FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team is off to Anchorage for the UAA Volleyball Invitational on Aug. 31-Sept. 2. There they'll get four games in three days as they play St. Cloud State, Cal Poly Humboldt, Upper Iowa and Florida Tech.
August 31, 2023
St. Cloud State | 4:00 p.m.
Sept. 1, 2023
Cal Poly Humboldt | 9:00 a.m.
Upper Iowa | 2:00 p.m.
Sept. 2, 2023
Florida Tech | 9:00 a.m.
Watch Here (UAA YouTube) | Live Stats | Tickets
Last Time Out
The Nanooks are fresh off of hosting the Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge. In the Challenge, the 'Nooks went 1-3 with their first win of the season coming against the Hawaii Hilo Vulcans on Saturday, Aug. 26. On day one, Alaska dropped both contests to Chaminade and Hawaii Hilo. On Saturday, the 'Nooks day two, they opened up with a 3-2 win over Hilo with Karli Nielson posting 19 kills and Ainsley Smith distributing 53 assists. They were swept later that night by the Swords, closing out the Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge.
Nielson and Grace Steurer were announced as the Nanooks representatives on the 2023 Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge All-Tournament Team. Chaminade was represented by Leilani Ama and Greta Corti, Hawaii Hilo was represented by Isabella Hadaller and Taylor Tullo and Alaska Anchorage was represented by Nicole Blue and Makana Eleneki.
#NookNotes
- Karli Nielson leads the 'Nooks with 48 kills through four games and 15 sets played. She's averaging 2.87 kills per set.
- Rilee White posted eight service aces this past weekend to lead the Nanooks, she's averaging 0.13 aces per set.
- Ainsley Smith has taken the lead on distribution after splitting time with Taylor Overn a year ago. She was responsible for 123 of the 'Nooks 151 assists this past weekend, highlighted by a 53-assist performance against Hilo, a new career-high.
- Elizabeth Jackson, Josie Jansen and Smith are leading the 'Nooks in blocks to begin the year. All three are in double-digits with Jackson leading the way with 14 while Jansen and Smith follow with 11 each.
- Jackson is leading the team with 1.08 blocks per set and has three block solos; three others have one block solo.
- Grace Steurer has 53 digs on the season to lead Alaska. She's averaging 3.53 per set. She is also one of two 'Nooks with four aces as her and Smith trail White's eight.
Player of the Week
Elizabeth Jackson of the Nanooks volleyball team walked away with the Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week honor after her performance to open the season.
Jackson helped the Nanooks to their first victory of the 2023 season against Hawaii-Hilo in a five-set thriller. The junior middle blocker stepped up when the Nanooks needed it against the Vulcans, as she racked up seven block assists and one solo block. Jackson had 14 total blocks over the weekend, averaging 1.08 blocks per set in the four matches. Jackson added an additional 10 kills as well.
"EJ has worked hard this summer to be prepared for the start of the season. We are excited to see her efforts paying off right away. In addition, she has three great middles in the gym she is working with that have pushed her to be her best every day of practice," said head coach Brian Scott.
GNAC Preseason Poll
Alaska landed in spot number six in the GNAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll. They trailed rival UAA, who took fifth, by six points. Central Washington was the unanimous favorite, receiving 100 points and all 10 first-place votes. Western Washington took second (85), Seattle Pacific (72) took third and Simon Fraser (71) took fourth. UAA and Alaska were next and Northwest Nazarene (38), Western Oregon (35), Saint Martin's (20) and Montana State Billings (13) rounded out the field.
Preseason All-Conference Team
Karli Nielson was named a GNAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference selection. It was the junior's second-time being named to the preseason team. Tia Andaya, of Central Washington, was named the GNAC Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Instagram or X, or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.
