2010 GNAC Volleyball Preview
By Bob Guptill
GNAC Information Officer
SPOKANE, Wash. - Alaska Anchorage returns four starters from last year's NCAA Division II Regional semifinalists and Western Washington has everyone back from its team that barely missed the playoffs a year ago.
Those two squads figure to fight it out this fall for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball championship.
Each team received four first-place votes in the GNAC Coaches poll though the Vikings, who are seeking a fifth GNAC title, outpointed the Seawolves 72-67 in the overall balloting.
That is a reversal of their finish in the AVCA national poll where UAA earned a 24th place national ranking and WWU was among “others receiving votes”.
Western Washington returns 11 letter winners, all seven starters including its libero and six all-stars. All those numbers are the best in the conference.
“When you have (that many) people in the off-season, there's a lot of competition within the team,” WWU coach Diane Flick, who earned her 200th career win last season, said.
“That competition was a driving factor during the off season,” Flick, who ranks 10th in career wins among active Division II coaches with a 213-60 record, added.
Alaska Anchorage, however, won't give up its title without a fight. The Seawolves posted a 23-8 record in Chris Green's second season in Anchorage and feature the GNAC's top returning kill producer in outside hitter Jackie Matthisen and the conference's 2009 blocking champion in middle blocker Cortney Lundberg who averaged 1.14 per set.
Seattle Pacific, which qualified for the NCAA playoffs last season, and Central Washington also appear to have the talent to challenge for the title or at least for a post-season berth.
The Falcons return four starters, including a pair of all-stars and the Wildcats have the second most letter winners (10), starters (6) and all-stars (3). Only the Vikings have more.
Outside hitter Marlayna Geary (5-10, So., Tacoma, WA – Bellarmine Prep) leads a deep and talented Western Washington squad. Geary ranked fourth in kills in the GNAC a year ago, averaging 3.98 per set in earning GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year and first team all-league honors.
Also back is middle blocker Emily Jepsen (5-11, Jr., Kennewick, WA - Kamiakin), who tied for seventh in the GNAC in kill percentage (.255) and was second in the conference in blocks (1.12) behind Lundberg. She claimed second team all-conference honors.
Three players – setter Laurie Yearout (5-9, So., Spokane, WA – Lewis & Clark), libero Allison Gotz (5-3, Sr., Bothell, WA – Archbishop Murphy) who ranked fourth in digs (5.24) and outside hitter Megan Amundson (5-11, Sr., Stanwood, WA), who contributed 2.41 kills and 1.63 digs per set – were honorable mention all-stars.
Yearout is one of just two returning starting setters in the conference along with Carlee Marble of Central Washington and she ranked second in the GNAC in assists averaging 10.57. Marble (5-8, Jr., La Conner, WA) was fourth at 9.67.
Yearout, however, will have to beat out teammate Kari Rice (5-11, Sr., Toppenish, WA – Eisenhower), who led the GNAC in assists in 2008 averaging 11.62 and also earning honorable mention all-star honors that year. Rice redshirted last season.
Also back for the Vikings are opposite hitter Kathryn Mertens (5-10, Sr., Olympia, WA) and middle blocker Bailey Jones (6-0, So., Mukilteo, WA - Kamiak). Mertens contributed 1.59 kills per set and also had 15 aces and 72 blocks last season. Jones netted 1.35 kills and had 77 blocks.
Matthisen (5-11, Jr., Anchorage, AK – East Anchorage) ranked second in kills last season, averaging 4.04 and also averaged 2.65 digs and had 48 blocks. Lundberg had 2.54 kills per set and a total of 130 blocks.
Also back for the Seawolves are outside hitter McKenzie Moss (OH, 5-11, Jr., Anchorage, AK - Bartlett), who was seventh in kills (3.16) and defensive specialist Nikkie Viotto (5-8, So., Eagle River, AK), who had 1.56 digs per set and 27 aces.
Green will have to replace setter Calli Scott, the 2009 GNAC Player-of-the-Year, but has three players to choose from including Northern Michigan transfer Maddie Ogden (6-1, Jr., Sheboygan, WI), Highline CC transfer Adriana Aukusitino (5-7, So., Anchorage, AK - Service) and freshman Siobhan Johansen (5-7, Fr., Palmer, AK).
Ogden led the Great Lakes Conference two years ago in assists averaging 10.39. Aukusitino averaged 6.84 assists in earning second team NWAACC all-region honors in 2008. Johansen started and had 17 assists in UAA's win last weekend against its Alumni.
Outside hitter Sarah Risser is back for Seattle Pacific head coach Chris Johnson (86-50, 5 years). Johnson led SPU to a 17-12 record last season after the Falcons went 8-18 in 2008.
Risser (5-9, Sr., Santa Barbara, CA) ranked fifth in the GNAC in kills (3.66) and also averaged 3.08 digs to earn first team all-conference honors.
Libero Anna Herold (5-8, Jr., Bothell, WA - Shorecrest) was also an all-star, earning second team honors. She ranked second in digs with a 5.43 average.
Also returning from SPU's starting lineup are outside hitters Lindsay Wodrich (5-9, Jr., Richland, WA) and Paige Hoffman (6-2, Jr., Encinitas, CA – Cathedral Catholic).
Wodrich netted 2.91 kills and 2.64 digs per set, while Hoffman posted averages of 1.59 kills and had 69 blocks.
In addition to Marble, CWU coach Mario Andaya welcomes back libero Brandie Vea (5-3, Sr., Honolulu, HI - Kalani), who led the GNAC in digs (5.83) in earning first team all-conference honor and outside hitter Kady Try (6-0, Sr., Brentwood, CA - Mead), who had 3.27 kills and 2.42 digs per set, 20 aces and 57 blocks in earning honorable mention honors.
Andaya, who is in his 15th season, is the winningest active coach in the GNAC (at the same institution) with 217 victories.
Three other starters also return for the Wildcats – outside hitter Meg Ryan (5-11, Jr., Spokane, WA - Mead) and middle blockers Kristel Baeckel (5-9, Sr., Gresham, OR – Sam Barlow & Clackamas CC) and Bri Gregory (5-10, Sr., Bremerton, WA – Green River).
Ryan had 2.15 kills and 1.90 digs per set last year, while Baeckel had 1.43 kills and 70 blocks. Gregory averaged 1.06 kills and was also one of four players in the GNAC to average a block per set (1.02).
Northwest Nazarene, which finished fifth in the poll, has four returning starters and added a NWAACC East Region MVP to its roster.
Back for the Crusaders is Haley Hevern (5-4, Sr., Central Point, OR - Crater), who ranked second in digs (5.60) to earn GNAC honorable mention all-star honors.
Coach Jared Sliger (72-61, 5 years) also has available outside hitters Becky Flores (5-9, So., Pasco, WA - Riverview) and Carly Dranginis (6-0, So., Nampa, ID - Skyview) and defensive specialist Kailey Trautmann (5-10, Jr., Snohomish, WA – King's) though NNU's five returning letter winners matches the fewest in the league. Western Oregon also has five.
Flores averaged 1.65 kills and had 64 blocks, while Dranginis had 1.10 kills per set and 50 blocks. Trautmann chipped in with 1.01 kills per set and 3.30 digs.
Setter Briana Claassen (6-0, Jr., Stayton, OR) was the NWAACC East Region MVP a year ago at Blue Mountain. Another transfer is setter Laticia Lehman (5-7, Jr., Caldwell, ID – Vallivue) who played in 2008 at College of Southern Idaho.
Montana State Billings, which had a nine-win improvement last season under first-year coach Steve Smith (17-11), was the only team in addition to WWU and UAA to receive a first-place vote in the poll.
Smith returns five starters, but did lose All-American outside hitter Devon Crotteau, who led the GNAC in kills (4.73) and points (5.23).
Two of Smith's returning starters were honorable mention all-league picks – outside hitter Jennifer Boe (5-8, Sr., Casper, WY – Kelly Walsh) and middle blocker Jody Lutz (6-1, So., Dugald, Manitoba).
Boe averaged 2.94 kills and 2.89 digs and had 33 blocks. Lutz chipped in with 1.41 kills per set and had 108 blocks to rank fourth in the GNAC with a 1.01 average.
Also back from the Yellowjacket starting lineup are middle blockers Melissa Porter (6-3, Jr., Redmond, UT – North Sevier) and Hannah Johnson (6-2, So., San Diego, CA – La Costa Canyon) and defensive specialist Morgan Moss (5-5, So., Fowler, CO).
Porter averaged 1.48 kills and had 96 blocks, while Johnson had 1.23 kills and 81 blocks. Moss dug 2.02 balls per set and had 34 aces.
Among MSUB's newcomers are setter Brooke Tolman (5-8, Jr., Honeyville, UT – Central Wyoming), middle blocker Geneva Blunt (6-3, Sr., Colstrip, MT) and freshman outside hitter Taylor Adams (6-1, Fr., Anchorage, AK – Diamond).
Tolman was a two-time all-region setter at Central Wyoming CC. Blunt was an all-state selection at Colstrip High School in 2002, but is playing college volleyball for the first time. Adams led Diamond High School to the 2008 and 2009 Alaska 4A state titles and was the Gatorade Player-of-the-Year in Alaska last season.
Western Oregon, which won the GNAC title two years ago, hopes to bounce back from a 8-19 campaign under third-year head coach Brad Saindon (30-22, 2 years; Overall, 332-248, 19 years).
Three returning starters – outside hitters Danielle Reese (5-9, So., Gig Harbor, WA, 3.11 kps, 2.74 dps) and Sylvia Herrold (5-11, Jr., Ilwaco, WA – Naselle, 2.12 kps, 1.32 dps, 30 aces, 48 blocks) and middle blocker Samantha Ward (6-1, So., Salem, OR – West Salem, 2.30 kps, 1.34 dps, 45 blocks) – will be joined in that quest by letter winners Jorden Burrows (S, 6-0, Sr., Lebanon, OR, 1.94 apg) and Stephanie Beeler (MB, 5-11, Sr., Tillamook, OR, 1.55 dps) and eight freshmen.
Alaska Fairbanks has just one returning starter – middle blocker Erica Gage (6-1, Sr., Palo Alto, CA, 0.95 kps, 73 blocks), however, the Nanooks do have six other letter winners.
UAF head coach Phil Shoemaker (117-123, 10 years; Overall, 360-425, 27 years) also has one of the most experienced transfers in the GNAC in Tereza Bendlova (5-9, Sr., Prague, Czech Republic) from the University of South Alabama.
Bendlova played in 77 matches over three seasons at the Division I school and had 344 kills, 351 digs and 66 blocks.
First-year GNAC member Simon Fraser also has just one starter – middle blocker KJ Fridfinnson (6-1, Jr.) - off a team that went 3-17 in the Canada West Conference.
Fridfinnson averaged 1.59 kills and had 64 blocks and is one of four returnees for coach Lisa Sulatycki (98-249, 14 years).
Saint Martin's coach Phil Ibarra (13-111, 5 years) has one of his more experienced teams in recent years with four starters among seven letter winners and hopes to improve on a 3-23 record.
Among SMU's returning starters is middle hitter Teilissa Tua (6-0, So., Kahalui, HI), who had 2.24 kills per set, 1.20 digs, 29 aces and 64 blocks to earn honorable mention honors.
Also back are middle hitters Katy Ferguson (6-1, So., Tacoma, WA – Stadium, 1.49 kills, 31 blocks) and Sarah Gann (5-10, Sr., Tacoma, WA – TCC, 0.90 kps, 30 aces) and outside hitter Malia Ibarra (5-6, Sr., Olympia, WA – North Thurston, 1.43 kps, 3.27 dps, 28 aces).
The 2010 season begins Thursday in Anchorage with UAA hosting Drury, Mo. Alaska Fairbanks plays Drury on Friday and both GNAC teams play the Missouri school on Saturday.
The remainder of the GNAC teams don't debut until the following week.
Central Washington and Western Washington will join Western Oregon in a tournament in Monmouth. Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's, meanwhile, head to Hawaii to compete in the Hawaii Hilo Invitational.
Northwest Nazarene travels to Texas to compete in the Texas Woman's Invitational, Seattle Pacific will compete in the Sonoma State Invitational in Rohnert Park and Simon Fraser heads south for a tournament at Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State L.A.
2010 GNAC TEAM CAPSULES
ALASKA ANCHORAGE Seawolves
Head Coach: Chris Green, Nebraska '91 (38-22, 2 years)
Assistants: Nicky Rose, Emily Sakis
2009 Record: 23-8
Conference: 14-2, 1st
Returning Letter Winners: 7
Returning Starters (4): Jackie Matthisen (OH, 5-11, Jr., 4.04 kps, 2.65 dps, 48 blocks, 1st team GNAC); Cortney Lundberg (MB, 6-1, Jr., 2.54 kps, 130 blocks, 2nd team GNAC); McKenzie Moss (OH, 5-11, Jr., 3.16 kps, 2.67 digs, 30 aces); Nikkie Viotto (DS, 5-8, So., 1.56 dps, 27 aces)
Other Returnees: Marie Borowikow (OH, 6-3, So., 1.69 kps, 94 blocks); Leah McWilliams (MB, 6-0, So.); Shelby Hollister (OH, 5-10, So., 33 aces)
Transfers: Maddie Ogden (S, 6-1, Jr., Sheboygan, WI – Northern Michigan); Lee Golden (OH, 5-9, Jr., Pembroke Pines, FA – Hillsborough CC); Adriana Aukusitino (S, 5-7, So., Anchorage, AK – Highline CC)
ALASKA FAIRBANKS Nanooks
Head Coach: Phil Shoemaker, Missouri '75 (117-123, 10 years; Overall, 360-425, 27 years)
Associate Head Coach: Amy Phelps
Assistant Coach: Jamie Schanback
2009 Record: 12-15
Conference: 6-10, 7th
Returning Letter Winners: 7
Returning Starters (1): Erica Gage (MB, 6-1, Sr., 0.95 kps, 73 blocks)
Other Returnees: Simone Chavous (OH, 5-9, Jr., 1.36 kps in 2008); Marybeth Wikander (MB, 5-10, Jr.0.80 kps, 24 blocks); Allison Oddy (L, 5-6, So., 3.25 dps, 23 aces); Jennifer Holland (L, 5-3, Jr., 2.00 dps); Mandy Grierson (S, 6-0, So.); Jordyn Montgomery (DS, 5-3, So.)
Transfers: Karlee Skalla (RS, 5-11, Jr., Las Vegas, NV – Orange Coast); Casey Tidwell (MH, 6-1, So., Redlands, CA – Manhattan); Tereza Bendlova (OH, 5-9, Sr., Prague, Czech Republic – South Alabama)
CENTRAL WASHINGTON Wildcats
Head Coach: Mario Andaya, CWU '93 (217-171, 14 years)
Assistants: Chloe Quirk, Rachael Schurman
2009 Record: 16-11
Conference: 8-8, 5th-T
Returning Letter Winners: 10
Returning Starters (5+L): Brandie Vea (L, 5-3, Sr., 5.83 dps, 1st team GNAC); Carlee Marble (S, 5-8, Jr., 9.67 aps, 1.94 dps, 34 blocks, 2nd team GNAC); Kady Try (OH, 6-0, Sr., 3.27 kps, 2.52 dps, 20 aces, 57 blocks, HM GNAC); Meg Ryan (OH, 5-11, Jr., 2.15 kps, 1.90 dps); Kristel Baeckel (MB, 5-9, Sr., 1.43 kps, 70 blocks); Bri Gregory (MB, 5-10, Sr., 1.06 kps, 24 aces, 91 blocks)
Other Returnees: Marcy Hjellum (OH, 5-11, So., 1.91 kps, 2.83 digs, 15 blocks); Devin Larson (S, 5-9, So., 1.94 dps); Meg Carini (L, 5-4, So.); Molly Mayer (RS, 6-2, So.)
Transfers: Mandy Powell (DS, 5-7, Fr., Darrington, WA – U. of Idaho).
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS Yellowjackets
Head Coach: Steve Smith, WOU (17-11, 1 year, Overall, 61-93, 5 years)
Assistants: Catherine Losett
2009 Record: 17-11
Conference: 10-6, 3rd-T
Returning Letter Winners: 7
Returning Starters (5): Jennifer Boe (OH, 5-8, Sr., 2.94 kps, 2.89 dps, 33 blocks, HM GNAC); Jody Lutz (MB, 6-1, So., 1.41 kps, 22 aces, 108 blocks, HM GNAC); Melissa Porter (MB, 6-3, Jr., 1.48 kps, 96 blocks); Hannah Johnson (MB, 6-2, So., 1.23 kps, 81 blocks); Morgan Moss (DS, 5-5, So., 2.02 dps, 34 aces)
Other Returnees: Whitney Mickelsen (DS, 5-4, Jr., 2.94 dps); Kayla Neumiller (OH, 5-8, So.)
Transfers: Brooke Tolman (S, 5-8, Jr., Honeyville, UT – Central Wyoming); Angela Schuman (S, 5-5, Jr., Polson, MT – Montana State)
NORTHWEST NAZARENE Crusaders
Head Coach: Jared Sliger, Northwest Nazarene '91 (72-61, 5 years)
Assistants: Lindsey Yundt, Jesi Metz
2009 Record: 15-14
Conference: 8-8, 5th-T
Returning Letter Winners: 5
Returning Starters (3+L): Haley Hevern (L, 5-4, Sr., 5.60 dps, 16 aces, HM GNAC); Becky Flores (OH, 5-9, So., 1.64 kps, 54 blocks); Carly Dranginis (OH, 6-0, So., 1.10 kps, 50 blocks); Kailey Trautmann (DS, 5-0, Jr., 1.01 kps, 3.30 dps)
Other Returnees: Haley Abbott (MB, 6-0, Jr.)
Transfers: Briana Claassen (S, 6-0, Jr., Stayton, OR – Blue Mountain CC); Laticia Lehman (S, 5-7, Jr., Caldwell, ID – Vallivue & C. of Southern Idaho)
SAINT MARTIN'S Saints
Head Coach: Phil Ibarra, Wayland Baptist '91 (13-111, 5 years)
Assistants: Val Ibarra
2009 Record: 3-23
Conference: 0-16, 9th
Returning Letter Winners: 7
Returning Starter (4): Teilissa Tua (MH, 6-0, So., 2.24 kps, 1.20 dps, 29 aces, 64 blocks, HM GNAC); Katy Ferguson (MH, 6-1, So., 1.49 kps, 31 blocks); Malia Ibarra (OH, 5-6, Sr., 1.43 kps, 3.27 dps, 28 aces); Sarah Gann (MH, 5-10, Sr., 0.90 kps, 30 blocks)
Other Key Returnees: Brianna Bautista (L, 5-1, Jr., 2.79 dps); Kirstyn Druzianich (RS, 6-0, Sr., 2.09 kps, 26 blocks); Kristeen Juarez (RS, 5-11, Jr., 1.19 dps)
Transfers: None
SEATTLE PACIFIC Falcons
Head Coach: Chris Johnson, Westmont '02 (86-50, 5 years)
Assistants: Nicola Parker, Johnny Lai, Kin Yun
2009 Record: 17-12
Conference: 11-5, 2nd
Returning Letter Winners: 7
Returning Starters (3+L): Sarah Risser (OH, 5-9, Sr., 3.66 kps, 3.08 dps, 27 aces, 1st team GNAC); Anna Herold (L, 5-8, Jr., 5.43 dps, 2nd team GNAC); Lindsey Wodrich (OH, 5-9, Jr., 2.91 kps, 2.64 dps, 27 aces); Paige Hoffman (OH, 6-2, Jr., 1.59 kps, 69 blocks)
Other Returnees: Shelby Swanson (S, 5-8, So., 5.07 aps, 1.66 dps); Joelle Perez (S, 5-9, Sr., 4.60 asp, 1.44 dps); Angie Pricco (MB, 6-1, So, 50 blocks)
Transfers: Nikki Lowell (MB, 5-10, Fr., Claremont, CA – Gonzaga)
SIMON FRASER Clan
Head Coach: Lisa Sulatycki (98-249, 14 years)
Assistants: Scott Hodson
2009 Record: 3-17
Conference: 3-17 , 9th-T
Returning Letter Winners: 4
Returning Starters (1): KJ Fridfinnson (MB, 6-1, Jr., 1.59 kps, 64 blocks)
Other Returnees: Chelsea Elvy (RS, 5-11, So., 1.25 kps), Cheryl Windhorst (MB, 6-0, Jr., 0.64 kps, 17 blocks); Brianna Kellough (L, 5-5, Sr., 2.46 dps)
Transfers: None
WESTERN OREGON Wolves
Head Coach: Brad Saindon, Arizona State '76 (30-22, 2 years; Overall, 332-248, 19 years)
Assistants: Leon Blazer
2009 Record: 8-19
Conference: 5-11, 8th
Returning Letter Winners: 5
Returning Starters (3): Danielle Reese (OH, 5-9, So., 3.11 kps, 2.74 dps, 12 aces); Samantha Ward (MB, 6-1, So., 2.30 kps, 1.34 dps, 45 blocks); Sylvia Herrold (OH, 5-11, Jr., 2.12 kps, 1.32 dps, 30 aces, 48 blocks)
Other Returnees: Jorden Burrows (S, 6-0, Sr., 1.94 apg); Stephanie Beeler (MB, 5-11, Sr., 1.55 dps)
Transfers: None
WESTERN WASHINGTON Vikings
Head Coach: Diane Flick, UW '93 (213-60, 10 years)
Assistants: James Suh, Courtney Schneider, Nate Langstraat, Erica Bjella
2009 Record: 17-10
Conference: 10-6, 3rd-T
Returning Letter Winners: 11
Returning Starters (6+L): Marlayna Geary (OH, 5-10, So., 3.87 kps, 2.96 dps, 1st team GNAC, GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year); Emily Jepsen (MB, 5-11, Jr., 2.82 kps, 26 aces, 111 blocks, 2nd team GNAC); Megan Amundson (OH, 5-11, Sr., 2.41 kps, 1.63 dps, HM GNAC); Laurie Yearout (S, 5-9, So., 10.57 aps, 26 aces, 40 blocks, HM GNAC); Allison Gotz (L, 5-3, Sr., 5.24 dps, 25 aces, HM GNAC); Kathryn Mertens (OPP, 5-10, Sr., 1/59 kps, 15 aces, 72 blocks); Bailey Jones (MB, 6-0, So., 1.35 kps, 77 blocks)
Other Returnees: Jordyn Bailey (OH, 5-9, Sr., 1.85 dps, 23 aces); Haleigh Adkins (DS, 5-8, Jr., 2.07 dps, 20 aces); Breanne Graham (OPP, 6-0, So.); Kari Rice (S, 5-11, Sr., 11.62 aps in 2008, HM GNAC)
Transfers: None
