NAMPA, Idaho – The Alaska Nanook volleyball team picked-up a five-set win over NNU on Saturday, Apr. 3, their third five-set victory of the season. This win moves Alaska to 5-4 on the season and they will wrap-up their season against Anchorage in two weeks.
After winning the first set 26-24, the Nanooks had to complete a comeback after losing the second set, 12-25 and the third set, 18-25. Alaska turned things around and grabbed a 25-19 fourth set win before ending their time on the road with a commanding 15-6, fifth-set victory.
Set one saw the Nanooks down 1-4 early. Despite the early deficit,
AveRee Reynolds found her groove quickly. She tallied a kill for each of the first three Nanook points, ending the first set with six, a team-high. After falling behind 10-14, another Reynolds kill sparked the first comeback for Alaska. They quickly reeled off nine of the next 14 points to take a 20-19 lead. Back-and-forth play ensued before a
Rilee White kill tied things up at 24-24 and NNU gave the 'Nooks the win with two errors on their side of the court.
The second and third set went the way of NNU as the Nighthawks took the second set 12-25 and the third set 18-25. In the second set, the Nighthawks outhit the Nanooks .393 to .000, putting up 13 kills and two errors compared to the 'Nooks seven kills and seven errors. In the third set, the Nanooks outhit NNU, 17 kills to 14 but zero errors were committed by the Nighthawks played the difference.
In the fourth set, the Nanooks had their backs up against the wall. Needing to win to send it to a fifth set, the Nanooks jumped out to an early lead and never lost it. After
Lahra Weber found back-to-back kills to make it 9-8 Nanooks, they never looked back. Weber connected on six kills in the fourth set, leading the Nanooks to a 25-19 win. Just behind Weber was Reynolds, tacking-on four more kills.
Alaska and Northwest Nazarene were off to another fifth-set, their second five-set matchup of the season and Alaska's third. Having won their previous two five-setters, the Nanooks looked to keep the magic alive in Nampa. From the get-go, Alaska had the edge. Following an early 2-2 tie the Nanooks hit their full-stride, jumping out to a 7-2 lead behind two service aces by White, an
Emily Moorhead kill and blocks from Moorhead and
Karli Nielson. Nielson followed up with a kill of her own, extending the lead to 8-3 before Moorhead connected on two more with Weber to give the Nanooks a 15-6 fifth-set victory.
Reynolds and Weber led the way for the Nanooks with 15 kills apiece. Weber posted a .200 hit percentage while Reynolds posted a .188 percentage. Neilson added nine while Moorhead checked-in with eight of her own.
Cate Whiting impressed with yet another 50-piece in the assist's column, collecting 16 digs. Her double-double was not the only one for the 'Nooks as Reynolds also tallied one, adding 16 digs to her 15 kills.
Dani Dodge led the way for the 'Nooks in digs, adding 17 as the Nanooks recorded 73 as a team.
The Nanooks will have the upcoming weekend off before hosting Anchorage on Apr. 16-17 at home for their season-finale.
For more information on the Alaska Nanook volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.
