MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team snapped a four-game losing streak on Thursday night, as the Nooks defeated the Western Oregon University Wolves 3-1 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match at the New P.E. Building. Alaska went 14-25, 28-26, 28-26 and 25-19 against Western Oregon to improve to a 9-9 overall record (2-7 GNAC), while the Wolves drop to 6-10 overall (2-7 GNAC).

Things weren't looking great for the Nanooks following the first set, as Alaska only combined for a .103 hitting percentage to drop their 11th-straight set. Alaska proved to be the more resilient team on the court, as the Nooks stomped back to take the next three sets and capture their second conference victory.

As a team, the Nanooks combined for 60 kills and 25 errors off of 174 total attacks to average a .201 hitting percentage. Alaska's best attacking set was the third, as the Nooks tallied 18 kills and only five errors off of 50 total attempts to boast a .260 hitting percentage. Alaska also went 20-for-27 to tally a 74 percent sideout percentage.

Alaska also rallied for 77 digs, 36 assists, 8.0 team blocks and four service aces. The Nooks outdid their opponent in total points, collected 72.0 to WOU's 69.0.

Alaska was led offensively by freshman Lahra Weber, who recorded a team-high 17 kills. Weber recorded only six errors off of 45 total attempts to tally a .244 hitting percentage. Weber also led all players with two service aces and chipped in nine digs and four block assists.

Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Lerma and senior middle blocker Riley Podowicz followed Weber's performance with 11 kills each. Lerma recorded Alaska's best hitting percentage on the night with a .348 average.

Alaska's defense also proved to be strong on Thursday night, as four different Nooks tallied double-digit kills. Sophomore libero Jenna Hicklel led the charge, tying for a game-high 20 digs. Redshirt-senior outside hitter Maddie Davis and senior setter Rachel Nichols both recorded 11 digs, while redshirt-freshman Markie Miller posted 10 digs.

Besides 11 digs, Nichols also tied a season-best 33 assists for her sixth double-double of the season and only one of two double-doubles throughout the game.

Western Oregon was led by Mariella Vandenkooy, who tallied a game-high 22 kills on the night while libero Libbie Hoene tallied 20 digs.

The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team continues their GNAC road trip in Oregon, as the Nooks face the Concordia University Cavaliers in Portland on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 6pm AKDT.

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