FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team grabbed their first conference win today with a quick 3-0 showing against the Yellow Jackets of Montana State Billings. The Nanooks improved to 8-11, 1-4 GNAC.
Alaska was impressive on both ends of the net as they posted a team hitting percentage of .280 while also keeping MSUB under 10 kills in every set, posting nine team blocks to MSUB's three. In the first, the Nanooks outhit the Jackets 17-9 with a .271 swing percentage to their .091. Alaska tallied 17 kills and hit into only four errors; Montana State Billings posted nine kills and five errors, their most kills in a set today. Alaska managed to grab a 25-17 set one win. In the second, the 'Nooks ran away with it early, using 14 kills and only four errors to post a .435 hit percentage. MSUB had a tough go offensively, collecting only two kills while suffering seven errors for a -.278 hit percentage. The Nanooks finished off the sweep of the Yellow Jackets with another 25-17 win in the third. Despite posting their worst offensive set of the day, it was still enough to swat the Jackets away. Alaska used 11 kills and a .172 swing percentage to close out the win.
The Nanooks beat MSUB in every major team category. In points, Alaska outscored MSUB 62-24, in kills, they outhit them 42-18, they outserved them with 11 aces to MSUB's three, in blocks it was 9-3 in favor of the Nanooks, they dished out 22 more assists, posting 39 to their 17 and in digs, the Nanooks tallied five more, grabbing 43 to the Yellow Jackets' 38.
Karli Nielson led the offense for the 'Nooks with a game-high 12 kills.
Rilee White and
Ella Bines followed with eight each.
Ainsley Smith led the distribution with 21 assists.
Cynphany Henderson was second on the team with 13.
Grace Steurer and White collected a team-high 10 digs each while
Ainsley Smith added seven. The star of the day was
Kristina Head; she filled up the statsheet with seven kills, four aces and digs, three blocks and a swing percentage of .462.
The Nanooks hit the road next week as they head to Western Oregon (Oct. 5) and Saint Martin's (Oct. 7).
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