Sept. 1, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
NORTHWEST CHALLENGE
Hosted By Boise State University
Boise, ID - Bronco Gym
There will be live stats for all matches at www.GoZags.com
Friday, Sept. 3
Boise State vs. Gonzaga, 6 p.m. PDT
Saturday, Sept. 4
Portland State vs. Gonzaga, 10 a.m. PDT
#9 Washington vs. Gonzaga, 4 p.m. PDT
THIS WEEKEND: Gonzaga University women's volleyball team hits the road for the second-straight weekend, this time landing in Boise, Idaho for the Northwest Challenge. The Bulldogs will play three matches at the tournament, starting with a 6 p.m. PDT tilt against the host Broncos on Friday. The Zags close out the challenge with matches against Portland State University and the University of Washington Saturday. Game time against the Viks is set for 10 a.m. PDT and the match against the No. 9 Huskies will begin at 4 p.m. PDT.
LIVE STATS AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND: Boise State University, the host institution of the Northwest Challenge, will have Live stats will be available for all six matches of the tournament by going to GoZags.com. Once redirected to the Boise State site, a link will show up once the event is available. Video of the Broncos at the Northwest Challenge will be available on Bronco Vision, under the 'Multimedia' tab at www.broncosports.com. Monthly subscriptions for audio and video are available for $9.59, while just audio for a month is $4.95. A yearly subscription is $69.95.
LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University women's volleyball home matches are available via Gametracker and live streaming on the internet at www.gozags.com. Check the Gonzaga website for all Gametracker and live streaming links. Gametracker for selected away matches are also available. Check out gozags.com for all Gametracker links.
TWITTER: Yes, the Gonzaga University Bulldogs are on twitter! You can find us at www.twitter.com/GonzagaBulldogs. We provide inside scoop on all Bulldog athletics as well as in-game updates for all home and selective road matches. CHECK US OUT!
FACEBOOK: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team is on Facebook. Search for Gonzaga University women's volleyball when signed into facebook and LIKE the page. Get inside scoop on the team, see photos from the season, read recaps of matches and watch video. ENJOY!
HEAD COACH Dave Gantt ENTERS SECOND SEASON: Gonzaga University women's volleyball head coach enters his second season at the helm of the Zags. Gantt previously coached at Montana State University and Oregon State University. To check out Gantt's full bio please head to http://www.gozags.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/gantt_dave00.html.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball squad opened the 2010 season going 2-2 at the North Dakota Classic last weekend. The Bulldogs, off to their best start since the 2005 season, are led by sophomore Terran Poindexter (2.93 kps/2.21 dps), freshman Kristina Lavrisha (1.62 kps/3.50 dps) and junior setter Denise Van de Mortel (8.56 aps).
ABOUT NORTHWEST CHALLENGE: The Northwest Challenge tournament is a four-team, four-year tournament between Boise State University, Gonzaga University, Portland State University and the University of Washington. Washington held the first year of the tournament, while Portland State held the second in 2009. Boise State plays host this season, and Gonzaga will host the final round in 2011.
ABOUT BOISE STATE: Boise State University began their season with a 2-1 record at the Falcon Invitational last weekend. The Broncos fell 3-1 to South Dakota State University and defeated Long Island (3-0) and Air Force (3-1). Both Sadie Maughan and Alisha Young were named to the
All-tournament team. Young leads the team overall in kills at 3.82 per set, while Maughan is averaging 2.55 kills per set. The Broncos are coached by Shawn Garus, in his second season at the helm. Boise State leads the all-time series 12-9 but Gonzaga has won the last three, including a 3-0 sweep in 2009.
ABOUT PORTLAND STATE: Portland State University opened the new season winning both of its matches at The Invitational At Seattle. PSU started with a 3-1 victory at Seattle University Friday, before sweeping Mercer College Saturday at Bank of America Arena on the campus of the University of Washington. Whitney Phillips, who was named Big Sky Player of the Week for her opening performance, led the way for the Viks, averaging 7.29 kps, which included a 32-kill performance against Seattle. Portland State is coached by Michael Seemann, in his fourth year in charge, sixth year with the program overall. PSU holds the 7-4 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last three contests, including 3-1 decision over the Bulldogs in 2009.
ABOUT WASHINGTON: The University of Washington women's volleyball team, currently ranked No. 9 in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll, began 2010 with back-to-back sweeps of Mercer College and Eastern Washington University at The Invitational at Seattle. The Huskies were led by Kindra Carlson and Becky Perry. Carlson averaged 3.67 kills per set, hit a blistering .513, and finished with 1.83 digs per set. Perry averaged 3.17 kills, 1.33 digs and 1.17 blocks per set. Washington is coached by Jim McLaughlin, in his 10th season. The Huskies hold a 11-2 advantage in the all-time series with Gonzaga University and has won eight-straight.
ALL-TOURNAMENT: Captain Allyson Powell was named to the North Dakota Classic after starting her senior off with a bang. The libero from Selah, Wash., helped the Bulldogs to a strong 2-2 start by collecting 81 total digs over the four contests; all while only being tabbed for three reception errors. Powell's best performance of the tournament came in the Zags 3-2 victory over Cal State Bakersfield as she finished with a career-tying high 31 digs. Her other 31 dig performance came on Sept, 12, 2009 at the University of Tulsa, in another 3-2 win.
FRESHMAN MAKING BIG SPLASH: True freshman Kristina Lavrisha had a strong start to her collegiate career at the North Dakota Classic. The 5-9 all-around player, whose father has been the volleyball head coach at Regis College in Denver, Colo., for nearly 25 years, finished the four-match tournament averaging 1.62 kills and 3.50 digs per set. Lavrisha also lead the team in service aces, tallying three, and added two block assists.
BULLDOGS PICKED SIXTH IN WCC COACHES PRESEASON POLL: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team has been selected to finish sixth in the West Coast Conference 2010 season according to a preseason vote of the league's head coaches. The Bulldogs received 18 votes in this year's poll after losing just two starters off a team that went 10-18 and 5-9 in the conference a season ago.
Women's Volleyball 2010 Preseason Poll
1. San Diego 48 (6)
2. Saint Mary's 43 (1)
3. Pepperdine 36 (1)
4. Santa Clara 33
5. San Francisco 23
6. Gonzaga 18
7. Portland 12
8. Loyola Marymount 11
(First place votes)
ON DECK: After the Northwest Challenge, the Gonzaga University women's volleyball team hits the road once again, for its third-straight in-season tournament; this time traveling to Denver, Colo., for the Pioneer Classic hosted by the University of Denver, Sept. 10-12. The unusual three-day tournament features Notre Dame University, Texas A&M University, Jacksonville State University and host Denver.
