FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team looks for their first three-match winning streak at home since the 2008 season on Thursday, as the Nanooks host Simon Fraser in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match. First serve from Alaska Airlines Court is set for 7 p.m.
The Nanooks will also be looking to snap a two-match losing streak on Thursday, as they went 0-2 in on a road trip to Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. For the Clan, they open a two-match road trip to the Last Frontier at an even 8-8 on the year and 4-4 in GNAC play. Simon Fraser is coming off a five-set home loss to Concordia (Ore.) last Saturday.
Last Time Out
The Nanooks suffered a 3-0 (8-25, 16-25, 21-25) loss at GNAC defending championship, Northwest Nazarene, last Saturday. Sophomores Maddie Davis and Riley Podowicz led the way for Alaska, as Davis collected nine kills to Podowicz's seven. Alaska's improved play at the net continued against the Crusaders, as the Nanooks collected eight blocks on the night, led by Kensey Mix's four-block performance.
All-Time Series
Simon Fraser is 8-3 all-time against the Nanooks. The Clan has won each of the last four matches. The Nanooks last victory against SFU came on Nov. 1, 2012 with a five-set victory at Burnaby, British Columbia to complete a season sweep of the Clan.
Tic-Tac-Toe Three In A Row
Alaska goes into Thursday's match in search of its third consecutive win in front of the home fans. The Nanooks took back-to-back games against Saint Martin's and Seattle Pacific to conclude a season-long four-match home stand. If the Nanooks are able to knock off the Clan on Thursday, then it would mark the first time since 2008 that an Alaska volleyball team has won three-straight home matches.
Block Party
The Nanooks have vastly improved their performance at the net of late, as they are averaging 2.03 blocks per set as they collected 38.5 blocks over the last 19 sets. Compare that to Alaska's 1.32 block per set average in their first 10 matches of the season.
Record Chaser
Senior Sam Harthun is just 89 kills away from tying the school's all-time kills record. Going into Thursday's match, the Oregon City, Oregon native has collected 1,274 career kills, as she continues to chase Mallory Bergstrom's all-time record of 1,363.
It's All About That Ace!
The Nanooks are the top-ranked team in the GNAC in service aces per set. Going into Saturday, Alaska is averaging 1.96 service aces per set and have totaled a league-best 107 aces, more than second place. The 1.96 average is tied for 24h-best in NCAA Division II.
Sophomore Riley Podowicz leads the team and the GNAC with her 0.53 ace per set average, a mark that also ranks 11th in NCAA Division II.
Scouting the Opposition – Simon Fraser
The Clan is even in both overall record and GNAC record, as they are 8-8 in league play and 4-4 in league games. SFU had a recent two-match winning streak snapped against Concordia with a thrilling five-set loss in Burnaby. Simon Fraser has wins over Seattle Pacific, Saint Martin's, Montana State and Western Oregon. While they have fallen to Northwest Nazarene, Central Washington, Western Washington and Concordia.
SFU ranks sixth in kills in the GNAC with their 11.91 kills per set average and eighth in hitting percentage with a .141 mark. Simon Fraser has no player rank inside the top 24 in the conference in hitting percentage, but outside hitter Devon May is eighth in the league in kills per set with an ever three kills per set.
Defensively, Simon Fraser is a solid defensive team that ranks fourth in opponent hitting percentage, as they are limiting teams to a .170 mark. They are also the top dig team in the GNAC with an average of 17.63 digs per set. Alison McKay is second in the league digs per set with her 5.88 average.
Coaches Corner
"We're excited to be back at home after a rough trip on the road. It's great to be back at home in front of our fans. Our girls play with a lot more confidence at home and it will be a good place for us to match up with Simon Fraser. They have a tall team, with two active middles that excel in blocking. We have to be prepared to keep firing back at them and be ready to have them hit a lot of balls back on our court." – Head Coach Brian Scott on returning home against Simon Fraser
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