FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team continues Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on the road this week, facing No. 8 Western Washington in Bellingham, Washington on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 6pm AKT before traveling to Burnaby, British Columbia to take on the Simon Fraser Clan on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 1pm AKT.
Where to Watch & Listen
If fan's aren't able to make this week's games in Bellingham or Burnaby, all Alaska Nanooks volleyball games for the remainder of the season (home and away) will be streamed live for free through the Alaska Nanooks Stretch Internet Portal in the link posted above. Fans who have the option to watch the stream, follow the live stats or both. Please be advised that when on the road, Alaska volleyball games are produced and streamed through the respective home school.
Last Time Out
After losing 3-1 to in-state rival Alaska Anchorage last Tuesday in Anchorage, the Nanooks snapped a seven-match losing streak on Saturday with a 3-0 sweep at Montana State Billings. The match marks Alaska's second three-set sweep of the 2018 season.
GNAC Standings
Alaska is currently tied for eighth in the GNAC standings with Northwest Nazarene, with both teams posting a 1-3 mark in conference play. Western Washington currently sits in first place in the league standings with an undefeated conference record of 4-0. Alaska's other weekend opponent, Simon Fraser, currently ranks tied for sixth in the GNAC standings with Western Oregon, each with a 2-2 league record.
#NookNotes (Courtesy of the GNAC VB Notebook)
- Redshirt-sophomore outside hitter Tatum Upchurch led the Nanooks with 23 kills in two matches, averaging 3.29 kills per set. She paced the offense with 15 kills and 13 digs at UAA and added eight kills and 12 digs at Montana State Billings. Upchurch enters the week averaging 3.13 kills and 2.67 digs per set.
- Freshman libero Makena Overbey posted another solid defensive week with 33 digs and three aces in the two matches. She finished with 16 digs, four assists and three aces against Alaska Anchorage and added 17 digs and five assists at MSUB. Overbey is third in the GNAC and 48th in NCAA Division II with 5.20 digs per set.
- Sophomore outside hitter Lahra Weber added 21 kills in the two matches, topped by her double-double of 12 kills and 14 digs at Alaska Anchorage. Weber enters the week fifth in the GNAC with 3.32 kills per set.
- Alaska enters the week fifth in the GNAC with 11.98 kills and 11.41 assists per set with a.164 hitting percentage.
Alaska Leaders
Four Nanooks rank within the top-10 individually in the GNAC in four different statistical categories:
- Assists
- Digs
- Kills
- Points
All-Time Series
All-time against the Western Washington Vikings, Alaska is 6-44 overall. The first meeting between the two teams came as a 0-2 loss on the road on Oct. 16, 1980. Alaska is currently on a 19-match losing streak against the Vikings with their last win coming as a 3-2 decision at home on Oct. 11, 2008.
When it comes to taking on the SFU Clan, Alaska is 3-14 overall with the first match between the Clan and the Nanooks coming as a 0-3 loss for Alaska on the road on Oct. 10, 1998. Since then, Alaska is on a 10-match losing streak against SFU with their last win coming as a 3-2 victory for the Nooks on the road on Nov. 1, 2012.
Scouting the Opponent - #8 Western Washington Vikings (9-3 Overall, 4-0 GNAC)
The Vikings are currently on a nine-game winning streak with three-set sweeps at Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington last week. The pair of victories moved WWU up to No. 8 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll. As a team, WWU leads the GNAC in hitting percentage with a .241 and also lead the GNAC and rank fourth in DII with 2.79 blocks per set.
Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps, the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year, leads the GNAC and is 24th in DII with 4.05 kills per set. Phelps also ranks seventh in the nation with 12.86 attacks per set and 25th with 4.53 points per set. Senior setter Brette Boesel is second in the GNAC and 12th in DII with 11.40 assists per set.
Scouting the Opponent – Simon Fraser Clan (5-5 Overall, 2-2 GNAC)
Last week, SFU split on the road taking a four-set loss at CWU on Thursday before beating NNU on Saturday. The Clan ranks second in the GNAC and 24th in NCAA Division II with 12.97 assists per set. The Clan is also second in the conference and DII with 13.68 kills per set while amassing a hitting percentage of .229.
Senior middle blocker Tessa May finished with 24 kills last week, which puts her third in the conference with a .342 hitting percentage and ranks ninth in the GNAC with 3.07 kills per set average. Sophomore setter Julia Tays finished with 84 assists in two matches last week, ranking third in the conference and 33rd in NCAA Division II with 10.68 assists per set.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.
