FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team (13-6, 3-4 GNAC) fell in straight sets to the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves on Saturday, Oct. 1. UAA improved to 17-1, 7-0 GNAC as their lead in the GNAC standings grew. 

The Nanooks could not maintain a hot start in the first as UAA stormed back to take set one 25-20 behind 11 kills. Alaska posted nine kills but their seven errors gave them two more than UAA. The Seawolves' momentum stuck with them through the second as they took a commanding 2-0 lead on a 25-19 and unfortunately they hit full-stride in the third, beating the 'Nooks 25-14 to close out the sweep. 

Alaska jumped out to a roaring lead of 8-1 on eight-straight points using three-straight kills from Ella Bines, a pair of service-aces from Taylor Overn and a Karli Nielson kill. They stretched their lead to to 9-2 on a block from Elizabeth Jackson and Bines before UAA started to cut into the lead. The Seawolves used a small run to cut it to a pair at 12-10 but Elena Guc and Jackson tacked on another big block, making it 14-11 'Nooks. UAA tacked on five more, making it 16-15 on a 12-6 run from the 10-3 point on. Their lead grew to 23-18 before they put the 'Nooks away 25-20. 

Set number two began with a pair of runs. The Nanooks jumped ahead 3-1 before UAA answered, making it 6-3 with five-straight points. Alaska bounced back on back-to-back blocks from Bines, Jackson and Nielson, making it 6-5 UAA. The two sides traded small runs before the Nanooks pushed four across to take an 11-9 lead. Their lead grew to 14-11 before UAA tallied runs of four and seven to take a 23-17 lead on the 'Nooks. The Nanooks benefited from a service-error on UAA but fell 25-19 on a Rilee White attack error. The third began with a number of ties. Following a 5-5 tie on a Kristina Head ace, the Seawolves pushed ahead by a pair of points. The 'Nooks answered with another tie at the 7-7 mark. UAA quickly grabbed the lead back before ending the third on a 12-6 run, winning the match. 

Karli Nielson led the way for the Nanooks with nine kills in the loss. She hit .130 while adding a block and a dig. Rilee White posted seven of her own kills with three digs, and one assist. Ella Bines finished the day with five kills, two blocks and one dig. Jessa Long finished the day with a team-high 13 kills while Taylor Overn posted a team-high 14 assists. 

The Nanooks take to the road next week with stops at Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. They'll be back home on Oct. 13 when they welcome the Montana State Billings Yellow Jackets. 

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