University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks women's volleyball team continues its early-season tournament slate this week when it travels to Northern California Friday and Saturday for the second annual Route 92 Showdown, hosted by Cal State East Bay and Notre Dame de Namur.
 
There, Alaska (0-7) will face the host Pioneers (0-4) and Argonauts (1-3), as well as Academy of Art (2-2) and Cal State LA (3-1). It will be the Nanooks' second straight tournament and third consecutive weekend of playing at least three matches.
 
The Nanooks open tournament play at noon (AKDT) Friday against California Collegiate Athletic Association member and tournament co-host Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif. They return to the Pioneer Gymnasium that afternoon at 4 p.m. for a match against the Pacific West Conference's Academy of Art.
 
Saturday, the Nanooks hop on to U.S. Route 92 and cross the San Mateo Bridge to Belmont, Calif., where they will face Cal State LA of the CCAA at 10 a.m. Alaska will close out its tournament schedule at 6 p.m. Saturday against co-host Notre Dame de Namur.
 
The 2013 edition of the Route 92 Showdown features 12 teams from all three West Region conferences competing on the campuses of Cal State East Bay and Notre Dame de Namur. The tournament is named for U.S. Route 92, which crosses the San Francisco Bay on the San Mateo Bridge and connects Hayward and Belmont, homes of the two host institutions, Cal State East Bay and Notre Dame de Namur, respectively.
 
Alaska opened its 2013 home schedule last weekend by hosting the 15th annual Flint Hills Resources Alaska Nanook Classic, welcoming Colorado Christian, Humboldt State and 12th-ranked Fresno Pacific to the Patty Center. The Nanooks played in three competitive matches despite going 0-3 in the tournament. They grabbed first-set victories against Colorado Christian and Humboldt State before falling 3-1, and nearly completed a big third-set comeback against the eventual champion Sunbirds before succumbing to a 3-0 sweep. Sophomore Sam Harthun (Oregon City, Ore./Art) was named to the all-tournament team after leading the Nanooks' offense with 33 kills in three tournament matches.
 
"We're looking to keep our energy positive all througout the match," said Alaska head coach Mallory Larranaga. "It was a really speedy preseason. A lot of movement, a lot of action, a lot of matches, a lot of travel, and I really want to keep them focused on who we want to be."

Harthun has led Alaska's attack through the first two weekends of the season, averaging a team-leading 11.57 kills per match and 3.38 per set while hitting .145. Freshman setter Katelyn Camp (Newton, Iowa/General Studies) has started all seven matches for the Nanooks this season, compiling 178 assists (7.42 per set) and throwing in 21 kills (.391 hit pct.).

"Sam is always going to do a great job offensively. I asked her to take more. That's what a go-to player does, they always ask for more," said Larranaga. "I'm really looking for to seeing Katelyn Camp grow. She's such a great leader. She's a quiet leader, but it's exactly what our team needs; It needs poise, it needs confidence, it needs a clear system, and she has grown everyday."

The Nanooks have won the first set in three of their seven matches this season, but have gone 0-7 in both the second and third sets, as well as 0-3 in the fourth set. They have yet to push a match to a fifth and deciding set this season. The team was 2-2 in five-set matches last season.
 
Match #8: Alaska at Cal State East Bay – Friday, Sept. 13 at Noon (AKDT)
Important Links: LIVE STATS
The Pioneers (0-4) suffered four straight losses at the Western Oregon Invitational Sept. 5-6, including two losses to Great Northwest Athletic Conference members. They fell to then-No. 17 Western Washington in straight sets (3-0) and lost 3-1 to the host Wolves after winning the opening set. Suzy Ni Xu is Cal State East Bay's top hitter so far this season with 44 kills and a .320 hitting percentage. Ashia Joseph has been handling the setting duties for the Pioneers, averaging 6.93 assists per set. The Pioneers have been outhit by opponents in four matches,
 
Match #9: Alaska vs. Academy of Art – Friday, Sept. 13 at 4 p.m. (AKDT)
Important Links: LIVE STATS
The Urban Knights (2-2) picked up two wins at last weekend's season-opening Otter Classic at Cal State Monterey Bay. They picked up two five-set victories, both over CCAA teams, defeating San Francisco State and the host Otters. Those wins were sandwiched in between losses to St. Martin's (3-1) and San Francisco State in a rematch (3-0). Emily Papale leads Academy of Art with 52 kills (3.06 kps) and is second on the team with 66 digs. Lindsay Elgin leads the team's defense with 26 blocks.
 
Match #10: Alaska vs. Cal State LA – Saturday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. (AKDT)
Important Links: LIVE STATS/LIVE VIDEO
The Golden Eagles (3-1) swept its second day of action last weekend at the Cal State San Bernardino Coyote Classic en route to a 3-1 showing and a three-match winning streak. Their lone loss came in five sets to Regis University before grabbing wins against Seattle Pacific, Fort Lewis College and Harding University. Iona Lofrano was named to the all-tournament team after leading Cal State LA with 59 kills (3.47 kps) and logging 52 digs. Alexandra Bura had137 assists (9.13 aps) during the tournament.
 
Match #11: Alaska at Notre Dame de Namur – Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. (AKDT)
Important Links: LIVE STATS/LIVE VIDEO
The Argonauts (1-3) attended Alaska Anchorage's Springhill Suites Invitational last weekend, falling to the host Seawolves, as well as American International and Texas A&M Kingsville. NDNU staved off a winless weekend with a 3-1 victory over Claflin. Dominique Tarrant averaged 4.00 kills per set for the Argonauts in four matches, and Michelle Hines recorded 70 digs.