BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team concluded their two-game GNAC road trip on Saturday night, falling in three sets to Western Washington University at the Whatcom Pavilion. The Nanooks went 16-25, 21-25 and 14-25 against the Vikings, to drop to 2-9 overall (1-3 GNAC) while WWU improves to 6-6 overall (2-2 GNAC).

As a team, the Nanooks collected 33 kills on the night but recorded 28 errors for a .045 team hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Angela Molesworth and freshman middle blocker Kim Wong led Alaska's offense, registering seven kills each. Sophomore outside hitter Amberly Jeane and junior middle blocker Riley Podowicz followed closely behind, posting five kills each.

Junior setter Rachel Nichols collected 26 of the Nanooks' 30 assists on the night, which proved to be the best of both squads. Redshirt-senior libero Meagan Olsen collected 14 digs on the night, followed by Nichols and freshman outside hitter Tatum Upchurch, who tallied eight each.

The Vikings were led by hitter Abby Phelps, who recorded 10 kills for WWU. Kristina Tribley totaled 15 assists for Western Washington, while Mae Thungc and Phelps tallied 14 digs each. The Vikings posted 34 kills off 97 attacks, posting a team hitting percentage of .258.

In the first set, Alaska went up 2-0 on the Vikings before Western Washington caught some momentum and went on a five-point run it 2-5. At the 8-9 mark, kills from Jeane, Podowicz and Molesworth gave the Nanooks the lead once more at 11-9. A six-point run from Western Washington at the 11-11 mark gave the Vikings the lead once and for all, as they took the first set 16-25.

Early in the second set, the Nanooks went up 4-2 over the Vikings, courtesy of kills from Jeane, Wong and Upchurch. The Vikings stormed back to take the lead 6-8 before back-and-forth play ensued, with both teams never giving up more than a three-point lead. Alaska caught up to the Vikings at 23-19 but WWU was able to hold on to the lead and captured the second set 21-25.

The Nanooks were never able to gain any momentum in the third set, as the Nooks fell 14-25. Eight kills and eight attack errors for Alaska out of 38 total attacks caused the Nanooks to post an even .000 hitting percentage. Nichols, Molesworth and Podowicz led Alaska with two kills each, while Olsen recorded six digs.

The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team return to the Alaska Airlines Court at the Patty Center this upcoming Tuesday, Sept. 27 to take on in-state rival Alaska Anchorage at 7pm.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.