GNAC Sports

Vikings Favored But Tight Race Expected in GNAC Volleyball Chase


Schurman	Dranginis

Western Washington, which reached the NCAA Division II volleyball national championship match a year ago, is a slight favorite to win its fifth Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball title in eight seasons, but it won't be a cakewalk for the Vikings.

From first to fourth, this fall's race could be the closest in GNAC history if the coaches' pre-season poll is a good indicator. Only seven points separates the first-place Vikings from fourth-place Northwest Nazarene in the poll.

In fact, the Vikings, who have the fewest number of returning starters in the league, received just three of nine first-place votes from the league's coaches.

Still, the four-time GNAC champions narrowly edged Western Oregon, which handed WWU its lone league loss a year ago, 69-67 in the balloting even though the Wolves received four first-place votes.

Central Washington, which won titles in 2004 and 2005 (two of the three years in which WWU didn't finish in first), received the two remaining first-place votes and finished only four points behind Western Washington. NNU, meanwhile, was only three points behind CWU to finish fourth.

Seattle Pacific finished fifth in the poll, followed by Montana State Billings, Alaska Fairbanks, Saint Martin's and Alaska Anchorage. Only 10 points separated the bottom four.

The projected closeness of the race – from top to bottom - is not lost on Viking head coach Diane Flick, who needs 25 more wins to reach the 200 plateau.

"One thing that prepared us for the national tournament last year was the level of play in our conference," Flick (175-47, 8 years) said. "You're seeing teams from top to bottom doing well, and there are a lot of teams this year returning a lot of players."

Indeed, one of them is the Vikings. Despite being somewhat of a rebuilding mode with just two starters, WWU does have more returning letter winners (10) than six of the other eight schools. Only Central, which won seven of its final nine matches last season, has more with 12.

The foundation of WWU's “rebuilding project” lies with three seniors who have all played major roles over the last two seasons.

Leading that group is middle blocker Tiana Roma (6-0, Sr., Edmonds, WA - Edmonds-Woodway), who was an honorable mention All-American and first-team all-Pacific Region pick and is a three-time GNAC all-star.

Roma ranked third on the Vikings in kills with 325 and led the GNAC in attack percentage at .358.

"The best word to describe Tiana last year was consistency," said Flick. "We could rely on her night in and night out, and we expect her to carry an even bigger load this year."

Also back at middle blocker is Angie Alvord (6-0, Sr., Laurel, WA - Meridian) who had 296 kills and ranked second in the GNAC in blocks (1.38), third in attack percentage (.324) and fourth in service aces (0.60) to earn honorable mention all-league honors.

She was spectacular in the post-season, making both the Elite Eight and Pacific Regional all-tournament teams. Alvord averaged 4.4 kills in the three Elite Eight matches, and 1.5 blocks over the entire six-match tournament run.

The other experienced senior is right-side hitter Marissa Hill (5-9, North Bend, WA - Mount Si). Hill, who averaged 1.67 kills and 0.91 blocks and ranked seventh in the GNAC in attack percentage (.249). She had her season cut short by a knee injury in the national semifinals that required surgery.

The other area where Western has a fair bit of experience is in the back row , where two sophomores have each spent a year as the defensive specialist.

Allison Gotz (5-3, So., Bothell, WA - Archbishop Murphy) averaged 1.65 digs last season, and will move into the libero spot vacated by the graduation of All-American Courtney Schneider.

Shasta Bennett (5-9, So., Brush Prairie, WA - Prairie) averaged 2.09 digs and added 22 service aces in 2006 prior to redshirting last year. Her background as an outside hitter gives the Vikings an additional attacking option from the back.

"They fill those roles nicely," said Flick. "The only difficulty for them is the stigma of following a player who was the best to play that position in the entire country. They could be exceptional there."

Of WWU's remaining returnees, none played in even one-third of WWU's games last season.

Setter Kari Rice (5-11, Jr., Toppenish, WA - Eisenhower) participated in just 10 games. Outside hitter Shanley Bessett (5-9, Sr., University Place, WA - Curtis) made just 11 appearances in six matches.

Outside hitter Megan Amundson (5-11, So., Stanwood, WA) notched 35 kills last year and filled in admirably for Hill on the right side while outside hitters Jordyn Bailey (5-9, So., Wenatchee, WA) and Kathryn Mertens (5-10, So., Olympia, WA) participated only four and 21 contests, respectively.

Western Oregon, which will take the court under first-year coach Brad Saindon (Overall, 302-226, 17 years), matches WWU's 10 letter winners.

Six of them, however, were starters and three were all-stars. No one else in the league returns more than two all-stars.

Among the returning all-stars for Saindon, who previously coached at Arizona State and Colorado in addition to Division II Regis, are outside hitters Kayla Mainer (5-10, Sr., Spokane, WA – West Valley) and Stacey Bennett (6-3, Sr., Portland, OR - Westview) and setter Amy Herron (5-5, Jr., Spokane, WA – Mead).

Mainer, who was voted the GNAC Newcomer-of-the-Year , ranked fifth in the GNAC in kills (3.99) and sixth in digs (4.19) and also had 45 aces to earn first team honors. Bennett averaged 2.95 kills and ranked fourth in hitting percentage (.319) and was a second-team selection.

Herron, who averaged 10.14 assists and 2.80 digs, was an honorable mention selection.

Also back for the Wolves from last year's starting unit are middle blockers Lisa Martini (5-11, Jr., Philomath, OR) and Sharon Peterson (6-3, Jr., Corvallis, MT) and outside hitter Haley Kostrba (5-9, Sr., Gresham, OR).

Martini averaged 1.72 kills and had 70 blocks, while Peterson contributed 1.94 kills per game and was credited with 56 blocks. Kostrba netted 2.79 kills and 3.79 digs.

Two of last year's reserves – setter Jorden Burrows (6-0, So., Lebanon, OR, 2.71 apg) and libero Danielle English (5-4, Jr., Anchorage, AK – South Anchorage, 1.44 dpg) played in 50 or more games.

After losing eight of its nine non-conference matches a year ago, Central Washington went 12-6 to finish third in the GNAC, but the slow start doomed its playoff chances.

With a league-best 12 letter winners, five starters and two all-stars being joined by three JC standouts, coach Mario Andaya (185-148, 12 years), who needs two wins to tie John Pearson as the winningest volleyball coach in school history, hopes to avoid that scenario this season.

Back to lead the Wildcats is All-American middle blocker Rachael Schurman (6-0, Sr., Spokane, WA - Mead). Schurman finished second in the GNAC in hitting percentage (.342) and third in kills (4.03) and blocks (1.29) to earn honorable mention AVCA honors.

Erin Norris (RS/MB, 5-10, Jr., Spokane, WA - Mead), meanwhile, finished fifth in blocks (1.11) and led the GNAC in service aces with 70. She also averaged 2.87 kills in earning honorable mention honors.

Also back from last year's starting lineup is setter Maggie Olson (5-9, Sr., Snoqualmie, WA), who ranked second in the GNAC in assists (11.49) and outside hitter Kayla Roof (5-10, Sr., Eatonville, WA – Puget Sound) and Kady Try (6-0, So., Brentwood, CA – Mead-Spokane).

Roof averaged 2.28 kills and 2.50 digs, while Try contributed 2.94 kills, 2.29 digs and 44 blocks in her freshman season.

Also making contributions last season were liberos Deidre Scheidt (5-6, Jr., Milton, WA - Fife) and Brandie Vea (5-3, So., Honolulu, HI), who had 221 (2.40 per game) and 184 (2.71 per game) digs, respectively; and setter Carlee Marble (5-8, So., LaConner, WA), who started six matches early in the season and averaged 10.73 assists per game.

Outside hitter Emily Veenker (OH, 5-9, Sr., Auburn, WA - Wyoming) returns after sitting out last season. Two years ago she contributed 2.49 kills per game.

Newcomers included outside hitter Leilani Ramsey (5-10, Jr., Tacoma, WA – Fife) from Tacoma CC, setter Whitney Buck (5-9, Jr., Spokane, WA – North Central) from Whatcom CC and libero Danielle Porter (5-6, Jr., Spokane, WA – Lewis & Clark) from Walla Walla CC.

Both Ramsey and Buck were NWAACC Region MVPs. Ramsey led the NWAACC in kills (5.33) and ranked fourth in hitting percentage to earn Western Region MVP honors. Buck ranked third in assists (10.73) in earning Northern Region MVP honors.

Porter, who ranked second in digs in the junior college conference (7.40) was a first team all-conference selection in the East Region.

Returning All-American Cammy Dranginis (6-0, Jr., Nampa, ID - Skyview) and second team all-conference selection Lindsay Forseth (6-1, Jr., Nampa, ID – Nampa Christian) are among three returning starters for Northwest Nazarene, which is just one of two teams (along with WOU) in the GNAC with both a first and second team returning all-star.

Dranginis led the GNAC in blocks (1.42) and ranked ninth in kills (3.53) in leading the Crusaders to a third-place tie with Central Washington last season and earning honorable mention AVCA All-American honors. Forseth averaged 2.97 kills and 3.60 digs.

Also back for coach Jared Sliger (41-38, 3 years) are outside hitter Amanda Boschma (5-8, Sr., Kuna, ID), liberos Jackie Bourdon (5-6, Jr., Tenino, WA – Black Hills) and Haley Hevern (5-3, So., Crater, OR) and setter Amy Higginson (5-7, So., Longview, WA – R.A. Long).

Boschma started 11 matches and had 72 kills and 131 digs in 79 contests. Bourdon and Hevern averaged 3.38 and 1.69 digs, respectively. Higginson had 41 assists in 22 contests.

NNU's six returning letter winners are the second fewest in the league, but the Crusaders did add two four-year transfers and a JC all-star.

Middle blocker Heidi Fehringer (6-0, Jr., American Falls, ID) had 309 kills (2.69) and 94 blocks (0.82) last season at Division II Colorado – Colorado Springs.

Meanwhile, Ashley Galeai (5-7, Jr., Nampa, ID – Skyview) averaged 7.39 assists at the College of Idaho and Eki Punimata (5-11, Jr., Tacoma, WA – Lakes) averaged 9.95 assists in earning first team NWAACC Western Region honors at Tacoma CC.

Setter Joelle Perez (5-9, So., Vancouver, WA - Heritage) is the lone returning all-star and just one of two starters back for Seattle Pacific. Perez ranked fourth last season in the GNAC in assists (11.07) to earn honorable mention and GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year honors.

Middle blocker Jessica Bettencourt (5-11, Jr., South Lake Tahoe, CA), who averaged 1.19 kills and had 49 blocks, and Torii Mount (5-2, Sr., Gresham, OR), who finished second in the GNAC in digs to Schneider (5.36), also return for the Falcons.

Five other letter winners are also back for head coach Chris Johnson (61-20, 3 years) including outside hitters Sarah Risser (5-9, So., Santa Barbara, CA – Dos Pueblos), Nikki Finley (5-9, Jr., Highlands Ranch, CO – Mountain View) and Alexa Vondrak (5-9, Jr.), Gresham, OR – Sam Barlow) and middle blockers Robin de Jong (5-10, Jr., Goleta, CA – Dos Pueblos) and Kyle Johnson (6-1, So., Tucson, AZ – Catalina Foothills).

Of the five Risser saw the most action, participating in 49 of SPU's 101 games and averaging 1.14 kills and 1.10 digs. Finley played in 33 games and averaged 2.42 kills, while Vondrak averaged 1.03 kills and 1.05 digs in 37 contests.

De Jong and Johnson played in 38 and 14 games, respectively, combining for 30 kills (22 by De Jong) and 39 blocks (34 by De Jong).

Among six newcomers for the Falcons are five freshmen and transfer Courtney Weedman (5-4, Jr., Scottsdale, AZ), who had 1,346 assists, 65 aces and 408 assists in two seasons at UC Colorado Springs.

First-year coach Dana Cordova inherited a group of five returning letter winners at Montana State Billings, which finished fifth last year in the GNAC with a 10-8 record.

Among the five is outside hitter Devon Crotteau (6-0, Jr., Casper, WY – Northern Colorado) , who was the GNAC's No. 2 kill producer averaging 4.23 per contest.

Also back are returning starters Jennifer Boe (5-8, So., Casper, WY – Kelly Walsh) and Jessica Lechner (5-11, Sr., Pompeys Pillar, MT – Huntley Project) along with Hillary Morrison (5-10, Jr., Evansville, WY – Chadron State) and Jill Trabing (Jr., Buffalo, WY).

Boe averaged 2.86 kills and 2.48 digs and also had 30 aces and 52 blocks and will combine with Crotteau to proved the Yellowjackets a double threat on the outside.

Lechner, who averaged 1.78 kills and had 82 blocks last season, will play a huge role. “She is going to be the glue that will bond this team,” Cordova said.

Morrison, who played in 75 games last season, will see action as a setter as well on the right side, while Trabing, who had 18 kills in 38 games, is being moved to a new position. “We will use her agility on the defensive side,” Cordova said.

Among Cordova's first recruiting class are six freshmen and a pair of JC transfers – setter Alohanui Pekipaki (5-8, So., Kearns, UT) who is expected to step in and run the offense and middle blocker Rosey Falemaka (5-10, Jr., Grantsville, UT) – who played for Cordova last season at Otero JC in Colorado.

Two honorable mention all-league selections are among five returning starters and nine letter winners for Phil Shoemaker (90-98, 8 years) at Alaska Fairbanks.

All-stars back for the Nanooks (10-16, 4-14), who finished in a tie for eighth last season in the GNAC with Saint Martin's, are outside hitter Megan Thigpen (5-10, Jr., Spokane, WA - Mead) and middle blocker Korlyn Bolster (6-1, Sr., Guerneville, CA – El Molino).

Thigpen ranked 10 th last season in the conference averaging 3.50 kills per game and also contributed 3.44 digs per contest. Bolster contributed 2.29 kills and 86 blocks.

Other returning starters are right side hitter Jessica Hill (6-0, Jr., Colorado Springs, CO - Doherty), middle blocker Erica Gage (6-1, So., Palo Alto, CA) and setter Alexa Sherman (5-9, Jr., Calabasas, CA).

Hill averaged 2.72 kills and 1.50 digs and also had 33 aces and 77 blocks. Gage ranked sixth in the conference in blocks with 110 and also averaged 1.57 kills. Sherman finished sixth in assists, averaging 10.38 per game.

Also back are outside hitter Melissa Refuerzo (5-8, So., Anchorage, AK - Bartlett), setter Sedra Zlock (5-9, Sr., Spanaway, WA – Spanaway Lake) and liberos Miranda Trudeau (5-9, Sr., Chimacum, WA – Port Townsend) and Hannah Armstrong (5-7, Jr., Eagle River, AK - Chugiak) along with outside hitter Heather Lyons (5-10, Jr., Anchorage, AK) who sat out last season after transferring from Alaska Anchorage.

Refuerzo had 41 kills in 34 contests, while Zlock was credited with 178 assists and 124 digs in 62 games. Trudeau and Armstrong each had 149 digs in 82 and 81 games, respectively.

Lyons had 458 kills and 406 digs in 161 games during the 2005 and 2006 seasons at Anchorage.

Saint Martin's (4-24, 4-14) returns six starters off last year's team that posted the most conference victories for a Saint team since SMU won five matches in 2001.

Back to lead the Saints is outside hitter Shealun Campisi (5-11, Jr., Buckley, WA – White River), who averaged 3.10 kills and 3.12 digs to earn honorable mention all-league honors.

Other returning starters for coach Phil Ibarra (6-67, 3 years) are middle blockers Andrea Tarbet (6-1, Sr., Rochester, WA) and Nicole Ostlund (5-11, Jr., Lake Tapps, WA – Auburn Riverside), right side hitter Kirstyn Druzianich (6-0, So., Puyallup, WA - Bellarmine), outside hitter Malia Ibarra (5-6, So., Olympia, WA – North Thurston) and setter Kanoe Kalalau (5-11, Sr., Spanaway, WA - Pierce).

Tarbet led the Saints in blocks last season with 88 and also had 216 kills (2.35) and 261 digs (2.84). Ostlund averaged 2.00 kills and had 32 blocks, while Druzianich recorded 1.24 kills and 1.71 digs per game and had 56 blocks.

Malia Ibarra ranked second on the team a year ago in digs with 269 (2.96 per game) and Kalalau averaged 9.09 assists.

Also returning for SMU are outside hitter Kristin Anderson (5-10, Jr., Vancouver, WA - LaSalle), who had 114 kills in 67 contests; middle blocker Allora Dehan (6-2, So., Buckley, WA – White River), who had 73 kills and 29 blocks in 43 contests and setter/right side hitter Angela Smith (5-9, So., Burien, WA - Kennedy), who played in 33 games.

Chris Green takes over at Alaska Anchorage this fall and inherits a team that won just one conference match last season and was 5-19 overall.

Last year he won a national junior college title at Western Nebraska and he brings a 453-55 JC coaching record to Anchorage.

Five starters return off last year's team, including outside hitter Rhea Cardwell (5-10, Sr., Prineville, OR – Crook County), who averaged 3.26 kills and ranked seventh in the GNAC in digs averaging 4.16 per game.

Also back are outside hitters Joanna Johnson (5-10, Sr., Tustin, CA) and Rachel Kidwell (5-10, Sr., Bullhead City, AZ – River Valley), middle blocker Jessica Morehouse (6-1, Sr., Anchorage, AK - Service) and libero Cristal Negron (5-5, Sr., Anchorage, AK - Dimond).

Johnson led the Seawolves in kills (3.39) and also had 277 digs (3.15) and 44 blocks, while Kidwell had 179 kills (2.03) and ranked second on the team in digs (3.67).

Morehouse ranked second for UAA in blocks with 65 and had 147 kills (1.67), while Negron had 311 digs (3.53).

UAA's only other returning letter winner is Samantha Calderwood (5-6, So., Kenai, AK – Kenai Central, 1.59 dpg), but Green did add four JC transfers including setter Calli Scott (5-9, Jr., Scottsdale, AZ) and middle blocker Ashley Bates (6-0, Jr., Peoria, AZ – Mountain Ridge) from Glendale CC (Ariz.), which was nationally ranked in the Top 10.

Two years ago Scott average 10.38 assists for Glendale before being moved to the libero position last year. Bates, averaged 1.83 kills and an impressive 1.59 blocks to earn second team all-star honors.

Another JC all-star is middle blocker Cortney Lundberg (6-1, So., Hardin, MT) who hit for a .309 percentage at Miles CC.

Also joining the Seawolves is Stacie Meisner (5-8, Jr., Gering, NE), who played for Green at Western Nebraska and averaged 1.88 digs per game and hit for a .234 percentage.

AROUND THE GNAC: Among rule changes this fall in collegiate volleyball is the adoption of a new point system. Instead of 30 points, only 25 points are now needed to win a set (formerly called a game). . .Thirty-seven starters, an average of four per team, return to the GNAC this season. . .The top five players in hitting percentage – WWU's Tiana Roma, CWU's Rachael Schurman, WWU's Angie Alvord, WOU's Stacey Bennett and NNU's Cammy Dranginis – from last fall are back, while five of the Top 10 in kills are back including MSUB's Devon Crotteau (2 nd ), Schurman (3 rd ), WOU's Kayla Mainer (5 th ), Dranginis (9 th ) and UAF's Megan Thigpen (10 th ). . .Four of the Top 5 in blocks – Dranginis (1 st ), Alvord (2 nd ), Schurman (3 rd ) and CWU's Erin Norris (5 th ) – also return.