FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team made a big statement on Saturday, Oct. 14 as they pulled off the upset of #16-ranked Central Washington. The 'Nooks dropped the opening set before winning the final three to take down the Wildcats in four.
Alaska knocked off CWU in all major categories except blocks as they posted more points, 75-68, more kills with 58-51, more aces with eight to their seven, 10 more assists than CWU, 57-47 and 13 more digs, 67-54.
The offense needed a set to come alive for the Nanooks, but after the first set, they never backed down. CWU took the opening set 25-20 behind a .194 swing percentage with 11 kills and four kills. The 'Nooks posted a dozen kills, but surrendered nine errors, hitting only .088 on 34 attempts. After that, the Nanooks never hit under .206 in a set and fired on all cylinders. They used 13 kills and only six errors in the second to get on the board and tie it up at 1-1. Central posted their worst offensive set of the afternoon with a .162 hit percentage with 12 kills and six errors. Central found themselves up 23-20 before a Nanook timeout. Out of the break, the Nanooks took all five points, completing the late comeback to win it 25-23. Josie Jansen started the run with a kill before Grace Steurer posted two aces in the set win.
In the third, the Nanooks posted a .438 swing percentage with 16 kills and only two errors. After trailing 17-15, the Nanooks stole all of the momentum and rallied off a 10-1 run to win their second set 25-18. Steurer served five-straight times and during her services Karli Nielson posted two kills. Ainsley Smith served to end the set and Nielson tallied another pair of kills while Ella Bines and Kristina Head finished off the set win. The fourth set saw another late comeback out the Nanooks. Both offenses ended the fourth with 17 kills but the Nanooks posted a .326 hit percentage, needing only 43 attempts to Central's .205 and 52 attempts. CWU held a late 22-20 lead but Alaska managed to tie it up at 22-22. After falling behind again, the Nanooks battled back to take a 24-23 lead on a Bines kill. They could not capitalize on their first match-point, but a Kristina Head kill followed by a Rilee White kill ended the fourth with a 26-24 final and gave Alaska the 3-1 victory.
Kristina Head posted 12 kills and a .600 hit percentage with four block assists, two digs and aces and an assist. Karli Nielson followed with 11 kills, eight digs, four block assists and an ace. Josie Jansen led the block party with five assisted blocks and added 10 kills and a .421 hit percentage. Ainsley Smith led the distribution department with 27 assists, seven digs and a kill and Cynphany Henderson added a big double-double with 20 assists and 17 digs.
The Nanooks remain at home next week as they welcome the Western Washington Vikings and Simon Fraser Red Leafs to the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center.
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