FAIRBANKS- The Nanooks volleyball squad moved to 2-6, 0-0 GNAC on the final day of the 2023 UAA Volleyball Invitational in Anchorage. They grabbed their second win of the season in their matchup with Florida Tech, winning in four sets, 3-1. 

The Nanooks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before fending off the surging Panthers in Saturday morning's matchup. Alaska began with a set one win of 25-19 and a set two win of 25-14 before falling in the third set by the score of 25-22. The 'Nooks battled and pulled out on top 25-15 in the fourth set. They used a .370 hit percentage in the fourth set to claim victory over Florida Tech.

In the opening set, the 'Nooks outhit Florida Tech .367 to .135 for the six-point win. Alaska jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead behind two Ainsley Smith service aces and two Panther attack errors. The Panthers would get on the board with two straight points, and Alaska would immediately respond with two kills from Kinley Erickson and Rilee White, stretching the lead to 6-2. A Panther kill followed by a Florida Tech service error, an attack error and an Ella Bines kill extended the lead 9-3. A 6-3 Panther run cut the Nanook lead to three, 12-9. The two sides traded points until the 18-14 mark when the Nanooks posted two straight points from two Lily Stewart kills, extending the lead to 20-15. An attack error ended the run for Alaska, and Florida Tech threatened late with three straight points, cutting the 'Nook lead to three, 22-19. Two kills from Karli Nielson and Ella Bines, and a Panther attack error secured the Nanooks' first-set win, 25-22. In the second, Alaska used a sweltering .458 hitting percentage on offense and held the Panthers to a -0.034 hitting percentage on defense to secure the set. Alaska and Florida Tech went back and forth until an early 8-7 lead from Alaska ballooned to a 12-7 lead off a Nielson kill and three straight Panther attack errors. The teams traded scores and small runs up to the 17-12 mark when an Elena Guc kill, followed by a Florida Tech service ace and two Kristina Head kills, pushed the Alaska lead to nine, 21-12. A 2-1 Florida Tech run was immediately answered by a set-sealing 3-0 Alaska run behind kills from Nielson and Bines, 25-14.

Alaska sought out a sweep in the third set. However, Florida Tech responded in the third set. The two teams traded scores early in the set. A Head kill gave the Nanooks an early 7-5 lead. A 5-1 Florida Tech run flipped the lead, giving the Panthers an early two-point advantage, 10-8. A Florida Tech attack error and Nielson kill tied the set at 10. Both sides traded scores, keeping the set tied, 14-14. A 5-2 Panther run gave Florida Tech a lead, 19-16. Alaska immediately responded with a 5-2 run of its own, tying the set 21-21. Over the seven-point stretch, Guc and Nielson got kills for the 'Nooks. An Alaska service error and a Nielson kill kept the set tied at 22. The Panthers rattled off three consecutive scores to secure the third set, 25-22. In the fourth set, the Nanooks hopped out early, taking an immediate 2-0 lead behind a Nielson kill and an attack error. After a Panther kill, Alaska responded with a 5-0 run behind four Panther attack errors and a service error, extending the lead to 7-1. The Panthers cut the Alaska lead to just three, 10-7. The Nanooks responded with a 6-0 run behind kills from Bines and Guc, extending the lead to 16-7. Both teams traded points for six straight points. Over the six points, Elizabeth Jackson gave the 'Nooks two kills, and Bines added one, pushing the lead to 19-10. The Panthers temporarily cut into the lead with a 3-0 run. Alaska swifty responded, running off four consecutive points for a 23-13 lead. Head and Jackson's kills ended the set and match, securing the win, 25-15.

Four 'Nooks finished with eight or more kills, as Bines, Nielson, Head and Guc had 12, nine, eight and eight, respectively. Of the quartet, Head led the way with a .727 hitting percentage. Ainsley Smith led Alaska with 18 assists, adding five service aces and nine digs. Kinley Erickson led the way with 14 digs of her own.

The Nanooks return home next week as they host the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic starting on Thursday, Sept. 7.

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.