Box Score FAIRBANKS-The Alaska Nanook volleyball team (1-14, 1-6 GNAC) earned its first victory of the season in grand fashion, sweeping the Western Oregon Wolves University (2-12, 0-6 GNAC) by set scores of 25-15, 25-15, 25-17.
Nanook freshman
Brooke Mattice led all hitters with nine kills on a .320 hitting percentage, while junior
Sam Harthun swung for seven kills, and tallied a match high 13 digs. Junior
Miranda Grieser doled out 18 assists, added a pair of kills and three digs.
Alaska won the battle at the net defensively, holding the Wolves to a .033 hitting percentage in the match. Redshirt freshman
Maddie Davis logged three block assists, while sophomore middle
Lilah Hudson tallied a match-high four block assists. Alaska hit .260 as a team, led by Hudson's .500 hitting percentage (5 kills on 8 attacks).
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Nanooks head volleyball coach
Mallory Larranaga says her team followed the game plan to a tee.
"Tonight was a great win, and we're thankful to get it," Larranaga said. "We've been working on committing fewer errors and bringing a high intensity, and that's something that really showed tonight. We're not changing anything up, we're getting better at what we do."
Libero
Tessa Butterfield, the lone senior on the roster, says the victory gives the Nanooks confidence moving forward.
"From here on out, we're winning." Butterfield said.
The Nanooks return to action Saturday night, hosting the Saint Martin's Saints (4-13, 1-5 GNAC) at 7 p.m. in the Patty Center. The Saints fell in straight sets to Alaska Anchorage Thursday night. Saturday's match between the Nanooks and Saints is "Junior Nanook Night." Immediately following the match, the 'Nooks will gather to sign autographs in the Patty Center lobby.
