Scoreboard

UAA runner-up in GNAC preseason VB poll

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

UAA runner-up in GNAC preseason VB poll

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Alaska Anchorage volleyball team has been picked to finish runner-up in the 2014 Great Northwest Athletic Conference's preseason coaches' poll, released Wednesday.

With 10 returning letterwinners, including four starters and their primary libero, the Seawolves are coming off a 2013 season in which they went 21-10 overall and 15-3 in the GNAC, finishing just one match behind champion Western Washington. UAA also made its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five seasons.

The Vikings again topped this year's coaches' poll, garnering eight of 10 first-place votes and earning 80 points overall. UAA and Northwest Nazarene got one first-place vote apiece and received 70 and 69 votes, respectively. Central Washington, which returns 13 letterwinners from a year ago, is fourth (53 pts), followed by Seattle Pacific (52).

Two-time GNAC co-Coach of the Year Chris Green will have one of his deepest squads in recent memory, including AVCA Second Team All-American junior outside hitter Katelynn Zanders and fellow All-GNAC performer Julia Mackey, a junior right-side hitter. Senior libero Quinn Barker is the reigning GNAC Newcomer of the Year, and middle blocker Erin Braun was last season's GNAC Freshman of the Year.

The Seawolves premiere Aug. 29 with their annual Seawolf Alumni match. The event starts at 7 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center and admission is free.

UAA opens the regular season Sept. 5-6 with four matches in its own SpringHill Suites Invitational. The Seawolves will face non-conference foes LIU Post and Saint Leo as they help ring in Alaska Airlines Center's grand opening ceremonies.

2014 Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll
Rk  Team                   2013 Records        Pts
 1. Western Washington (8) 23-4 (16-2, 1st)    80
 2. Alaska Anchorage (1)   21-10 (15-3, 2nd)   70
 3. Northwest Nazarene (1) 18-6 (14-4, 3rd)    69
 4. Central Washington     15-12 (11-7, 4th-T) 53
 5. Seattle Pacific        15-11 (11-7, 4th-T) 52
 6. Western Oregon         10-18 (7-11, 6th)   38
 7. Simon Fraser           11-13 (6-12, 7th)   30
 8. Montana State Billings 7-20 (4-14, 8th)    25
 9. Saint Martin's         7-23 (3-15, 9th-T)  17
10. Alaska Fairbanks       4-25 (3-15, 9th-T)  16
(Note: First-place votes in parentheses.  Points awarded on a 9-8-7-6-5-4--3-2-1 basis. Each coach ranked other nine teams).

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Julia Mackey

#6 Julia Mackey

RS
5' 11"
Freshman
Katelynn Zanders

#14 Katelynn Zanders

OH
5' 9"
Freshman
Quinn Barker

#1 Quinn Barker

L
5' 4"
Junior
Erin Braun

#15 Erin Braun

MB
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Julia Mackey

#6 Julia Mackey

5' 11"
Freshman
RS
Katelynn Zanders

#14 Katelynn Zanders

5' 9"
Freshman
OH
Quinn Barker

#1 Quinn Barker

5' 4"
Junior
L
Erin Braun

#15 Erin Braun

6' 0"
Freshman
MB