FAIRBANKS - Alaska fell to the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks this afternoon in the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium. The 'Nooks grabbed the first set before falling in the following three to lose 3-1 and fall to 9-13, 2-6 GNAC.

The Nanooks volleyball team welcomed nearly 1,000 students from Ann Wien, Chinook, Denali, Ladd, Pearl Creek, Weller, U Park and Woodriver Elementaries; this event was made possible thanks to a partnership with Alaska 529.

The students brought the energy as the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium was as loud as it's been in recent history. Alaska jumped out and grabbed the opening set 25-18. NNU responded with a 25-22 second set win, a 25-20 set three win, and a 25-22 set four victory to claim the win 3-1 in Fairbanks. In the first, the Nanooks came out swinging; they posted a .286 hit percentage, tallying 11 kills and surrendering only three errors. NNU had nine kills and four errors but swung .167. Karli Nielson led the attack in the first with four kills while Ella Bines added three. In the second, NNU grabbed a three-point win despite Alaska outhitting NNU .182 to .097. The third was the Nighthawks' biggest offensive set as they posted 15 kills and hit .323. The Nanooks had a big offensive set as well, posting a .241 hit percentage and 11 kills, but they surrendered five service errors in the set. 

Unfortunately in the fourth, the Nanooks had six service errors compared to NNU's three. The 'Nooks fell 25-22. Bines posted four kills in the final set to give her a game-high 16. She finished with a .344 hit percentage with five block assists and a dig. Nielson followed with seven kills while Josie Jansen and Lily Stewart each added six. Grace Steurer had a game-high 18 digs and added five assists. 

The Nanooks are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 14 when they welcome the nationally-ranked Central Washington Wildcats at 2:00 p.m. in the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium.

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