MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Nanooks volleyball team moved to 9-11, 2-4 GNAC after sweeping the Western Oregon Wolves on Thursday, Oct. 5. They have now won two-straight and won six-straight sets in back-to-back sweeps. 

The Nanooks prevailed in two close sets before taking the third by 11 points. In the first, both sides struggled a little to find their stride offensively as the 'Nooks posted 12 kills but had seven errors for a hit percentage of .109. Despite their slow start, WOU suffered the same fate, posting 14 kills but 10 errors and an .077 hit percentage. Alaska managed to grab a 25-23 set one win. In the second, the errors started to go away for Alaska as they had another 12-kill set, this time only surrendering four errors for a .205 hit percentage. Western Oregon posted 11 with six errors and swung .135 as the Nanooks took the second, 25-22. In the final set, Alaska had a game-high 14 kills and only three errors, outhitting the Wolves .344 to .119 as WOU posted 11 kills and six errors. 

The first saw WOU jump ahead early, 8-5. They'd maintain that lead, growing it to 14-10, before Alaska hit a turning point and posted seven out of eight points to turn the score to 17-15 Nanooks. WOU returned the favor, going for five-straight to grab a late 21-19 lead but an attack error and ace from Karli Nielson tied the set back up at 21-21. Alaska ended the first on four-straight points as two WOU errors were followed by back-to-back kills from Lily Stewart to give Alaska the 25-23 win. In the second, Alaska jumped out to a quick 10-3 lead before Western Oregon started chipping away. They managed to pull within one at 13-12 before eventually tying the set at 14-14. A block from Kristina Head and Ainsley Smith slowed the momentum shift and the 'Nooks regained the lead; that lead grew to 19-15 on another Nielson kill and Head service ace. WOU made a small push late but a service error made it a 25-22 win for Alaska. 

The third set was all Nanooks. They jumped out to an early 10-4 lead and withstood a run by the Wolves. After WOU pulled within three at 13-10, the Nanooks ended the set with back-to-back runs. Their first run grew the lead to 20-13 and then they took five of the final six points. Nielson struck one last time on the final point, collecting her game-high 11th kill to make it a 25-13 set three win and 3-0 sweep. 

Nielson ended the night with 11 kills, a .167 hit percentage, two aces, one assist, block and dig. Grace Steurer had herself a night; the graduate-transfer picked up 25 digs in the three-setter and added three assists. Rilee White followed with 13 digs, six kills, a .217 hit percentage and an ace. Kinley Erickson also added 10 digs. Lily Stewart posted nine kills and a dig and Josie Jansen led the way at the net with a solo block and block assist while posting seven kills and a team-high .583 hit percentage. 

The Nanooks are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Saint Martin's at 12:00 p.m. AKST.

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