BILLINGS, Mont. – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team will look to bounce back after Tuesday's loss by traveling to take on the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match-up Friday evening (5pm AKT). The Nanooks will look to improve upon their 2-10 overall record (1-4 GNAC), while MSUB wants to do the same, as they currently sit at the bottom of the conference standings at 1-12 overall, 0-4 GNAC.
Where to Watch and Listen
If fans aren't able to make Friday'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, follow the live stats or both. Please note that since MSUB is the home school, the Yellowjackets will be producing Friday's match.
Last Time Out
The Nanooks were handed a tough, three-set loss on Tuesday, Sept. 27 versus in-state rival No. 10 Alaska Anchorage. The Seawolves currently sit atop the conference standings undefeated with a 5-0 GNAC record (15-1 overall).
GNAC Standings
Most recently, the Alaska Nanooks sit in tenth place in the GNAC standings with a 1-4 record, while Montana State Billings is ranked 11th with a 0-4 conference record.
Wong to be Right
Alaska's freshman middle blocker Kim Wong has led the Nanooks' offense in two of the past three matches, finishing with 12 kills and two blocks against Simon Fraser last Friday (Sept. 23) and seven kills and three blocks against the No. 10 Alaska Anchorage Seawolves on Tuesday (Sept. 27). Currently, Wong ranks seventh in the GNAC with a .219 hitting percentage.
More, More, More
Junior Setter Rachel Nichols had 20-or-more assists in the past three matches for the Nanooks, led by a 32-assist night against Simon Fraser last Friday (Sept. 23). On Saturday's three-set loss to Western Washington, Nichols was only two digs short of a double-double, posting 22 assists and eight digs. Entering this week's matches, Nichols ranks seventh in the conference in assists per set with 9.23.
Ace For Days
As a team, the Alaska Nanooks rank third in the GNAC and are just outside all NCAA DII top-30 averaging 1.72 service aces per set. Junior middle blocker Riley Podowicz sits seventh in the conference with an average of 0.43 aces per set.
Scouting the Opponent – Montana State Billings
The Yellowjackets will come into Friday's game looking to end their 12-game losing streak. Alaska will face MSUB after they took a pair of three-set losses on the road, falling to NNU and CWU in two conference matches last week. Senior outside hitter Ashlynn Ward has led the Yellowjackets offense the previous two games, posting a combined 38 kills against NNU and CWU. Fellow outside hitter Stormy Siemion ranks fourth in the GNAC with 4.01 points per set, finishing with 17 kills and 23 digs from the past two games.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.
