th in digs (174, 2.95).

Geary is third among WWU career leaders in kills with 1,214 and needs 14 to tie for second. The school record of 1,379 is held by Meghan Evoy (2001-04). Sophomore middle blocker Kayla Erickson (Gig Harbor/Peninsula) is second among GNAC leaders in kill percentage (.361), third in blocks (1.00, 59), fifth in points (3.92, 231) and sixth in kills (3.34, 197). She had a match-high 11 kills and a .435 attack percentage in last Saturday's sweep at Simon Fraser.

In all, the Vikings, coached by Diane Flick (13th year, 264-72), have three players ranked among the top 10 national leaders and leading the GNAC. Besides Geary, they are senior setter Laurie Yearout (Spokane/Lewis & Clark), third in assists (12.31, 726), and sophomore libero Samantha Hutchinson (University Place/Curtis), seventh in digs (6.00, 354).

Yearout ranks fourth among WWU career leaders with 2,713.

WWU ranks among the top 10 nationally and leads the GNAC in three team statistical categories, being sixth in both assists (13.68) and hitting percentage (.277), and 11th in kills (14.27). The Vikings also top the league in digs (16.69).

Central is led by Kaitln Quick, second among GNAC block leaders (1.01); Kaely Kight, third in digs (4.99); Erin Smith, fourth in kill percentage (.344) and fifth in blocks (0.99); Marcy Hjellum, fourth in points (4.14) and third in kills (3.60); and Catie Fry, fourth in aces (0.38) and sixth in assists (9.53).

The Wildcats are second in the league in kills (12.94), blocks (2.26) and aces (1.67). The block average ranks 25th nationally.

Northwest Nazarene, which is at Simon Fraser on Thursday, is 10-10 overall and 3-6 in conference play. The Crusaders have lost seven of their last 10 matches following a 7-3 start.

WWU, which won in three sets at Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 20, holds a 29-5 series advantage, winning the last six meetings.

The Vikings have a 60-41-1 series edge over Central.

NOTES: The Vikings were the preseason favorite in the GNAC Coaches' Poll ... Geary has twice been named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week this season. Hutchinson is a two-time Defensive POW and Erickson earned Offensive POW accolades once ... Geary has posted 11 double-doubles this season in kills and digs ... WWU opened the season by being the only team to go undefeated at the Western Oregon Invitational, winning all four of its matches. The following week, the Vikings tied for the title at the Sonoma State Seawolf Spike Invitational, winning three of four matches. That performance earned them GNAC Team of the Week honors ... Geary was the MVP in both tournaments. Yearout earned all-tourney honors in both, and Hutchinson was all-tourney in the WOU Invitational ... The Vikings' highest national ranking this season has been No.13 ... Two weeks ago, WWU had its first sweep of a road trip to Alaska since 2007 with three-set wins at Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage. The victory at UAA snapped the Seawolves' eight-match winning streak and ended their 35-match string of not being swept at home that dated back to Sept. 18, 2009.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference

2012 Volleyball Week #7 (Oct. 16, 2012)

	                Conf.		All
	                W	L	W	L	H	A	N
Western Washington      8	1	15	2	4-0	5-1	6-1
Central Washington      8	1	14	4	5-0	4-3	5-1
Alaska Anchorage        7	2	12	5	8-1	3-2	1-2
Western Oregon          5	3	12	5	8-2	4-3	0-0
MSU Billings            5	4	8	9	3-2	2-5	3-2
Seattle Pacific         5	4	8	10	2-2	4-5	2-3
Northwest Nazarene      3	6	10	10	3-3	4-4	3-3
Saint Martin's          2	6	4	9	1-3	3-6	0-0
Alaska Fairbanks        1	8	3	12	3-4	0-8	0-0
Simon Fraser            0	9	3	13	1-6	1-5	1-2

LAST WEEK: Tuesday - Northwest Nazarene 2 at Eastern Oregon 3 (20-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17, 15-7). Wednesday - Capilano 0 at Simon Fraser 3 (25-14, 25-15, 25-19). Thursday - Alaska Anchorage 3 at Seattle Pacific 2 (25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 13-25, 15-12); Alaska Fairbanks 0 at MSU Billings 3 (25-21, 25-23, 25-19); Western Oregon 0 at Central Washington 3 (25-21, 25-18, 25-15); Saint Martin's 0 at Northwest Nazarene 3 (25-10, 25-20, 25-21). Saturday - Alaska Anchorage 3 at MSU Billings 1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19); Alaska Fairbanks 1 at Seattle Pacific 3 (27-25, 23-25, 25-12, 25-10); Saint Martin's 0 at Central Washington 3 (25-17, 25-20, 25-19); Western Oregon 3 at Northwest Nazarene 1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-13, 25-22); Western Washington 3 at Simon Fraser 0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-13).

THIS WEEK: Thursday - Saint Martin's at Alaska Anchorage; Western Oregon at Alaska Fairbanks; Central Washington at Western Washington; Northwest Nazarene at Simon Fraser. Saturday - Western Oregon at Alaska Anchorage; Saint Martin's at Alaska Fairbanks, noon; Central Washington at Simon Fraser; MSU Billings at Seattle Pacific; Northwest Nazarene at Western Washington. Tuesday (Oct. 23) - Saint Martin's at Pacific Lutheran. POLLS: AVCA (Oct. 15) - 15. Western Washington; 21. Central Washington.

NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Oct. 14): Team (Top 30): Assists - 6. Western Washington 13.68. Blocks - 11. Western Oregon 2.48; 25. Central Washington 2.26. Hitting PCT. - 6. Western Washington .277. Kills - 11. Western Washington 14.27. Individuals (Top 30): Assists - 3. Laurie Yearout, WWU, 12.31; 16. Kimya Jafroudi, UAA, 10.87. Blocks - 11. Becky Blees, WOU, 1.33. Digs - 7. Samantha Hutchinson, WWU, 6.00; 8. Erin Compton, MSUB, 5.84. Hitting PCT. - 2 Krissi Kemper, WOU, .436; 24. Cailin Fellows, SPU, 3.88. Kills - 8. Marlayna Geary, WWU, 4.34; 24. Cailin Fellows, SPU, 3.88. Points - 9. Marlayna Geary, WWU, 4.91.

ALL-TOURNAMENT: Western Oregon (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) - Marlayna Geary, WWU (MVP); Laurie Yearout, WWU; Krissi Kemper, WOU. Grand Canyon (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) - Erin Smith, CWU. Alaska Fairbanks (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) - Katlyn Mataya, UAF; Sam Harthun, UAF. Honolulu Invitational (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) - Cailin Fellows, SPU; Monica Grimsrud, MSUB. Sonoma State (Sept. 7-8) - Marlayna Geary, WWU (MVP); Samantha Hutchinson, WWU; Laurie Yearout, WWU. Alaska Anchorage (Sept. 7-8) - Kimya Jafroudi, UAA (MVP); Katelynn Zanders, UAA, Julia Mackey, UAA; Sarah Johnson, UAA. CSU Pueblo (Sept. 7-8) - Monica Grimsrud, MSUB; Erin Compton, MSUB. Notre Dame de Namur/CSU East Bay (Sept. 7-8) - Becky Flores, NNU.

GNAC RED LION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Offense - Catie Fry, Central Washington (S, 6-0, Fr., Tacoma, WA - Mt. Si) averaged 11.6 assists leading the Wildcats to a pair of 3-0 win against Western Oregon and Saint Martin's. Fry, the Red Lion Offensive Player of the Week award winner, also had a team-high five service aces, 13 digs and four blocks as the Wildcats ran their win streak to nine matches finishing the first half of the conference season in a tie for first-place with Western Washington.

Defense - Kimya Jafroudi, Alaska Anchorage (S, 5-7, Sr., Huntington Beach, CA) led the Seawolves both offensively and defensively to a pair of road wins at Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings. Jafroudi, the Red Lion Defensive Player of the Week award winner, had 22 digs and four blocks on defense. Offensively, she earned 82 assists and also had three service aces.

Honorable Mention - Erin Compton, MSU Billings; Teilissa Tua, Saint Martin's; Marcy Hjellum, Central Washington; Nikki Lowell, Seattle Pacific; Michelle Terpstra, Northwest Nazarene; Sam Harthun, Alaska Fairbanks.

KILLS: Marcy Hjellum netted 29 kills and hit for a .297 percentage in Central Washington's two wins ... Julia Mackey led Alaska Anchorage with 24 kills and Sarah Johnson had 21 in the Seawolves two road victories. . .Sam Harthun had a team-leading 28 kills in Alaska Fairbanks' two matches ... Danielle Reese had 22 kills and 18 digs as Western Oregon split two matches ... Kayla Erickson led Western Washington, which outhit Simon Fraser .275 to .031, with 11 kills. Jessica Young led the Clan with 20 kills in two matches including a 3-0 non-conference win against Capilano snapping a 12-match losing streak.

BLOCKING: Saint Martin's Teilissa Tua had 11 blocks, 1.83 per set in a pair of road losses. Against Northwest Nazarene, she had a pair of solo blocks along with two block assists adding six digs as well. Against Central Washington, she recorded a match-high six block assists along with a solo block. Tua is averaging 0.98 blocks per set this season and has had at least two blocks in her last five matches. Kristyn Ross led the Saints in the two matches with 17 kills. 2

HIGH PERCENTAGES: Seattle Pacific's Nikki Lowell hit .477 (27 kills-6 errors-44 attacks), including a seasonbest .565 against Alaska Fairbanks Saturday. Lowell also had nine blocks as the Falcons divided two home matches. SPU was also led by Cailin Fellows with 33 and Jessica Miller with nine blocks.

PROVIDING AN ASSIST: Michelle Terpstra had 68 assists and 16 digs in Northwest Nazarene's two conference contests. Cora Christensen (21 kills), Becky Flores (19 kills) and Elayna Rice (19 kills) were on the receiving end of Terpstra's sets. Including a non-conference loss at Eastern Oregon, Terpstra had 109 assists and 29 digs.

DIGGING: Erin Compton had 43 digs including 24 in MSU Billings' 3-1 loss to Alaska Anchorage. Compton currently ranks eighth nationally averaging 5.84 digs per set. The Yellowjackets were led offensively by Monica Grimsrud with 24 kills and Jody Lutz with 21. Both players also had five blocks.

GNAC 45-35 IN NON-CONFERENCE: GNAC teams have posted a winning record during the non-conference portion of its schedule posting a 45-35 record. The GNAC had a winning record (13-12) against the CCAA, but ended up just 9-15 against the Pac West. Just four matches remain on the non-conference slate. Central Washington plays at Walla Walla on Oct. 30 and Northwest Nazarene plays at Walla Walla on Nov. 2. Saint Martin's visits Pacific Lutheran next Tuesday. Simon Fraser hosts Douglas Nov. 13 in a makeup of a contest postponed earlier this season.

VIKINGS FINISH 7-1 IN NON-CONFERENCE: Western Washington finished its non-conference slate with a 7-1 record. Only four times have GNAC teams finished unbeaten in non-conference regular-season matches - Seattle Pacific in 2003 (7-0) and 2010 (10-0), Central Washington in 2004 (8-0) and Western Washington in 2008 (8-0). . .The 2010 Falcons lost in the West Regional championship game, while the 2004 Wildcats lost in their opening-round playoff game. The 2003 Falcons and 2008 Vikings did not advance to the post-season.

PREVIOUS RED LION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Week of Aug. 27-Sept. 2: Offense - Marlayna Geary, Western Washington (OH, 5-10, Sr., Tacoma, WA - Bellarmine Prep) had 59 kills and hit for a .356 percentage in leading the Vikings to four victories in the Western Oregon Invitational. Geary became the 29th player in GNAC history to record 1,000 career kills, increasing her career total to 1,017. She also had 50 digs, five service aces and three blocks and was named the Most Valuable Player. Defense - Erin Smith, Central Washington (MB, 5- 10, Jr., Selah, WA) had a team-high 13 blocks and also contributed 51 kills as the Wildcats won three of four matches. Smith committed just six errors in 90 swings.

Week of Sept. 3-9: Offense - Marlayna Geary, Western Washington (OH, 5-10, Sr., Tacoma, WA - Bellarmine Prep) had a tourney-best 76 kills and a .314 attack percentage and also had 40 digs and a trio of doubledoubles in leading the Vikings to a 3-1 record and a share of the tournament title in the Sonoma State Invitational at Rohnert Park. She also had nine blocks in earning MVP honors for the second week in a row. WWU tied for the tournament title. After losing to No. 25 UC San Diego, the Vikings handed Chico State its first loss of the season and then beat No. 23 Sonoma State. Defense - Samantha Hutchinson, Western Washington (L, 5-8, So., University Place, WA - Curtis) had 99 digs, an average of 6.19 per set to earn all-tournament honors as the Vikings outhit their four CCAA opponents by 40 points (.286 to .246).

Week of Sept. 10-16: Offense - Sarah Johnson, Alaska Anchorage (OH, 6-1, Fr., Anchorage, AK - South) had 34 kills and hit for a .308 percentage as the Seawolves ran their win streak to six with 3-2 home wins over Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. She had double-doubles in both victories, including careerhighs of 18 kills and 17 digs in Saturday's win over NNU. She leads UAA with four double-doubles on the season. Defense - Samantha Hutchinson, Western Washington (L, 5-8, So., University Place, WA - Curtis) had 35 digs as the Vikings held their opponents to a .098 hitting percentage in sweeps of Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific. Hutchinson, who was selected the Red Lion Defensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row, also had three aces as WWU had a 28-11 point advantage from the service line, including a 18-2 edge in aces.

Week of Sept. 17-23: Offense - Emmy Dolan, Central Washington (OH, 5-11, Jr., Castle Rock, WA) had 23 kills and hit for a .450 percentage leading the Wildcats to wins over Simon Fraser and Western Washington. Dolan had 16 kills and hit for a .481 percentage as the Wildcats stopped archrival Western Washington in four sets for the second time in a row at Nicholson Pavilion. CWU also beat the Vikings at home in four sets during the final week of the 2011 season. Defense - Becky Blees, Western Oregon 3 (MB, 5-10, Jr., Portland, OR - Madison) contributed to nine of the Wolves' 15 blocks as WOU earned sweeps of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks in limiting their opponents to a .080 attack percentage. Blees also had a .412 hitting percentage (8-1-17) in the two wins.

Week of Sept. 24-30: Offense - Kayla Erickson, Western Washington (MB, 6-0, So., Gig Harbor, WA) had 24 kills in two matches, including the match-winner as the Vikings handed Western Oregon its first conference loss. Erickson, who hit for a .388 percentage, also had five blocks. She had 11 kills and a team-high three blocks against the Wolves. Defense - Marcy Hjellum, Central Washington (OH, 5-11, Sr., Kennewick, WA - Kamiakin) led Central Washington offensively with 39 kills and defensively with 36 digs as the Wildcats ran their win streak to five with road victories at Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings. Hjellum also hit for a team high .270 percentage, 94 points better than CWU's team percentage of .176 in the two matches.

Week of Oct. 1-7: Offense - Megan Morrison, Alaska Fairbanks (OH, 5-11, Fr., Spring Hill, FL - Springstead) tallied 20 kills and hit for a .269 percentage as the Nanooks split two matches to end a 10-match losing streak. Entering this week's matches, Morrison, who also had nine blocks, only had 10 kills on the year and her week's hitting percentage was nearly 300 points better than her season average. She also doubled her season's blocks total as well. In Saturday's win against Simon Fraser, Morrison had 15 kills, seven blocks and a .353 hitting percentage. Defense - Shelby Swanson, Seattle Pacific (S, 5-9, Sr., Kennewick, WA) had 36 assists and 18 digs earning her third consecutive double-double as Seattle Pacific swept Western Oregon on the Wolves' court. She also recorded 31 assists in Saturday's three-set victory at Saint Martin's as the Falcons posted back-to-back sweeps for the first time this season. Swanson, who is averaging 10.33 assists per set this season, now has 3,264 career assists, which ranks eighth in GNAC history. She also has seven doubledoubles this season and 24 in her career.

GNAC TEAMS OF THE WEEK: Aug. 27-Sept. 2 - Montana State Billings (Women's Soccer). Sept. 3-9 - Western Washington (Volleyball). Sept. 10-16 - Northwest Nazarene (Men's Soccer). Sept. 17-23 - Central Washington (Volleyball). Sept. 24-30 - Central Washington (Football). Oct. 1-7 - Western Oregon (Women's Soccer). Oct. 8-14 - Simon Fraser (Men's Soccer).