PORTLAND, Ore. - The Great Northwest Athletic Conference revealed its weekly award winners, with the Nanooks taking both offensive and defensive player of the week honors after their strong showing last week. Nanooks volleyball's Karli Nielson collected her second GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season this afternoon, while Elena Guc garnered Defensive Player of the Week accolades. Their performances over the past week helped Alaska notch two five-set victories over Saint Martin's and Western Oregon, the latter coming in a reverse sweep.
Nielson finished the week with 43 kills over the two contests, averaging 4.3 per set while hitting a team-high .313 for the Nanooks. The outside hitter out of South Weber, Utah, started the week slamming 20 kills against the Saints before posting a career-high 23 during the following match against the Wolves. She also notched 17 digs against SMU, giving her her seventh double-double this year. Nielson averaged 2.50 digs per set over the two victories while recording four service aces and six blocks.
"Karli was outstanding this week," said head coach Brian Scott. "She had moments this weekend where she looked absolutely unstoppable on the attack. She also made some clutch defensive plays and serves in both matches. Karli would be the first person to tell you that she can only be good at what she does because she has teammates that are good at what they do."
This marks Guc's first weekly player award. The right side hitter from East China, Mich., led the team with 10 blocks last week, averaging a block per set. She posted six blocks in the match at Saint Martin's, picking up one solo block for the Nanooks. Guc added eight digs for Alaska over the week. Finally, her 23 kills and .281 hitting percentage in the two matches ranked second on the team behind Nielson.
"Elena seemed to make the right play at the right time all weekend," said Scott. "When we needed to have a kill she got it. If it was a stop we needed, she came up with the block. She was extremely good at making the right decisions at all the right times."
The Nanooks return home this week, hosting Montana State Billings on October 31 at 7 p.m.
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