FAIRBANKS – The Nanooks volleyball team will head out of town for the second-straight weekend. This week, they'll head south and play four games at the Seawolf Volleyball Invitational at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. 
 
Thursday, Aug. 25
Vs. Point Loma at 4:00 p.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
 
Friday, Aug. 26
Vs. Emmanuel (Ga.) at 2:30 p.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Aug. 27
Vs. Lubbock Christian at 9:00 a.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
Vs. Pittsburg State at 2:00 p.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
 
Last Time Out
The Nanooks are fresh off of a 3-1 start to the 2022 season in Honolulu, Hi. They jumped out to a quick 1-0 record, sweeping Hawaii Hilo in their season-opener behind eight kills from Karli Nielson and 13 assists from both Ainsley Smith and Taylor Overn. In their second game of day one, the Nanooks went head-to-head with #25 Chaminade. After dropping two of the first three sets, the Nanooks used the momentum to take the final two sets, upsetting the ranked Swords for the first time since Sept. 10, 2009. Nielson led the way again with a dozen kills while Smith posted 23 assists and Jessa Long posted a season-high 20 digs. To start day two, Aug. 20, the Nanooks swept Hawaii Pacific, winning their third-straight match against HPU over the past two seasons and winning their third-straight to open the season. The 'Nooks entered their fourth and final game with a 3-0 record, their first 3-0 start to a season since 2017. They met Chaminade one more time and unfortunately fell in four sets to the Swords. 

AVCA Poll
The Nanooks will face another team that appeared in the AVCA Preseason Poll on Aug. 17; Point Loma received 14 votes entering the 2022 season. They faced Chaminade twice last weekend and CUH appeared in the Preseason Poll at #25. 

Welcome to the GNAC
After only her first four games as a Nanook, Jessa Long was named the GNAC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Aug. 22. Long's backrow ability was put on full-show this past weekend as the graduate-transfer posted 59 digs in four games, helping lead the Nanooks to a 3-1 record to start the 2022 season. Her best performance came in the Nanooks' 3-2, five-set win over Chaminade on Aug. 19, 2022 when she posted 20 digs and 18 receptions. Alongside her 20 and 18, Long added a season-high six assists and one service-ace. This helped push the Nanooks past the Swords of Chaminade for the first time in nearly 13 full years. She posted 11 digs in the Nanooks' sweep of Hawaii Hilo, 10 in their sweep of Hawaii Pacific and added 18 in four sets in their loss to CUH on Aug. 20.

Team Leaders
Kristina Head is the only Nanook leading the team in more than one major category. She leads the 'Nooks in kills and blocks as the freshman has posted 36 kills and 16 total blocks in her first four games as a Nanook. Jessa Long and her 59 digs is the team-lead by 20 as Rilee White comes in second with 39 on the season. Ainsley Smith has picked up 82 assists through four games while Taylor Overn has added 56 of her own. Finally, Karli Nielson and Smith are tied for the lead in service aces. Both have eight on the season and are followed closely by Rilee White with seven. 

Just Around the Corner
Following this weekend's games in Anchorage, the Nanooks will host the Seawolves and four other teams for the 2022 Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center. Arkansas Fort Smith, Black Hills State, Findlay and Florida Southern College will join UAA in Fairbanks and play four games each in the three-day classic. 

Buy Tickets Now | 2022 Schedule

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