ELLENSBURG, Wash.—The Central Washington volleyball team travels up to Alaska to take on the GNAC leading Seawovles from Anchorage and the Nanooks from Fairbanks in a pair of GNAC matches.
MATCH INFORMATION
Thursday, Oct 7
th
8:00 PM PST
Vs Alaska Anchorage
Alaska Airlines Center
Anchorage, AK
WATCH |
LIVE STATS
Saturday, Oct 9
th
3:00 PM PST
Vs Alaska Fairbanks
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium
Fairbanks, AK
WATCH |
LIVE STATS
QUOTABLE
"UAA and UAF have had a lot of success this year. We're hoping to put our best foot forward and see where it takes us in two tough environments." Said CWU head coach
Mario Andaya.
SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES
The Seawolves are currently 12-5 overall, and 5-0 in GNAC play. Through all of their games this season, the Seawolves have only dropped on match at home against previous No. 18 Central Missouri, 0-3. The Seawolves sit number one, and the only team above the Wildcats in GNAC standings.
As a team the Seawolves are averaging 12.5 kills per set, 11.6 assists per set, 2.3 aces per set, 1.9 blocks per set, and 14.4 digs per set. The Seawolves currently sit atop the GNAC in hitting percentage at .232, second in opponent hitting percentage at .150, and first in average service aces per set.
The offense is led by junior Eve Stephens. The 6' 1" outside hitter has 229 kills this season, averaging 3.75 per set alongside 30 service aces. She also sits third on the roster in digs with 139, and has 47 total blocks this season.
On the defensive side it's Talia Leauanae that leads the Seawolves. The 5' 8" junior from Hawaii has 212 digs this season, averaging 3.48 per set. Leauanae is also tied for second on the roster in service aces with 30.
SCOUTING THE NANOOKS
The Nanooks are currently 11-7 overall and 4-2 in GNAC conference play. The Nanooks have only dropped one match at home against Cal State Los Angeles, 3-1. The Nanooks currently sit fifth in the GNAC standings behind Seattle Pacific.
The offense is averaging 12.4 kills per set, 11.4 assists per set, and 1.7 service aces per set. On the defensive they average 16.7 digs per set and 2.6 blocks per set.
Senior AveRee Reynolds leads the Nanooks offense with 171 kills this season averaging 2.71 per set. The Nanooks as a team have five different players with 100+ kills. They have out killed opponents this season 793 to 740 through 64 sets.
On the defensive side junior Dani Dodge leads all the Nanooks with 288 total digs. As a team, the Nanooks once again have five players with 100+ digs, including Cate Whiting who also has 242 herself.
THE WILDCATS THIS SEASON
Currently second in the GNAC conference and No. 25 on the AVCA Top 25 poll, the Wildcats are 8-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Wildcats head to Alaska on a three-game winning streak at home that included two huge wins against previous No. 15 Western Washington and No. 22 Simon Fraser.
The top of the Wildcats offense is occupied by sophomore
Ashley Kaufman and freshman
Marianna Payne. Kaufman, the current kill leader for the Wildcats has 136 total averaging 3.16 per set. Kaufman also has 9 service aces, 107 digs, and 12 blocks. Payne only trails Kaufman by 1 kill with 135 total and a 3.14 average. While Payne has only 31 digs, she sits second on the roster with 36 blocks.
Behind the power hitting duo sits libero
Hannah Stires. The backbone of the Wildcats has 215 digs this season, averaging 5.00 per set. Her .929 receiving percentage is a big part of the receiving core.
Directing the Wildcat offense is the sophomore duo of
Sydney Remsberg and
Tia Andaya. Remsberg currently sits first on the roster with 230 total assists averaging 5.35 per set. Both Andaya and Remsberg sit tied at first on the roster with 16 service aces. Andaya, the Div II leader in Triple-Doubles, has 224 assists this season alongside 102 kills, 103 digs, and 24 blocks.
