FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team posted a four-set win over the Simon Fraser Red Leafs on Thursday night as they bolstered their potential postseason resume. Alaska (20-7, 12-5 GNAC) bested SFU 19-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-22.

How it Happened
The Nanooks recovered nicely on Thursday after falling to the Red Leafs in set one, 25-19. Simon Fraser jumped ahead 4-1 before two Karli Nielson kills and a block by Alaska tied the set at 4-4. SFU strung together another run, extending their lead to four at the 11-7 mark. Alaska, once again, used a run to pull within a pair at 14-12. Four-straight by SFU led to a five-point deficit that the Nanooks could not overcome, ultimately falling in the first by six. The second set was all Alaska. The 'Nooks quickly shot out to a 6-1 lead behind two service aces by Rilee White. The second of the set was White's 214th career ace in a Nanooks uniform; not only is this a program record, but it broke the GNAC aces record, previously held by Ellen Floyd of the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. 

The record-breaking appearance jolted the Nanooks forward as their lead held the remainder of the set. After SFU pulled within three, the Nanooks put together a run of seven-straight points, going from a 9-6 lead to a 16-6 advantage. Simon Fraser attempted to chip away at the lead, but could only manage a dozen points in the set as the Nanooks ran away with a 25-12 set two victory. The third set felt the momentum even out. Alaska grabbed a big 25-23 set three win to make it 2-1 behind 17 kills and keeping SFU to just nine. Alaska also outhit the Red Leafs .149 to .094, forcing them into six errors on 32 attempts. The third swung back to Alaska after letting go of a seven point lead. Elena Guc and Karli Nielson picked up a pair of kills to extend the Nanooks' lead to 17-10 before Simon Fraser picked up 10 of the next 11 points, taking a 20-18 lead. A block from Josie Jansen and Ainsley Smith broke the run and brought the 'Nooks back within one before their final run. After falling behind 22-20, Alaska put together a run of three-straight on a Jansen kill followed by a Rachel Pierce kill and an attack error and solo block from Kristina Head. This sparked the finishing touches in set three before Head put a kill away for the 25-23 set win. In the fourth and final set, the Nanooks posted their biggest offensive numbers of the night. 

They had 45 total attacks for 17 kills and only four errors. Their .289 hit percentage was their second highest of the night and they held SFU to a .195 hit percentage and 13 kills. The fourth was full of back and forth swings. Down the stretch, Simon Fraser held a 21-18 lead after they erased a two-point Nanooks' lead. Rilee White and Elena Guc both posted kills to snap the five-point run for SFU and turn the tides to the 'Nooks. Alaska ended the fourth with five-straight points of their own as Guc and Jansen teamed up for a block to pull within one. White added another kill before an SFU error. A Jansen kill pulled the Nanooks to match point before Karli Nielson capped off her impressive night with the match-ending kill.

Inside the Numbers

• Karli Nielson led the way with 18 kills. She added five digs, two assists and aces and one block. 
• Rilee White posted strong numbers in her historic night. She ended with 14 kills, 13 digs, four aces, two aces and two blocks. White is four kills away from 1000 in her career. If she reaches that on Saturday, she'll become the first-ever GNAC player with 1000 career kills and digs, and 200 career aces.
• Ainsley Smith distributed 31 assists in the win. She joined White with a double-double, finishing the night with 12 digs. 
• Cynphany Henderson and Tessa Onaga also posted double-doubles, giving the Nanooks four double-double performances on the night. Henderson had a 16-assist, 14-dig performance while Onaga had 22 digs and 10 assists.
• The Nanooks outscored the Red Leafs 81-55 on the night. They had 22 more kills (64-42), had one more ace (7-6), outblocked SFU 10-7, out-assisted 63-41 and outdug the Red Leafs 71-61, winning every major team category. 
• With the win, the Nanooks move to 20-7 on the season. This is the second time in program history the Nanooks have reached the 20-win mark. The first and last time came in 1995 when Alaska finished the year 21-13. 

What's to Come
The Nanooks round out the regular-season on Saturday with Western Washington at home at 2 p.m. The 'Nooks will celebrate their five seniors; Kinley Erickson, Kristina Head, Josie Jansen, Karli Nielson, and Rilee White. Come out and cheer on the seniors and the Nanooks in their final regular-season match! 

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