Alaskans Stephens, Dexter rank 1-2 in GNAC in scoring average
Eve Stephens
Two volleyball players from Alaska are proving to be a cut above the competition in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
Palmer’s Eve Stephens of UAA and Anchorage’s Brooke Dexter of Simon Fraser rank 1-2 in the league in scoring average, a good barometer of their offensive prowess. Another indicator is how many times they have slammed 20 kills or more in a single match.
The Alaskans have combined to reach the 20-kill benchmark seven times, while the rest of the GNAC has six.
Stephens was up to her old tricks over the weekend as the junior outside hitter matched her career high of 26 kills in a home victory over No. 25 Central Washington.
She finished with a .391 attack percentage and averaged an eye-popping 6.13 points per set.
Stephens, of Colony High fame, followed that up with a solid 15-kill, .452 hitting performance in a sweep of Northwest Nazarene, moving the Seawolves (14-5) atop the GNAC standings at 7-0.
Brooke Dexter
Her performance earned the UAA star her second GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors of the year.
Stephens leads the league with an average of 4.82 points per set – just better than Dexter’s 4.77 clip.
When it comes to kills per set, Dexter ranks No. 1 in the GNAC at 4.27 with Stephens next at 3.91.
Dexter’s 28 kills are the second most in a conference match this season and Stephens’ 26 rank No. 3.
Dexter, of West High fame, combined for 30 kills over the weekend as Simon Fraser swept Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon. She had 18 kills and a season-high .567 hitting percentage against Western Oregon.