FAIRBANKS - The Alaska volleyball team is back on the road following two home wins this past week. The Nanooks improved to 15-8, 5-6 GNAC after wins against Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific. The Nanooks are riding a two-game winning streak into this week's matchup with Western Washington and Simon Fraser.

Thursday, Oct. 20
Western Washington University | Live Stats | Live Video
6:00 p.m. | Carver Gymnasium | Bellingham, Washington

Saturday, Oct. 22
Simon Fraser University (B.C.) | Live Stats | Live Video
3:00 p.m. | West Gymnasium | Burnaby, British Columbia 

Last Time Out
The Nanooks swept MSUB 3-0 totaling 57.0 overall points, 43 kills and nine blocks for the game. Elena Guc led Alaska in kills with a total of nine for the match, while Elizabeth Jackson led in blocks with a total of five for the game. Ainsley Smith contributed with 16 assists and Jessa Long helped secure the win for the Nanooks with a total of 15 digs. 

The most recent game for Alaska was a battle all the way through five sets. Alaska totaled 80 points, 60 kills, and 72 digs.The Nanooks won the first two sets 25-23 and 25-22 respectively, while SPU took the next two sets 25-19. Alaska pulled out the win 15-8 in the last set, securing the victory. Karli Nielson led the team with 15 kills while Rilee White contributed with 12 kills, five aces, and two blocks. Ainsley Smith led the team in assists, totaling 27 through five sets, and Jessa Long helped secure the win with 26 digs and five assists. Elizabeth Jackson led the team in blocks, totaling five for the game. 

Defensive Honor
The Great Northwest Athletics Conference (GNAC) announced their weekly awards on Monday, Oct. 17, and for the third time this season, Jessa Long of Nanooks volleyball was named the GNAC VB Defensive Player of the Week. 

"Jessa continues to put together solid defensive plays." Said head coach Brian Scott, "We love the effort her and the team put into making it difficult on our opponents' ability to score. As we head into the second half of conference play, that defensive mentality will be extremely important."

Long was named the Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week after she averaged 5.12 digs and 1.12 assists per set in a couple of Nanook wins. On Thursday, she finished with 15 digs, four assists and two aces, helping the Nanooks sweep aside the MSUB Yellowjackets. On Saturday, the Nanooks got their revenge on the SPU Falcons, grabbing the win in a five-set thriller. Long posted 26 digs, five assists and an ace in the win over Seattle Pacific. 

This is Long's third weekly award of the season and the third in her Nanook career. 

Quick Hitters

• The Nanooks are looking for their first win against Western Washington since Oct. 11, 2008. The Vikings have owned the head-to-head since, winning the last 26 matchups. 
• The Nanooks snapped a 12-game losing streak to the Red Leafs last season and now have won two-straight. They look to sweep the season meetings against SFU for the first time since the 2012 season when they won on Oct. 6, 2012 (3-1) and Nov. 1, 2012 (3-2).
• As a team, the Nanooks are second in the GNAC in aces and blocks per set. They are averaging 2.14 aces per set and 2.48 blocks per set. They also lead the GNAC in six other categories.
• Alaska is first in team assists (979), team digs (1,203), team kills (1,059), team service aces (184), team total attacks (2,921), and team total blocks (213.0).
• The Nanooks are in the top-15 in the NCAA Division II in three categories. They are 10th in DII for blocks per set (2.48), 12th in aces (184) and second in team blocks (213.0).
• Rilee White and Karli Nielson are two of the top servers in the GNAC. White is second in the conference for aces per set, averaging 0.55/set. This makes her 31st in NCAA Division II as well. Nielson is 10th in the GNAC, averaging 0.36 aces/set.
• Ainsley Smith is currently seventh in the GNAC for assists per set, averaging 5.47.
• Elizabeth Jackson and Kristina Head front the net presence for the 'Nooks. Jackson is third in the GNAC in blocks per set and is 12th in NCAA Division II with an average of 1.26/set. Head is seventh in the GNAC and 75th in DII with 1.04/set.
• Rilee White leads the GNAC in service aces with 47. This number puts her 12th in the Division II ranks.
• Jackson and Head are in the top-35 in Division II for total blocks. Jackson leads the nation and GNAC with 103.0 total blocks and Head is third in the GNAC and 35th in the nation with 85.0 total blocks.
• Finally, Jessa Long leads the GNAC in total digs with 403. This puts her 25th in NCAA Division II.

Where to Watch
Never miss out on Nanooks volleyball action. All GNAC home and away games are streamed for free on YouTube. All home games are live on the Alaska Nanooks YouTube page while all away games are on the respective opponents YouTube page. 

Live stats are available using the Nanooks athletics website. 

Scout the Opponents

Western Washington Vikings (14-4, 9-1 GNAC)
The Nanooks lost to the Vikings 3-1 earlier in the season. The Vikings are 14-8, 9-1 GNAC and are on a six game win streak while remaining undefeated on their home court. Calley Heilborn leads the Vikings with 177 kills, while Kasey Woodruff leads the team in digs, totaling 227 for the season. Malia Alega leads the team in assists with a total of 680 and Chloe Roetcisoender leads the team with 85 blocks this season. 

Simon Fraser Red Leafs (7-12, 4-6 GNAC)
The Nanooks beat the Red Leafs earlier in the season 3-1. SFU is 7-12, 4-6 GNAC and fell in their last matchup, losing to Western Washington 3-2 last week. Brooke Dexter leads SFU in kills totaling 228 so far this season, Ava Khademi and Jocelyn Sherman lead the team in digs with 177 and 171, respectively. Serena Gentile leads the Red Leafs in assists with a total of 372, and Kalyn Hartmann leads SFU with 79 blocks. Khademi and Sherman also lead the team in service aces, totaling 25 apiece. 

Around the GNAC

1. Alaska Anchorage 21-1, 11-0 GNAC
2. Western Washington 14-4, 9-1 GNAC
3. Northwest Nazarene 14-5, 7-4 GNAC
4. Central Washington 12-7, 7-4 GNAC
5. Seattle Pacific 8-11, 6-5 GNAC
6. Alaska 15-8, 5-6 GNAC
7. Simon Fraser 7-12, 4-6 GNAC
8. Western Oregon 7-12, 3-8 GNAC
9. Saint Martin's 12-9, 2-9 GNAC
10. Montana State Billings 7-12, 0-11 GNAC

In the Polls
Three GNAC teams appeared in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches Poll. Alaska Anchorage was the top GNAC team in the top-25, checking in at #9 with 827 points. Western Washington followed closely behind at #10 with 742 points. Central Washington was the final GNAC team to show up in the poll, receiving 18 votes.

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.