LACEY, Wash. – In a record-setting season for the Saints, where a lot of young talent shows a promising future, it was the upper-classmen providing leadership, and All-Conference performances. Emily Gooding, and Kylie Alos were both named to the GNAC All-Conference honorable mention on Tuesday.
 
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Gooding, a senior right side from Renton, Washington, was one of the most consistent offensive players for the Saints in 2021. Appearing in all 100 sets over the season, Gooding was second on the team kills (263), and points (291.5).
 
In 28 matches, Gooding reached 10+ kills in 12 of those, including a career-high 18 against Western Oregon on September 25. She reached 10+ digs in four matches, highlighted by a 16-kill, 13-dig performance against Northwest Nazarene on October 14. On the year, Gooding finished with 132 digs, and her 34 blocks.
 
For Alos, who rose to fifth all-time in Saints' history in digs at the end of the season, the junior libero provided strong defense in the backline all season. Playing in 98 sets, Alos recorded a team-high 426 digs, which ranked third most in the GNAC total, and her 4.35 digs per set were fourth best.
 
Alos was named to the 2021 MSUB Yellowjacket Invitational All-Tournament team to begin the season, where she managed a total of 89 digs over four matches. Her season-best came against Bemidji State in the tournament finale, where Alos ended with 28 digs in four sets. She eclipsed the 20+ dig mark eight times, and reached 10+ digs in 22 of the 28 matches played in.
 
For both Gooding, and Alos the awards mark the first time in their careers of being named to the GNAC All-Conference team. The GNAC All-Conference team does not feature a second team, but only first team and honorable mention.