After second-place finishes each of the last two seasons, Alaska Anchorage is picked to win the Great Northwest Athletic Conference according to the 2015 preseason volleyball coaches poll.
The Seawolves earned five of 11 possible first place votes, picking up 92 points in a vote that saw the first four teams separated by just eight points. Defending champion Northwest Nazarene is picked second with 85 points. Central Washington and Western Washington tied for third in the poll, each receiving 84 points.
Alaska Anchorage, who last won a conference title in 2009, has finished no worse than fourth in conference play since. Their 15-3 conference record included two losses to Northwest Nazarene, which won their first Great Northwest title after being picked to finish third. The two programs led a banner season for the Great Northwest that saw four of the league’s 10 teams advance to the NCAA Division II West Regional.
Two conference squads enter the season ranked in American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II top-25 preseason poll. Northwest Nazarene is ranked No. 20 after finishing 2014 ranked 16th. Western Washington, which was ranked as high as ninth earlier last year, enters the season ranked No. 24. Alaska Anchorage was among 22 other teams receiving votes (57 points).
The Seavolves finished 2014 ranked second in the Great Northwest and 33rd in Div. II in opponent hitting percentage (.143). They also ranked second in the league in hitting percentage (.221) and assists (12.39 per set) and led the conference in service aces (1.49 per set). Alaska Anchorage returns a loaded lineup that includes a pair of All-Americans. Senior outside hitter Katelynn Zanders is a two-time first team all-conference selection and was named honorable mention AVCA All-American last season. She finished 2014 ranked second in the league in aces (0.31 per set) and fourth in kills (3.44 per set).
Three-time first team all-conference right side Julia Mackey joined Zanders as a 2014 AVCA honorable mention All-American. Her .260 hitting percentage ranked 10th in the conference. The Seawolves also return a pair of honorable mention all-conference performers in middle blocker Erin Braun, who finished fifth in the Great Northwest in hitting percentage (.294), and setter Morgan Hooe, who was fifth in the league in assists (9.16 per set) and aces (0.28 per set).
After finishing no better than third in the conference’s first 13 years, Northwest Nazarene stormed to their first Great Northwest crown in 2014, winning their final 11 regular season matches. The Crusaders led the nation in blocks per set (2.82) and finished ranked eighth in digs per set (2.82) and 15th in total blocks (279.5). They led the Great Northwest in all three categories and also led the league in assists per set (12.55), hitting percentage (.221) and opponent hitting percentage (.138).
While the loss of the dynamic duo of sisters Michelle Terpstra (GNAC player of the year) and Andrea Terpstra (first team All-GNAC) will hurt, the Crusaders return eight letterwinners and five talented starters. Middle blocker Madi Farrell was named the conference freshman of the year after leading the league in hitting percentage (.326) and ranking 40th in Div. II in blocks per set (1.11). Outside hitter Elayna Rice was a first team All-GNAC selection after ranking among the team leaders in aces (0.23 per set) and kills (2.82 per set). The Crusaders are further bolstered by senior right side Taylor VanValey (2.01 kills per set) and sophomore outside hitter Kendra Bodine (2.68 kills per set).
Western Washington and Central Washington tied for third in the preseason poll after placing third and fourth last year, respectively, and advancing to the NCAA West regional tournament. The Vikings were nationally ranked from start to finish last year, finishing No. 22, and statistically finished sixth in Div. II in digs per set (19.64) and seventh in attacks per set (39.79). The team will have some big holes to fill to challenge for their sixth conference title with the graduation of defensive player of the year Samantha Hutchinson and three-time first team middle blocker Kayla Erickson.
The Vikings return a dynamic offensive player in senior outside hitter Rachel Roeder. The first team All-GNAC selection finished second for the team in both hitting percentage (.242) and kills per set (3.18). Senior hitter Jennica McPherson is poised for a comeback after earning first team All-GNAC honors in 2013. She finished 2014 averaging 2.55 digs and 1.73 kills per set.
Central Washington was ranked as high as No. 11 early in 2014 after a trio of opening-weekend victories over nationally squads in UC San Diego, Cal State San Bernadino and Sonoma State, and three wins in four matches at the GNAC/PacWest crossover. The Wildcats were solid on both offense and defense, finishing third in the league in hitting percentage (.215) while ranking 14th in Div. II in blocks per set (2.38).
The Wildcats return 10 letterwinners and significant experience, led by senior setter Catie Fry. The honorable mention AVCA All-American and first team all-conference selection finished 2014 ranked 40th in Div. II in assists per set (10.52) and 76th in total assists (1,041). She is the top returning Great Northwest player in both categories. Senior outside hitter Linden Firethorne earned first team All-GNAC honors after finishing tied in the league in kills per set (3.66), while amassing a .222 hitting percentage. Central Washington also returns junior outside hitter Jordan Deming (.247 hitting percentage), junior outside hitter turned libero Lindsey Milner (2.31 digs per set) and senior middle blocker Kaitlin Quirk.
Simon Fraser finished fifth in the conference standings last year, completing their first winning season in five years of Great Northwest membership. The Clan improved six wins over last year, thanks in part to a defense that held opponents to a .162 hitting percentage. Simon Fraser returns four starters, led by libero Alison McKay. The junior was a member of the Canadian national B team, while finishing fourth in the conference in digs per set (5.27). Junior outside hitter Devon May is Simon Fraser’s top returning offensive player, finishing 2014 with a .118 hitting percentage and 2.34 kills per set. Senior Danielle Curtis will step into the starting libero role after splitting time last year. Simon Fraser will have to replace a big hole with the graduation of middle blocker Madeline Hait, who finished second in the Great Northwest in blocks (1.17 per set) and sixth in hitting percentage (.291).
Seattle Pacific is picked sixth in the poll after finishing seventh in 2014. The Falcons slipped in the standings after a fifth-place finish in 2013, but could be posied to climb with the return of four starters. That should help repleace the experience of graduated middle blocker Madi Cavell, who led the Falcons with 3.70 kills and 0.25 aces per set. Senior Ellie Britt is the Falcons’ top returning offensive player after averaging 2.06 kills and 0.31 blocks per set. She will be joined by senior middle blocker Luisa McInnis (0.76 blocks per set), senior libero Breanna Wiekamp (1.98 digs per set) and sophomore outside hitter Hannah Lautenbach (1.28 kills per set).
Conference newcomer Concordia is picked seventh after years of success in the NAIA. The Cavaliers went 29-10 last season and lost in five sets to the College of Idaho in the Cascade Collegiate conference tournament championship match. The second-place tournament finish secured the Cavaliers a spot in the NAIA national tournamnet, where they lost in the opening round. Concordia returns 11 letterwinners and five starters for their first Great Northwest campaign, led by senior middle blocker Brianna Hogan. The honorable mention NAIA All-American amassed a .321 hitting percentage (second in the CCC) and averaged 2.51 kills per set.
Sophomore opposite Lindsey Dorsey was the conference freshman of the year and a honorable mention NAIA All-American as she averaged 3.33 kills per set and finished with a .268 hitting percentage. The Cavaliers also return senior libero Shantel Gritsch (4.84 digs per set) and junior setter Jenessa Taylor (10.4 assists per setm .300 hitting percentage)
Western Oregon, picked to finish eighth, is still in building mode after tying for second in 2012. The Wolves proved a formidable foe at the net last year, finishing third in the GNAC and 29th at Div. II with 2.31 blocks per set. The Wolves hope to grow with a young roster that features just one upperclassman returner in junior libero Christie Colasurdo. The regular starter at the position finished averaging 3.72 digs per set while managing 1.19 kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Alisha Bettinson leads five sophomore returners after averaging 1.74 kills and 2.60 digs per set as a freshman. Sophomore defensive specialist Jaryn Ramos also saw significant playing time as a freshman, averaging 3.37 digs per set to lead the team.
Montana State Billings slips to ninth in the poll after finishing sixth last year. The Yellowjackets started and finished strong in 2014, winning five of their first six matches and three of their final five, all of which came on the road. The team looks to replace four starters, including first team All-GNAC middle blocker Chelsey Walter and honorable mention outside hitter Monica Grimsud. Senior setter Kyndal Williams earned honorable mention All-GNAC honors and returns off a year where she finished third in the league in assists (10.54 per set). The Yellowjackets also welcome back junior outside hitters Stormy Siemion (2.17 kills per set) and Ashlynn Ward (2.24 kills per set) along with sophomore defensive specialist Mataia Roderick (2.48 digs per set).
Saint Martin’s is picked to repeat in 10th place this season. The Saints struggled much of the season, earning their only conference win in a five-set affair at Western Oregon on Sept. 27. Saint Martin’s will grow with 10 returning letterwinners and three returning starters. Senior middle blocker Kyra Davidson is the team’s top returning offensive player after averaging 1.58 kills per set with a .180 hitting percentage as a junior. Sophomore defensive specialist Hannah Neumann averaged 1.88 digs per set in her freshman campaign.
Alaska is picked 11th as head coach Brian Scott begins his first season as head coach. The Nanooks enter the year with a lot of potential, returning 11 letterwinners and all six regular starters. Senior outside hitter Sam Harthun leads the way. The two-time first team All-GNAC selection finished fifth in Div. II last year with an average of 12.65 attacks per set and was 17th with an average of 4.09 kills per set. She enters the year 267 kills away from Alaska’s all-time kills record and 365 from the GNAC career record. Alaska returns a pair of front-row performers in junior middle blocker Lilah Hudson (0.52 blocks per set) and sophomore Riley Podowicz (.258 hitting percentage, 0.72 blocks per set) along with starting senior setter Miranda Grieser (7.84 assists per set) and senior libero Samantha Hesterman (2.35 digs per set).
The 2015 GNAC volleyball season commences on Thursday, Sept. 3, with Simon Fraser participating in the Hawaii Pacific Invite in Honolulu and Alaska Anchorage hosting Azusa Pacific at the UAA Spring Hill Suites Invitational. Conference play begins on Monday, Sept. 14, when Central Washington hosts Northwest Nazarene.
