FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team struggled Friday, Sept. 01, falling in both of their matches at the UAA Volleyball Invitational as Cal Poly Humboldt and Upper Iowa University took the afternoon matches in three sets each, moving the 'Nooks to 1-6, 0-0 GNAC on the early season.

The Lumberjacks won the first match in consecutive sets, 25-19, 25-19 and 25-16. In the afternoon match versus Peacocks, the 'Nooks fell 25-23, 27-25 and 25-23. 

Alaska out-assisted the Lumberjacks in the first match, but their offense could not keep up with the HSU offense as the Lumberjacks posted five more kills than the Nanooks and outhit the 'Nooks by .162 percentage points. The Lumberjacks took the first 25-19, the second 25-19 and completed the sweep in the third 25-16. A Lumberjack attack error and an Ella Bines kill started the match off with a bang, giving the Nanooks a 2-1 lead. The two sides traded points and small runs until the 7-6 mark when the Lumberjacks went on a 5-0 run, 12-6. The 'Nooks answered back strong, scoring four straight to make it 12-10. The teams traded points, and the Nanooks continued to piece away at the Lumberjack lead, cutting it to one from a Bines kill, 18-17. The Lumberjacks went on a 7-2 run to close out the set, 25-19. 

The second set began as a back-and-forth affair, Elena Guc got the Nanooks on the board early with a kill, tying the score 1-1. The Lumberjacks went on several small runs, stretching the lead to 11-6 early in the second set. An HSU service error followed by a Guc kill put the 'Nooks on a 5-0 run, tying the set at 11. Two 2-0 Lumberjack runs were stopped by Karli Nielson kills, keeping the Lumberjack lead at just two, 15-13. HSU responded swiftly, ballooning their second set lead with a 6-0 run, 21-13. Kristina Head would end the run with a kill of her own, 21-14. A quick 2-0 run by the Lumberjacks extended their lead, 23-14. The Nanooks would fight back late, scoring five of the last seven, falling 25-19. 

The third set stayed the Lumberjacks' way, as they got out to a quick 4-1 lead after Guc got the scoring going in the third set. A Nielson kill cut the HSU lead to just three early in the third, 7-4. HSU kept its lead above four points for most of the remaining third set until Reese Rossnagel rattled off three consecutive kills, cutting the HSU lead to three, 17-14. Cal Poly Humboldt responded with a quick four-spot, 21-14. Another Rossnagel run cut the Lumberjack lead to 21-16. A final four-piece from the Lumberjacks would end the third set, 25-16. 

Nielson led the way in kills with 15, adding a .278 hit percentage and seven digs. Head posted six kills and a .357 hitting percentage, while Ainsley Smith dished out 33 assists and had three digs. Kinley Erickson led the team with 13 digs. Rossnagel added an additional five kills on a .333 hit percentage. 

In the first set of the second match, the Peacocks and Nanooks opened up the scoring, matching each other early. Cynphany Henderson ended the early tie with a service ace, igniting the 'Nooks on a 4-1 run for an early 7-4 lead. Two 2-0 runs by Upper Iowa sandwiched in between kills by Head and Bines gave the 'Nooks a 9-8 lead. Both teams would trade runs and scores, keeping the set tied, 17-17. A 6-1 Peacock run gave Upper Iowa a 23-18 lead, and a 3-0 run ignited by Erickson, Head and Henderson kept the 'Nooks in the set. However, the late lead would prove to be insurmountable, leading to a 25-23 Upper Iowa win in the first set. The second set started all Alaska with a 3-1 lead early. Upper Iowa swiftly responded, rattling off four straight for a 5-3 lead. After quick scores from both sides, Alaska went on an 8-0 run catalyzed by a Head kill. After doubling Upper Iowa's score, 12-6, the Peacocks responded with a 3-0 run to cut the lead in half, 12-9. Rilee White temporarily stopped the run with a kill. A 4-1 run by UIU cut the Alaska lead to just one, 14-13, Elizabeth Jackson ended the UIU run with a kill. Upper Iowa had yet another response going on a 3-1 run to tie the second set, 16-16. A Peacock service ace allowed Alaska to retake the lead, 17-16. Each team responded with two straight points, keeping Alaska up one, 19-18. UIU would not go away, however, rattling off another two points to take the late set lead, 20-19. Kills by White and Jackson kept the set within reach, as the 2-1 run tied the set up again, 21-21. A 3-1 Peacock run pushed Alaska to the brink, 24-22. However, the Nanooks would charge back with a 3-0 run, with kills from Jackson and White. Needing one point to end the set, the Nanooks could not muster the offense or defense as UIU ended on a 3-0 run to win the second set, 27-25. 

The third set started all Alaska, as the 'Nooks got off to an early 5-2 run. Alaska continued pushing its lead to as much as four, up early 10-6. The Peacocks would answer mid-set with a 3-0 run of their own to cut the Alaska lead to just one, 10-9. Kills from Nielson and Guc pushed the Alaska lead further to 12-10. However, UIU would respond with a 9-1 run for a 19-13 lead. A Lily Stewart kill led to a 5-3 Alaska run, cutting the lead to three, 21-18. The 'Nooks would storm back late behind three attack errors from the Peacocks and kills from both Stewart and Jackson, tying the set at 23. However, the late run would not be enough as UIU rattled off two straight points to finish the sweep. 

Jackson led the way in the second match with 11 kills and a sweltering .647 hit percentage versus Upper Iowa. Head posted nine kills and a .350 hitting percentage, while Ainsley Smith dished out 20 assists. Cynphany Henderson added an additional 19 assists to go along with 11 digs and a kill. Kinley Erickson led the team with 19 digs. 

The Nanooks will wrap up the UAA Volleyball Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 2, with a match versus Flordia Tech starting at 9:00 a.m. 

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.