FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team returns home after going 0-2 on the road last weekend to host in-state rival No. 10 Alaska Anchorage on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 7pm at the Alaska Airlines Court (Patty Center). The Great Northwest Athletic Conference match-up will be the first time the teams have met this season.
So far, the Nanooks are 2-9 overall and 1-3 in GNAC play, while the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves rank within the top-10 in the nation with a 14-1 overall record and perfect 4-0 in conference play.
Where to Watch & Listen
If fans aren't able to make Tuesday's game, all Alaska Nanooks volleyball games (home and away) are streamed live for free through the Alaska Nanooks Stretch Internet Portal. Fans have the option to watch the stream, following the live stats or both.
Last Time Out
Alaska traveled to Burnaby, BC to take on Simon Fraser University on Friday (Sept. 23) before travelling to Bellingham, Washington to play Western Washington on Saturday (Sept. 24). The Nanooks went 0-2 against the GNAC foes, falling to SFU in four sets before dropping three to WWU.
GNAC Standings
Most recently, the Alaska Nanooks sit tied for fourth place in the GNAC standings with a 1-3 record. Saint Martin's and Seattle Pacific round-out the three way tie, as Alaska Anchorage sits in first place with a 4-0 start to GNAC play in the 2016 season.
All-Time Series
The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves lead the all-time series over the Nanooks 66-34, with a 28-22 record in Fairbanks. The Nanooks will look to break UAA's current 11-game winning streak over Alaska, with the Nanooks' last win over UAA coming on Sept. 18, 2010 in Anchorage.
Ace, Ace Baby
As a team, the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team ranks third in the GNAC in team aces, averaging 1.70 per set and collecting 44 total throughout the year. Junior outside hitter
Riley Podowicz ranks fifth in the GNAC in service aces per set (0.45), posting 44 thus far. Freshman
Paola Oliver-Otero and junior
Maddie Davis also cracked the GNAC top-20, as Oliver-Otero ranks 13th (0.33 per set) and Davis ranks 19th (0.32).
Margin of Error
Freshman middle blocker
Kim Wong is proving to be a threat at the net in her first intercollegiate season with the Nanooks. The Spokane, Washington native currently ranks sixth in the GNAC in hitting percentage, posting 92 kills and 28 errors off of 208 attempts to tally a hitting percentage of .308.
Kills for Thrills
Sophomore outside hitter
Amberly Jeane cracked the GNAC's top-20 by averaging 2.52 kills per set. The Pearland, Texas native has collected a team-high 111 kills so far this season.
Nicholed and Dimed
Junior setter
Rachel Nichols ranks sixth in the conference in assists per set with 9.68. The transfer from Riverton, Utah has collected a team-high 412 throughout the Nanooks 11 games this season, only 42 less than the conference leader.
Scouting the Opponent – Alaska Anchorage
Currently the No. 10 ranked team in the nation, Alaska Anchorage is on a 13-match winning streak. The Seawolves lead the early GNAC stats in opponent attack percentage (.112) and aces per set (2.00), while ranking second in in blocks per set (2.55), third in kills per set (13.13) and attack percentage (.228). In the NCAA Division II, UAA ranks third in blocking, sixth in opponent attack percentage and 20th in aces per set.
The Nooks need to be aware of senior setter Morgan Hooe, who boasts 9.68 assists per set, 2.79 digs per set and a team-high attack percentage of .392. Senior middle blocker Erin Braun was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 1.42 blocks per set and 3.00 kills per set in last week's games against Simon Fraser and Western Washington.
Coaches Corner
"We're excited to be back home in front of our home crowd for this big game against Alaska Anchorage, we always look forward to rivalry matches. I think both teams will be geared up, focused and ready to play tomorrow." – Head coach
Brian Scott on Tuesday's match-up.
