FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team has announced their upcoming 2023 season schedule. Ticket plans are set to be announced shortly.

The Nanooks will officially kick-off their 2023 season on August 24 as they welcome the University of Hawaii Hilo and Chaminade to the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium for the Alaska/Hawaii Challenge. On the 24th, the Nanooks will host both Hawaii Hilo and Chaminade. They'll have the 25th off before facing the same two teams on the 26th. A week later, the 'Nooks will stay in-state but head south to Anchorage for the Seawolf Volleyball Invitational on Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. On day one, Alaska will face St. Cloud State. Day two will be a two-game day and they'll face Cal Poly Humboldt and Upper Iowa before finishing off the Invitational on Sept. 2 with Florida Tech. 

Alaska will return home for the 2023 installment of the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic on Sept. 7-9. This season, they'll welcome Alaska Anchorage, Biola, Lander and Stanislaus State and will start their GNAC schedule with UAA on Sept. 7 as part of the classic. On day two, the Nanooks will face-off with Biola and then on day three, they'll play two against Lander and Stanislaus State. On the final day of the Ice Block Classic, fans can enjoy a food truck rally outside of the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center as the 'Nooks welcome 12 local food trucks. 

The following week, the Nanooks will hit the road to North Carolina for the Shaw University Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. They'll open on Sept. 15 with a match against St. Augustine's University before playing the University of Mount Olive and Shaw University on Saturday, Sept. 16. After their trip out east, the Nanooks jump right back into GNAC action and will open up the bulk of their conference schedule with an international trip to Simon Fraser on Thursday, Sept. 21. Following their trip to Burnaby, B.C., they'll matchup with Western Washington on Sept. 23. Alaska will end September with Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings on their home court. Their SPU matchup will be a white out and will feature a postgame poster signing for all in attendance! The Nanooks hit the road on Oct. 5/7 and will face Western Oregon and Saint Martin's in Monmouth, Ore. and Lacey, Wash. before coming home for four-straight home games. Oct. 12 starts the home stand as the Nanooks welcome Northwest Nazarene to town for their annual Field Day. First serve against the Nighthawks is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Alaska will welcome Central Washington on Oct. 14 before hosting Western Washington and Simon Fraser the following week on Oct. 19 and 21 to start the second-half of their conference schedule. 

The Simon Fraser game, scheduled for Oct. 21, is the Nanooks Dig Pink game, wear pink! 

Volleyball will end the month of October on the road with a trip to Montana State Billings on Oct. 26 before facing Seattle Pacific on Oct. 28. 

The first week of November welcomes Faculty Appreciation Night and Senior Day for the Nanooks. On Nov. 2, the 'Nooks will face the Saints of Saint Martin's for Faculty Appreciation Night before we celebrate the seniors on Nov. 4 against Western Oregon. 

To end the regular-season, Alaska will head to Central Washington on Nov. 9, Northwest Nazarene on Nov. 11 and Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 16. 

"Our schedule is full of great competition. We will be tested from the very first weekend to the last  playing nationally and regionally ranked teams." Said head coach Brian Scott, "Fans can expect to see a battle take place every time we walk on the Alaska Airlines court. We are especially excited to host two home tournaments this year and play in front of our home crowd. We will face great regionally ranked teams both weekends and we will need to be at our best. The Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic will feature our first match with UAA, adding an extra incentive to repeat as tournament champions. Our two tournaments will be great preparation for the always competitive GNAC schedule. The GNAC looks to be brutally tough competition again this year and it is going to be an awesome challenge every weekend. Our final three matches are on the road, against great opponents, and may prove to be key matches in our efforts to make the NCAA tournament."

2023 Schedule [CLICK HERE]

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Instagram or Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.