Box Score FAIRBANKS-Make it two in a row for the Alaska Nanook Volleyball team (2-14, 2-6, GNAC), as it posted a 3-1 victory over Saint Martin's (4-14, 1-6, GNAC) in front of 262 fans in the Patty Center Gym. The Nanooks jump to eighth place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
Alaska was led by three hitters who tabbed double digit kills. Captain
Sam Harthun just missed a double-double with nine digs and a match-high 16 kills.
Brooke Mattice registered 15 kills, while
Maddie Davis produced 11 terminations. Setter
Miranda Grieser tabbed a career-high 43 assists in the victory.
"She's very easy to coach and extremely intelligent," Nanook head volleyball coach
Mallory Larranaga said of her setter. "We talk about spreading out our offense and percentages of where we want sets to go, and she's been coming in and getting extra reps, and it shows"
Alaska outhit the Saints .320 to .171, led by Davis who swung at a .474 clip.
"Obviously it feels great to win both matches this week," Davis said in the post-match press conference. "Miranda did a great job at setting, especially in the out of system plays."
Defensively the teams tied with 44 digs apiece, while the Nanooks out-blocked the Saints 9-7. Middle blocker
Riley Podowicz continues to play well at the net, producing six block assists in the match.
The Nanooks only have one match this coming week, but it is a huge one as the team heads south to face the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (13-3, 7-1, GNAC) on October 11th. UAA swept Western Oregon (2-13, 0-7, GNAC) at home Saturday night and sits alone atop the conference standings. Larranaga says records go out the window when these two rivals meet.
"It doesn't matter who is ranked what," said Larranaga. "When we get together it's on, and anything can happen. That's what I love about rivalries."
