BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team was swept by the #4-nationally ranked Western Washington Vikings on Saturday, Nov. 16, ending the 'Nooks four game winning-streak. This loss drops the Nanooks to 14-12, 11-7 GNAC entering the final week of the regular-season.
Unfortunately for the Nanooks, the Vikings had too much stopping power, running the all of the team categories in the stats. WWU out-served the 'Nooks with 4-6 service aces, out-blocked the 'Nooks 2-12 and out-swung Alaska, 32-37 in kills. The Vikings grabbed the straight-set victory with final scores of 16-25, 20-25 and 10-25.
Set one saw the Nanooks fall into an early 0-8 deficit. Despite the hole, the 'Nooks did not go away. They pulled within six points when
Kim Wong collected one of her seven kills, making the score 14-20. Unfortunately, three WWU kills and two Alaska attack errors gave the Vikings the first set victory. Set two was the best overall set for the 'Nooks. After falling behind Western, 3-8, they crawled all the way back to tie the set at 11-11 on a
Lahra Weber kill. After the Vikings grabbed the lead back again at 16-22, the 'Nooks responded with another four-point run, getting back within two. A service error for the 'Nooks and two WWU kills, however, gave the Vikings the set two win.
Set three was a quick one. After Alaska jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, WWU responded by closing the gap to two, making it 5-3, and then they went on a 10-0 run, taking a 5-14 lead. It became a game of Western Washington runs, as Alaska would grab a point before Western grabbed three. After
AveRee Reynolds made it 10-23, the Vikings won the final set and match on a kill and Alaska error.
The Nanooks return home and will finish the regular-season against Seattle Pacific on Nov. 21 and Saint Martin's on Nov. 23. The Saint Martin's game will be a senior day celebration for the three Nanooks seniors.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.
