FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team played spoiler to Drury University's perfect-record on Friday, Sept. 10 at the Patty Center as the Nanooks outlasted the Panthers in five-sets. After taking the opening two sets, the Panthers pushed Alaska to a fifth before the 'Nooks pulled away with a 17-15 fifth-set win. This moved Alaska to 5-5. 

Sets one and two went the way of the Nanooks as they cruised to 16 and 14 kills in each, compared to Drury's 14 combined. Despite more attack errors, the Nanooks offense sparked a quick 2-0 set lead. In set three, however, the Panthers pushed ahead despite losing the kill-battle again. This set, they hit .344 compared to the Nanooks .220. Set three was even, however, eight errors from Alaska played the difference-maker as they fell in the fourth, 24-26. The fifth set was back-and-forth but eventually, despite being outhit, Alaska prevailed, winning the final set 17-15. 

Alaska outhit Drury in all five sets, 65-50, out served the Panthers with nine aces to their three, had more assists, 60-47 and totaled more digs, 82-77. The Panthers did, however, own the net game, as they out blocked the Nanooks 11-21. 

The Nanooks had a widespread offense as AveRee Reynolds and Lahra Weber each tallied 15 kills and Sophie Schilling added 13. Cate Whiting put up a 50-piece, ending the night with 51 assists and 22 digs. Dani Dodge led the way with 26 digs. Three Nanooks, Emily Moorhead, Schilling and Weber, tallied four block assists. Moorhead had the only two solo-blocks on the night for Alaska. 

The Nanooks are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 11 at noon and 7:30 p.m. to take on Ursuline College and Colorado State Pueblo. 

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