FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team officially kicks off the 2017 season and a 10-day road trip with five non-conference matches this weekend. The Nooks will take on Elizabeth City State University on Friday, Sept. 1 before partaking in the Viking Virginia Beach Invitational Sept. 2-3.
It's About That Time
With the leaves changing in Fairbanks, only one thing can be sure – it's the beginning of another bright season for the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team. Under the tutelage of third-year head coach
Brian Scott and assistant coach Robbie Berrett, the Nanooks will look to rebuild with a new team following the 2016 season.
What to Expect This Weekend
The Nanooks will face five new opponents for the first time in program history this weekend, as Elizabeth City State University hosts Alaska on Friday, Sept. 1 in their home stadium in North Carolina. ECSU is the official host for the Viking Virginia Beach Invitational Sept. 2-3, where Alaska will face Kutztown University, the University of Mount Olive, Converse College and Slippery Rock University at the Tidewater Volleyball Center in Virginia Beach.
Where to Watch & Listen
None of the five Alaska Nanooks' non-conference volleyball games this weekend will be officially streamed through Elizabeth City State's website. If fans are interested in watching any of the games, they will be streamed live through the Alaska Volleyball Facebook page in the link posted above.
GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll
The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team was picked to finish 10th in the 2017 GNAC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll, which was released by the conference on Aug. 22. The Nanooks earned 25 points in the poll to rank 10th – a spot back from where they were predicted to finish in the same poll in 2016. The votes are awarded on an 11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale, with this being the second year head coaches were allowed to vote for their own teams.
In-state rival and NCAA Division II National runners-up Alaska Anchorage were picked to finish first in the poll, tallying 110 points and five first-place votes. Western Washington, who fell to UAA in the West Region Championships game, followed closely behind for the No. 2 spot with 109 points and three first-place votes.
Familiar Faces
The Alaska volleyball team will feature seven returners to their 15-woman roster, which includes five freshmen and three transfers. The Nooks also have three returning starts in seniors
Maddie Davis,
Rachel Nichols and
Riley Podowicz.
Leaders of the Pack
Nichols and Podowicz are the only returning Nanooks to lead in at least one statistical category from the 2016 Alaska volleyball team, with Nichols ranking first amongst her teammates in total assists (948) and assists per set (9.48). Podowicz ranked first on the team in solo blocks (eight), block assists (68), total blocks (76.0), blocks per set (0.76) service aces (37) and service aces per set (0.37).
Rep Your State
With the addition of freshmen
Emily Moorhead and
Sarina Mancari, the Nanooks now boast five Alaskans on the 2017 roster. Moorhead and Mancari join fellow Anchorage natives and sophomore
Jenna Hickel and
Tatum Upchurch, while senior Ari Horner hails from Nome. Alaska Anchorage is the only other team in the conference with more Alaskans on their roster, as they have six.
Like She Never Left
The newest addition to the Alaska volleyball coaching staff is a familiar face, as former Alaska standout and libero
Meagan Olsen will serve as the team's volunteer assistant coach for 2017. Olsen is a native of Fairbanks and graduated UAF in May of 2017 with her bachelor's degree.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.
