Coming Up – The Evergreen State College (October 17, Lacey, Washington, 7:00 p.m.), Alaska Fairbanks (October 19, Lacey, Washington, 7:00 p.m.), Alaska Anchorage (October 20, Lacey, Washington, 7:00 p.m.).
COMPLETE MEDIA GUIDE
Live Stats/Live Video – Live Stats and Live Video of all of SMU's Volleyball Matches will be available with links found on smusaints.com. Live stats and video will be produced by the Host School.
Social Media – Follow the Saints on Facebook (Saint Martin's University Volleyball) and follow SMU Athletics on Facebook (Saint Martin's Saints), Twitter (SMUAthletics), Instagram (saints_athletics) and YouTube (SMU Athletics).
Ticket Information - SMU students get in free to all SMU home games with a valid student ID card and tickets are available for only five dollars. Seniors/Military/Non-SMU Students get in for three dollars. Children under the age of 11 get in free.
The Evergreen State College Preview – Coming off an upset in conference where the Geoducks of The Evergreen State College knocked off Cascade Conference powerhouse Northwest Christian in four sets. The Geoducks enter the match 7-13 on the season, the most wins in the last season. TESC's attack is focused around the all-time kill leader in program history, Natalie Taylor, who is six kills away from becoming the first player with 1,000 kills in school history. Taylor leads the team with 308 kills this season, and is supported by Chloee Hunt and Bethanie Nelson who have recorded 190 and 178 kills respectively. Setting up the attack is Matalasi Laban, who leads the team in assists with 696, followed by Ashtyn Bagby at 130 assists. Megan Breckenridge is one of five Geoducks with at least 15 service aces on the year, leading the way at 20. On the defense, Tori Wegdahl anchors the backline with her team-leading 402 digs, shadowed by Breckenridge's 250 digs. Hunt and Hungate form the Geoducks top wall at combined 103 blocks. As a team, the Geoducks average 12.2 kills per set, 11.3 assists per set, 1.3 aces per set, 16.3 digs per set, and 1.5 blocks per set.
Alaska Fairbanks Preview – Entering the match after losing to Concordia in four sets, Alaska Fairbanks is 9-10 on the season with a 2-8 record in conference play. In their earlier meeting this season, the Nanooks defeated the Saints in four sets in Alaska. The Nanooks bring a balanced offensive attack to Marcus Pavilion, with five players with 100 kills or more. Leading the pack is Gabby Lerma at 170 kills, followed by Markie Miller (163 kills) and Maddie Davis (159 kills). Setting up the Nanooks' offense is Rachel Nichols (397 assists) and Cate Whiting (286 assists) who have combined for 713 of the team's 848 assists. Coming into the match with the second most service aces in the conference, Whiting and Miller have combined for 44 aces on the year. The Nanooks have collected 114 aces to their opponents' 85. Backing the Nanooks' defense is Jenna Hickel with 328 digs in 70 sets. The Nanooks bring to the table five other players with at least 100 digs or more. On the net, Riley Podowicz leads the team with 36 total blocks including 10 solo blocks. Kim Wong ranks second on the team in blocks at 34. As a whole, Alaska Fairbanks is averaging 13.0 kills per set, 12.1 assists per set, 1.6 aces per set, 15.2 digs per set, and 1.3 blocks per set.
Alaska Anchorage Preview – The Seawolves will travel to Seattle Pacific before heading south to face the Saints. Alaska Anchorage, winners of two in a row and three of their last four, hold a 12-7 overall record and 7-3 in conference play. Their three losses have from the top three teams in conference. The Seawolves defeated the Saints earlier in the season in straight sets. Leading UAA's offense this season is Leah Swiss, who has tallied 232 kills in 78 sets. Chrisalyn Johnson is the second Seawolf to surpass the 200 kill mark with 221 total kills. The Seawolves will look to Casey Davenport to set up the attack with her team-leading 431 assists. Alaska Anchorage leads the conference in service aces largely in part of Swiss and Keala Kaio-Perez who have combined for 84 aces and are averaging an ace per set. The Seawolves have racked up 154 services aces on the year. Defensively, Kaio-Perez leads the five Seawolves who have 100 digs or more, with 377 digs. On the net, Tara Melton and Vanessa Hayes lead Alaska Anchorage in blocks with 70 and 54 respectively. As a team, the Seawolves are averaging 12.1 kills per set, 11.1 assists per set, 2.0 service aces per set, 16.6 digs per set and 2.2 blocks per set.
GNAC Review – The surging Vikings of Western Washington (winners of eight straight) and the newly named Nighthawks of Northwest Nazarene sit atop the GNAC standings at 9-1 in conference play. After knocking off undefeated NNU last week, Central Washington comes in a third with an 8-2 record, followed closely by Alaska Anchorage at 7-3. Seattle Pacific and Simon Fraser are locked in for fifth overall at 5-5 with Concordia at 4-6, one game behind them in the standings. Saint Martin's, Western Oregon, Alaska Fairbanks and Montana State Billings are all tied for eighth in conference with 2-8 records.
