FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team hits the road for a pair of GNAC road tests. They open at Western Oregon before heading to Saint Martin's this weekend.

Thursday, Oct. 5
at Western Oregon | 6:00 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats

Saturday, Oct. 7
at Saint Martin's | 12:00 p.m.
Watch Live | Live Stats

Last Time Out
The Nanooks battled SPU and MSUB at home last week. In game one, they fell to the #24-ranked Seattle Pacific Falcons in four sets. They grabbed the first set before dropping the next three. Alaska was led by Karli Nielson, Lily Stewart and Rilee White with eight kills a piece. Kristina Head had a big game at the net for the Nanooks, posting eight total blocks. Cynphany Henderson posted a game-high 20 assists in the loss. On Saturday, the Nanooks got their first GNAC win of the season with a sweep of Montana State Billings. Karli Nielson, once again, led the way with 12 kills. Kristina Head filled the statsheet with seven kills, a .462 hit percentage, four digs, four aces and three blocks in the win. 

Quick Hitters

• As a team, the Nanooks are 20th in the country with 741. The 'Nooks have a split distribution attack between Cynphany Henderson and Ainsley Smith. Smith leads the team with 407 assists while Henderson has added 246 this season. 
• Alaska is 24th in the nation when it comes to kills with 796. Karli Nielson is the lone-Nanook with over 200 kills this season as the junior leads the way with 206 kills and an average of 2.99 per set.
• Their 137.5 total blocks as a team has them in the top-15 in the NCAA Division II. They currently sit in 11th, tied with Seattle Pacific. Josie Jansen (57.0) and Kristina Head (50.0), are the leaders at the net for Alaska. No other Nanook has more than 33 blocks on the season. 
• Western Oregon and Saint Martin's both sit above the Nanooks in the GNAC standings. WOU enters Thursday's matchup with the 'Nooks at 8-5, 2-3 GNAC while the Saints currently sit at 8-6, 2-3 GNAC. 
• Alaska split last season with the Wolves, dropping their first matchup at home before grabbing the win at WOU near the end of the season. 
• The Nanooks swept SMU last season and currently own a six-game winning streak over the Saints and an 8-2 record over their last 10 matchups. 

GNAC Standings

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

National Presence
The GNAC has two teams in the top-25 and one receiving votes as Central Washington and Seattle Pacific currently sit at #17 and #21 in the most recent AVCA/TARAFLEX NCAA Division II rankings. Simon Fraser received votes in the latest poll.

Follow the 'Nooks
Instagram - @NanooksVB
X - @NanooksVB
Facebook - Alaska Nanooks Volleyball