FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanook volleyball team picked up a big 3-1 win over the Seattle Pacific Falcons on Thursday, Sept. 23. After dropping the opening-set, the Nanooks stormed back to take the final three, winning, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20 and 25-23. This win moves Alaska to 10-5, 3-0 GNAC. 
 
Seattle Pacific took set one behind a .222 swing percentage and 14 kills while the Nanooks posted a dozen kills and a .088 swing percentage. Despite being outhit percentage-wise, the Nanooks hung strong, forcing 13 tie scores in the opening-set. The second-set was similar in the stat-line, however, the Nanooks pulled away with the set, winning 25-21. They were outhit once again, but succeeded on the side out winning 54% of the points on serve-receive. The tides turned blue and gold in set three as the 'Nooks posted their best set-percentage on the attack, hitting .216 with 11 kills. They took the third, 25-20. Finally, despite being outhit one last time, the Nanooks willed themselves to a fourth-set win and match win, claiming the W, 25-23. 
 
Set number one saw 13 ties. A couple of two-point leads in the early part of the set was about all either side could put together. It was not until the 18-21 score, that SPU pulled ahead by three, eventually putting away the Nanooks 20-25. Emily Moorhead and Sophie Schilling led the way for Alaska with three kills each. Nine errors on the attack plagued the Alaska offense early as they trailed 0-1.
 
While it was not 13, set number two still saw a close matchup as it resulted in nine ties and five lead-changes. After falling behind early, the Nanooks grabbed their first lead at the 9-8 point of the second. That lead did not last long as SPU quickly turned it into their own lead of 12-15. A kill by Cate Whiting quickly turned the page and sparked the Nanooks. In the blink of an eye, Colleen File served five-straight times, giving Alaska a 19-17 lead. Emily Moorhead followed up with two of her own kills, putting the set out of reach with the set-winner. 
 
Set three saw the Nanooks maintain and keep an early lead throughout most of the set. Rilee White was the go-to target in set three as she collected five of her career-high 15 kills. In the third set, alone, White hit .455 and also picked up four digs. She helped lead the Nanooks to an early 11-7 lead before SPU made a quick run. The Falcons grabbed the lead back at 13-14 but were quickly shut down by a Schilling kill. Alaska ran back ahead, pushing their biggest lead of the night across the scoreboard at 22-16 before winning the set 25-20. 
 
The fourth set was Seattle Pacific's final chance to make a run at the Nanooks. They couldn't make it happen as the biggest crowd of the season helped give the Nanooks enough momentum for the win. SPU held a lead until an 8-8 tie was broken by a Schilling service-ace. Miya Ohms, Schilling and White led the Nanooks to the fourth-set win. Ohms and Schilling collected two kills in the fourth while White tallied another five, giving her 15 on the night. After White's final kill of the night made it 19-17, AveRee Reynolds and Moorhead combined for a big block followed by a Reynolds kill, making it 23-21. The Nanooks were pressed at match-point as SPU made it 24-23 but a service-error ended things at 25-23 as the Nanook bench poured onto the court in celebration.
 
"I love that there was a little bit of pressure," said head coach Brian Scott, "we got the job done and we'll take it." 
 
As for White, she posted a career-high 15 kills and ended the night with a .361 swing percentage. When asked about the night, White could not help but notice those around her, "My middles did a great job of holding the block and it gave me a wide-open net and my setters were putting it right there. That connection between both of them just made my job that much easier, that is what was really clicking."
 
Her 15 kills led the way for the Nanooks while Moorhead followed behind with nine of her own. Moorhead owned the net tonight, totaling nine blocks, eight assisted, one solo. Cate Whiting led the way on both sides of the ball with 39 assists and added 20 digs and one block. Both Dani Dodge and White added 12 digs as well. 
 
The Nanooks are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 25 when they host Montana State Billings at 2:00 p.m. in the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center. MSUB was swept by Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, Sept. 23. 
 
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.