ANCHORAGE, Alaska – In a tight back-and-forth battle at the Alaska Airlines Center, the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team was edged 3-2 by the Michigan Tech University Huskies in their season-opener at the UAA Invitational. Alaska went 25-15, 19-25, 25-21, 21-25 and 7-15 against the Huskies that moves them to 0-1 on the season, while MTU improves to 1-0.

"Overall, I was really pleased with our performance this morning," head coach Brian Scott said on Friday. "When we were passing, we were able to run our system offense very well and we were able to get multiple hitters involved."

Alaska's offense was led by sophomore outside hitter Lahra Weber, who tallied a team-best 14 kills on the day. After a redshirt season, redshirt-sophomore outside hitter Tatum Upchurch followed Weber's lead and collected 13 kills for the Nooks. Both Weber and Upchurch were two of three Nanooks to register a double-double in the season-opener, as Weber tallied 12 digs while Upchurch posted 14.

Junior middle blocker Kim Wong was the only other Alaska player to boast double-digit kills on Friday, collecting 11 against the Huskies. At the net, Wong was one of three Nanooks who collected four block assists, including sophomore middle blocker Emily Moorhead and sophomore setter Cate Whiting.

Moorhead posted a career-best day with a new single-game personal-best in aces (2) and digs (5) and tied her career-high in kills (7), assists (1) and blocks (2).

Whiting also tallied a career-high on Friday morning, producing 47 assists for the Nanooks. Whiting also registered 13 digs against MTU to earn her fourth double-double of her career.

In her Nanook debut, freshman libero Makena Overbey led all players on the court in digs with 27. Overbey also tallied five assists in her first collegiate game.

Also making their first appearance in the Blue and Gold was junior right side Mica Shenglan, who tallied five kills and 13 digs, and Zoey Keene, who collected two kills, one assist, two block assists and one dig.

As a team, the Nanooks outdid their opponent in aces (5-3) and blocks (8-7) and tied them in points with 72.0 each. Michigan Tech edged Alaska in kills (62-59), assists (61-57) and digs (90-86).

Tech was led by Olivia Ghormley, who posted 17 kills on the day. On defense, the Huskies were led by Megan Utlak, who led her teammates with 22 digs.

"I thought we broke down a little on the defensive end of things, especially in the last two sets," Scott continued. "We needed to work harder in transition so we could make some better defensive plays. We look forward to learning from this morning and making adjustments tomorrow."

The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team continues play in the UAA Invitational tomorrow (Saturday), Aug. 25 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. The Nooks take on Western New Mexico University at 9am AKT before facing Barton College at 5pm AKT.

Tomorrow's recap will be posted after the second match.

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