FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team hits the road this week for a pair of road contests against Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings. Alaska opens up with a match against the Falcons tomorrow at 6 p.m. AKST before heading to Billings for a contest against the Yellowjackets on Saturday at 11 a.m. AKST.
Oct. 3 (Times AKST)
6 p.m. at Seattle Pacific | Watch | Live Stats
Oct. 5 (Times AKST)
11 a.m. at Montana State Billings | Watch | Live Stats
Last Time Out
The Nanooks split their pair of matches last weekend, winning a five-setter against Western Oregon on Thursday evening before falling in four to Saint Martin's on Saturday. In their first match against the Wolves, the Nanooks started by taking the opening set 25-21 before dropping the following two, 25-22 and 25-18, to fall behind two sets to one. Alaska won the fourth set 25-23 and sealed the victory by taking the final set, 16-14. The Nanooks looked to continue their momentum from Thursday in their contest against Saint Martin's, taking the first set 25-21. However, they dropped the next three, 25-18, 25-21 and 25-21, to come up short of the weekend sweep.
Karli Nielson crossed the 1,000-kill mark in Alaska's match vs. the Saints and finished the weekend leading the team with 33 kills during the two matches. Nielson hit .292 last week, adding 28 digs and nine block assists. Josie Jansen finished second on the team in kills over the weekend, slamming 18. Jansen and Elizabeth Jackson tallied double-digit block assists across the two matches, with Jackson leading the team with 12 and Jansen following with 11. Jackson added a solo block while posting 13 kills on a .440 hit percentage.
Quick Hitters
- Nielson ranks second in the GNAC in kills-per-set with a mark of 3.42, while her .283 hitting percentage puts her eighth in the conference.
- Rilee White is averaging 0.5 service aces per set, placing her fourth in the GNAC.
- The Nanooks have two of the top-four blockers in the conference, with Elizabeth Jackson ranking second in blocks-per-set with 1.12 and Josie Jansen coming in fourth with 1.08.
- Ainsley Smith leads the GNAC in assists-per-set as her 9.50 mark is 1.61 more than the next closest setter.
- The Nooks pace the conference in kills per set, posting a 12.77 mark as a team this season. They are also the top team in the GNAC in hitting percentage, swinging .238.
Seattle Pacific 1-10, 1-2 GNAC
Head Coach: Jason Rhine (3rd Season)
Player to Watch: Hannah Hair, MB, Fifth-year (2024 Stats: 72 kills, .305 hit percentage, 1.45 blocks-per-set; 2023 GNAC Player of the Year)
Montana State Billings 6-6, 0-3 GNAC
Head Coach: Casey Williams (9th Season)
Player to Watch: Jordin Taulua OH, Sophomore (2024 Stats: 147 kills, 3.42 kills-per-set, 15 aces, 2.51 digs-per-set, 21 total blocks)
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