Oct. 6, 2007
Final Stats
Alaska kept pace with Great Northwest Athletic Conference co-leaders Western Oregon as best they could, but the Wolves proved too dangerous for the Nanooks, sweeping them in three games, 30-18, 30-28, 30-26. The Nanooks drop to 1-1 on their homestand, and to 9-8 overall (3-6 GNAC). Western Oregon improves to 8-1 in the GNAC (11-5 overall) to put the pressure on Western Washington, who play later this evening.
"It's very, very frustrating," said head coach Phil Shoemaker. "Obviously, Western Oregon played really good: they are efficient in their attack and a very strong defensive team. But there's not a team on our schedule that we can't play with: we just need to improve, to learn, and become more consistent."
Straight out of the gates, Oregon showed why they are one of the conference's best teams, taking eight of the match's first ten points as they cruised to a 30-18 win in the first game. Alaska could manage just a .116 hitting percentage against an organized Wolves' defense.
The Nanooks showed their character, however, in an engaging and competitive second set, highlighted by a number of long rallies as both teams fought for every point. Twice in the game, Alaska rallied back from deficits of four or more. The Wolves, however, got the points that mattered most: the final two with the score knotted at 28-28.
Down 2-0, the Nanooks continued to fight, and produced some of their best volleyball in the third set, hitting .350 with 18 kills. Western Oregon, behind the strong play of junior Stacey Bennett (who produced 6 of her 15 kills in the final game), closed the match out with a 30-26 game.
Outside hitter Megan Thigpen was again a bright spot for the Nanooks, recording a double-double of team-highs with 15 kills and 13 digs. Middle hitter Korlyn Bolster, who tied a GNAC record for hitting percentage on Thursday, also chipped in nine kills.
For Western Oregon, junior Kayla Mainer recorded four of the team's eight service aces, while setter Amy Herron, a high school teammate of Thigpen's, logged 41 assists. Three Wolves players finished in double-digits for digs, led by Mainer's match-high of 15.
Alaska's four-game homestand continues next week, as Central Washington comes to town on Thursday for a 7 p.m. meeting at the Patty Center. On Saturday, the Nanooks will get a crack at Western Washington, currently the GNAC's top team. That match is also scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Patty Center.
