NAMPA, Idaho - Nanooks volleyball picked up its sixth straight win on Thursday afternoon, sweeping Northwest Nazarene on the road. The Nanooks would take each set by scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-21. With the victory, Alaska improves to 18-6, 10-4 GNAC.

How it Happened
Both sides traded leads three times in the first 10 points of the match, with the score tied at five early in the set. A Nighthawks service error gave the Nanooks the lead, and Alaska followed with a Karli Nielson ace and an Elena Guc and Kristina Head combination block to build an 8-5 advantage. NNU retook the lead, aided by a 6-2 run that saw it go ahead 13-12. However, kills from Rachel Pierce and Guc helped Alaska get back on top 14-13. After the two teams traded the following two points, the Nanooks posted a 7-0 run to establish a commanding 22-14 advantage over the Nighthawks. Guc chipped in with two kills and a block assist during the run, while Head notched a pair of block assists. From there, Alaska cruised to the opening set victory, receiving three more kills from Guc during the final four points to bring her set total to six. The Nanooks hit .282 to open the match compared to .049 for the Nighthawks.

NNU took the opening point of the second on a kill, but Pierce responded with a kill to tie the score at one. Rilee White followed by tallying four straight service aces, putting Alaska ahead 5-1. Despite the Nighthawks bringing the lead down to two at 10-8, the Nanooks countered with six consecutive points, which saw Guc pick up another two kills and a block to give them a 16-8 lead. From there, Alaska never led by fewer than two points, and the set ended on an NNU service error, which gave the Blue and Gold the 25-20 set win. It was a group attacking effort for the Nanooks in the second, with Guc, Head, Pierce and Nielson each slamming a team-high three kills. Despite being out-hit by the Nighthawks .256 to .238, Alaska posted five service aces during the set while allowing one.

The Nanooks began the third by building a 7-3 lead, but would soon see the set tied at nine after a 6-2 Nighthawks run. Although the Nanooks would not fall behind, Northwest Nazarene kept the set close, with both teams tied at 13 before two Ainsley Smith kills and a service ace from Head put Alaska up 16-13. While NNU would cut the lead down to one at 17-16, the Nanooks remained in front, with Nielson putting the match to bed with her ninth kill of the contest to take the final set 25-21. Alaska swung at a .289 mark in the third while Pierce, Nielson and Guc once again tied with three kills during the set to lead the team.

By the Numbers

• Guc paced the Nanooks with 12 kills and a .611 hitting percentage. She added 1.5 total blocks during the contest.
• Nielson followed with nine kills on a .214 hitting percentage and posted three aces and 11 digs for Alaska.
• Head led the team with 2.5 total blocks and notched three kills on six attempts for a .500 swinging percentage.
• Smith tallied a team-high 16 assists in the match, and her 14 digs tied Tessa Onaga for the team lead.
• Cynphany Henderson collected 13 assists and 10 digs for the Nanooks.
• White notched four of Alaska's nine service aces during the contest. She also contributed with six kills, 1.5 total blocks and eight digs.
• The Nanooks swung .269 as a team, while the Nighthawks posted a mark of .160.

What's Next
The Nanooks continue the road trip as they travel to Central Washington on Saturday for a matchup against the Wildcats. First serve is set for noon AKST.

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