FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team is back in action at home this week as they welcome the Western Washington Vikings and Simon Fraser Red Leafs.

Thursday, Oct. 19
vs. Western Washington | 7:00 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center

Saturday, Oct. 21
vs. Simon Fraser | 2:00 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center

Watch Live | Live Stats | Tickets

Last Time Out
The Nanooks went 1-1 last week at home. They fell in game one against Northwest Nazarene, falling in four sets. Ella Bines led the offensive attack with a game-high 16 kills. She was the only Nanook with double-digit kills as Karli Nielson followed with seven. Cynphany Henderson posted 21 assists while Ainsley Smith added 13. Grace Steurer led the way with a game-high 18 digs. The Nanooks rebounded with a big win against the Central Washington Wildcats on Saturday, Oct. 14, beating the #16-ranked team 3-1. Kristina Head led the way with 12 kills, four blocks and a pair of aces. Henderson had another big game, finishing with a double-double of 20 assists and 17 digs. This was the Nanooks' third win over a nationally-ranked opponent in the past three seasons. They beat #25 Chaminade last season and defeated #25 CWU two seasons ago in 2021. 

Dig Pink
This Saturday's game against Simon Fraser is the annual Dig Pink game. This is an annual match that raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Wear pink to this Saturday's match and help us advance research to defeat cancer! 

#NookNotes 

• The Nanooks cracked into the top-100 in the country for team aces per set. They are averaging 1.84/set, good for fifth in the GNAC. 
• They are currently 48th in the country in blocks per set and third in the GNAC with 2.17 blocks per set. 
• Alaska is top-50 in the nation in six other categories, including being fifth in the nation in team blocks with 180.5; they lead the GNAC in that category. 
• Josie Jansen is in the top-50 individually for total blocks and is also third in the conference with 74 total blocks. Kristina Head follows at 85th in the nation with 67 total blocks, good for seventh in the conference. 
• Karli Nielson is 79th in the nation for total attacks with 678 and 76th in the nation for total kills with 243. Her 243 kills puts her second in the conference. 
• This officially begins the second-half of GNAC play for the Nanooks. They'll be looking to get a win against WWU for the first time since Oct. 11, 2008 when they beat the Vikings in Fairbanks 3-2. 
• These two teams battled to a five-set loss for Alaska on Sept. 23, 2023 in Bellingham, Wash. The currently losing-streak is 28 matches for the 'Nooks.
• The Nanooks dropped the early-season matchup at Simon Fraser on Sept. 21, 2023, falling in straight-sets to the Red Leafs. 
• Alaska is on a two-game losing streak to SFU and looking for their first win against the Canadian-based NCAA team since Sept. 22, 2022. They have won the last two matchups at home.

Player to Watch
Josie Jansen was named the GNAC Player to Watch this week following her performance against the CWU Wildcats. She posted 11 blocks last week and had a .452 hitting percentage in the last two matches. "Josie transferred in the spring, and she has made an impact in our gym from the beginning," Nanook head coach Brian Scott said on the Mt. Hood Community College transfer. "I would highlight what Josie did against Central. Part of our game plan was to utilize our middles more efficiently than we have been, and she stepped into a big role and made a big impact in that game. She is a long individual who puts up a big block. We hope that a nice win like that can help us create some excitement and build momentum going into some important matches against two tough opponents this week. We are hoping we can get the same play not only out of Josie, but out of everyone as we face Western Washington and Simon Fraser."

GNAC Standings

1. Seattle Pacific (14-3, 8-1 GNAC)
2. Central Washington (12-5, 6-3 GNAC)
3. Simon Fraser (11-6, 6-3 GNAC)
4. Western Washington (6-11, 6-3 GNAC)
5. Saint Martin's (12-7, 5-4 GNAC)
6. Alaska Anchorage (12-12, 4-5 GNAC)
7. Northwest Nazarene (8-9, 4-5 GNAC)
8. Alaska (10-13, 3-6 GNAC)
9. Western Oregon (8-9, 2-7 GNAC)
10. Montana State Billings (3-16, 1-8 GNAC)

National Presence
The GNAC currently has three teams making noise in the AVCA/TARAFLEX NCAA Division II rankings. The most recent polls, released Monday, Oct. 16, had Central Washington at #18 in the polls, Seattle Pacific at #22 in the polls and Simon Fraser receiving votes. 

This is the Nanooks' ninth game against a team either receiving votes or appearing in the top-25. 

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