ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team went into the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Oct. 22 and unfortunately fell in five-sets to their in-state rivals, Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. This loss drops the Nanooks under .500 for the first time since the D2 West Region Showcase in September as their record becomes 9-10, 6-5 GNAC.
The first set went the way of the Nanooks, claiming it 25-20 behind three first-set kills from
Markie Miller and two kills from
Lahra Weber. The attack seemed to favor the 'Nooks, outhitting the Seawolves with a .038 hit percentage to their even .000 percentage. The 'Nooks defense also came to play in the first, resulting in four blocks in the first-set.
The second set went the way of the Seawolves. UAA jumped out to an early lead and ran away with it from that point on. After UAA made it 1-7, the Nanooks made a small run, making it 6-9. Despite their best efforts, the Seawolves answered each run with multiple points of their own. Eventually the Anchorage lead was pushed to 10-22, ending in an 11-25 second-set win. UAA bounced back from their even hit percentage and erased any thought of it with a .591 hit percentage in the second set, adding 14 kills.
In set three, the Nanooks grinded with the UAA responses and found a way to steal the set win despite the UAA momentum. After Miller made it 23-18, Nanooks, with one of her 16 kills, the Seawolves rallied for five straight points to notch things at 23 all. Miller held the next two answers as the blockers were not enough to withstand her attack. Miller took two sets from
Cate Whiting and left the UAA defense no answers as she put away set-four single handedly, 25-23.
The 2-1 set lead was not enough for the 'Nooks tonight. Anchorage answered with another big set, holding the Nanooks to only six fourth-set kills and creating 13 of their own. UAA grabbed the fourth-set victory, 25-14 sending this game to a deciding set.
Another deciding set was in store for Alaska; the seventh five-set match for the Nanooks and their third in the last four games. The Nanooks entered tonight's matchup as a .500 team in five-set matches, winning three and dropping three. Unfortunately UAA stole this win from under Alaska. The Nanooks jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead when the two teams switched sides, and with the side switch came trouble. UAA worked things back to a tie at 9 apiece before grabbing the lead back. With the game again tied at 11, Anjoilyn Vreeland of the Seawolves took her serves and ended the game with four straight service aces, breaking their two-game losing-streak to the Nanooks.
Markie Miller led the way for the 'Nooks on the offensive front with 16 kills and a .378 hit percentage.
Emily Moorhead was next up in the kills category, checking in with nine on the night while adding a .227 hit percentage.
Cate Whiting had 37 assists and added nine digs while
Makena Overbey led the defensive digs category with 19.
The Nanooks will remain on the road this week as they get ready to take on the Yellow Jackets of Montana State, Billings in Billings on Oct. 26 at 12:00 p.m. AKT in the Alterowitz Gymnasium on the campus of MSUB. Live stream and stats will be available for this match through the Stretch Internet Portal of both Alaska and Montana State, Billings.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.
