PORTLAND, Ore. – Big performances on the hardwood headlined the latest Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week selections announced on Monday.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Asher Cai – Central Washington University
Fourth-career player of the week, first this season.
Cai led the Wildcats to a pair of wins to start their 2025-26 season, leading all GNAC players with 6.0 assists per game and averaging 23.5 points per game in her season debut. Hinting the senior is primed for another standout campaign, Cai approached triple-double territory on Saturday with 31 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in the Wildcats’ 73-66 win over Cal Poly Humboldt. She made 5 of 9 threes and went 14-for-14 from the free-throw line, while adding a pair of steals and committing just one turnover in the 40-minute effort. That came after a 16-point performance in CWU’s 58-51 win over Cal State East Bay on Friday. Overall on the week Cai averaged 6.0 rebounds to go along with her stellar scoring and assisting numbers. The big offensive output moved Cai up to No. 13 on the GNAC all-time scoring list with 1,594 career points in her four seasons at CWU.
CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson: “Asher stepped up big for us this weekend all over the floor, and her play was a critical piece in us leaving California with two wins. She was dynamic in scoring at all three levels, she rebounded the ball, was a playmaker and defended well in both games. From a leadership perspective, she helped our team respond well especially when we were challenged. I am happy for her to receive this recognition – it is very deserving.”
Also Nominated: Mahaila Harrison, Alaska Anchorage; Tamai Mancuso, Alaska; Kaitlin Grossman, Montana State Billings; Chloe Deharo, Northwest Nazarene; Kiana Rios, Saint Martin’s; Grace Turley, Seattle Pacific; Enid Vaifanua, Western Oregon; Olivia Hodges, Western Washington.
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aidan Rice – Western Washington University
First-career player of the week.
Rice led all GNAC players last week with 6.0 assists per game and 3.5 steals per game, while averaging 19.0 points and propelling the Vikings to a pair of regional victories. In WWU’s 83-71 win over Cal Poly Humboldt on Friday, Rice led all players with 22 points as he connected on 7 of 12 field goals including 5 of 7 shots from 3-point range. He added five rebounds, five assists and five steals in 38 minutes on the floor. He followed with another strong performance in an 87-62 win over San Francisco State on Saturday, once again leading all players with 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Helping facilitate the offense, Rice had seven assists in his 34 minutes on the floor while adding five rebounds and two more steals. Overall in the two-game sample Rice shot 54.5 % (12-for-22) including 53.8% (7-for-13) from long distance.
WWU Head Coach Tony Dominguez: “I am excited to watch Aidan grow as a player and leader for our team. Last weekend I felt like Aidan took a big step in that direction of leadership and productivity. He played both sides of the ball and kept his emotions in check. His temperament was a real catalyst.”
Also Nominated: Sylas Williams, Alaska Anchorage; Davis Crilly, Alaska; Bradley Swillie, Central Washington; Brandon Tchouya, Montana State Billings; Briggs Ranstrom, Northwest Nazarene; Kaden Hansen, Saint Martin’s; Julian Mora, Seattle Pacific; Jadin Penigar, Western Oregon.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tia Allen – University of Alaska Anchorage
First-career player of the week.
Allen helped lead the Seawolves to a pair of road victories which helped them remain in contention for the 2025 GNAC title. In a five-set upset of GNAC-leading Central Washington on Saturday, Allen posted a 20-kill, 14-dig double-double. Swinging at .333 in the match, it marked her second-highest kill total of the season and her second time reaching 20 in a match. It came after she had a 14-kill, 20-dig double-double in the Seawolves’ four-set triumph over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday. Overall on the week Allen averaged 3.78 kills per set while swinging at .300, and she added 3.78 digs per set and seven total blocks on the defensive side of the ball. The senior now ranks eighth in the conference this season with 3.25 kills per set. Including her two seasons at Saint Martin’s, Allen has accumulated 1,200 kills and 1,199 digs to become the 27th player (third Seawolf and second Saint) in conference history to reach 1,000 in both categories. With 106 career service aces as well, Allen became just the 12th player in GNAC history to hit 1,000/1,000/100.
UAA Head Coach Stacie Meisner: “Tia really anchored our team last week with both her attacking and defending. She knows when to be aggressive and use her power, and when to place the ball with tips for a kill. She is a consistent presence on the court and as one of our captains has done a tremendous job both on and off the court all season long.”
Also Nominated: Elena Guc, Alaska; Scottie Ellsworth, Central Washington; Allie Dorman, Montana State Billings; Kingsley Mason, Saint Martin’s; Megan Omlid, Seattle Pacific; Eva Person, Simon Fraser.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Christina Lopez – Seattle Pacific University
First-career player of the week.
Lopez helped lead the Falcons to their first 2-0 week of the 2025 season, turning in a pair of stellar defensive performances wearing the libero jersey. In a four-set win over Western Oregon on Saturday, Lopez posted a season-high 26 digs and just missed a double-double as she added nine assists to aid the offense. That came after she had 17 digs in a sweep of Saint Martin’s on Thursday, which was another double-double near-miss as she had nine more assists. Overall on the week Lopez averaged 6.14 digs per set, and the Falcons extended their winning streak to four matches. Lopez, who recently surpassed the 1,000-career digs mark, ranks second in the GNAC this fall with 4.77 digs per set.
SPU Head Coach Jason Rhine: “Christina is one of our captains and is a competitive leader for us on and off the court. Defensively she is always impressing the coaches and her teammates with the range she can cover and the effort she puts into her position every day in practice. This past weekend she again turned that effort into a lot of digs and assists, which led our defense to two strong performances.”
Also Nominated: Bella Burney, Alaska Anchorage; Presley Engelauf, Alaska; Brooklyn Parker, Central Washington; Avarey Stuff, Montana State Billings; Macyn Unger, Simon Fraser.