FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team kicks off their 2024 season on Thursday, August 29, with a trip to Hawaii for the Hawaii-Alaska Challenge. The Nanooks open up the invitational with a match against No. 12 Chaminade University on Thursday at 8 p.m. AKDT. The following day, Alaska faces off against Hawaii Hilo at 2 p.m. AKDT before wrapping up its trip with a showdown against Hawaii Pacific on Saturday at 4 p.m. AKDT.
Thursday, August 29
at #12Â Chaminade at 8:00 p.m. | Live Stats
Friday, August 30
at Hawaii Hilo at 2:00 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday, August 31
at Hawaii Pacific at 4:00 p.m. | Live Stats
Live video can be found on the PacWest Network.
Last Time Out
Thursday evening will be the Nanook's first match in 284 days when they fell to UAA in four sets. Fans can expect to see many familiar faces on the team this season as Alaska returns 12 players to its squad. The Nanooks added six new members this season to bring the squad size to 18 players. The newcomers for this season are Rachel Pierce, a graduate outside hitter from Rockbridge, Ohio; Ashlyn White, a freshman setter from Goodyear, Ariz.; Larissa Barreiros Scatamburlo, a junior opposite/outside hitter from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Tessa Onaga, a sophomore libero/defensive specialist from Honolulu, Hawaii; Haylee Lyons a freshman pin-hitter from Kaimuki, Hawaii and Ava Kronenberg, a freshman middle blocker from Ankeny, Iowa.
Among the returners for the season is Karli Nielson, a senior outside hitter and preseason All-GNAC selection. Nielsen is coming off a season that saw her pace the squad in kills with 340 and points with 392.5. Nielson also chipped in with 47 blocks and 29 service aces.
GNAC Preseason Poll
The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team was picked to finish sixth in the GNAC preseason coaches poll, receiving 49 points.
Central Washington was tabbed to finish first in the GNAC after earning two first-place votes and 91 points. Seattle Pacific came in behind them with 90 points, having received six first-place votes. Western Washington and Simon Fraser took third and fourth with 75 and 74 points, respectively. Alaska Anchorage was picked to finish fifth with 59 points, while the Nanooks followed in sixth. After Alaska, Northwest Nazarene earned 38 points to take seventh, while Western Oregon finished eighth with 33 points. Saint Martin's collected 29 points, which was good for ninth on the list, and Montana State Billings rounded out the list in 10th with 12 points.
Team Stats
In 2023, The Nanooks finished fifth in the conference in hitting percentage, swinging .208 as a team during the season. Alaska also placed fifth in assists with 11.53 per set and tied for fourth in blocks with 2.12 per set. Their 12.53 kills put the 'Nooks at sixth overall among GNAC teams, and they ended the season with the fourth-highest aces per set with 1.84. A 14.58 digs per set mark put them ninth in the conference for that category.
Preseason All-Conference Selection
Karli Nielson was named to the GNAC Preseason All-Conference Team for the third consecutive year. The South Weber, Utah native finished last season appearing in a career-high 116 sets over 32 matches. She slammed 2.93 kills per set, marking a career-best in the category while recording a .183 hitting percentage. Her 340 kills also paced the squad, reaching double-digit kills 17 times throughout her junior campaign. Additionally, she posted 29 service aces for the 'Nooks during the season.
On the defensive side, Nielson ranked fourth on the team in digs with 225, registering 1.94 digs per game. She also finished with 47 total blocks on the season, logging 0.4 blocks per set.
On October 23 of last season, Nielson earned her first GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honor, posting 23 kills and 16 digs over two matches en route to a pair of wins against Western Washington and Simon Fraser. She finished the season as a member of the GNAC All-Conference First Team.
A Look Ahead
Chaminade - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its DII Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll, with Chaminade coming in at number 12. The Silverswords are coming off a season that saw them go 30-4 and 17-3 in the PacWest and nab the number one seed in the western region for the 2023 NCAA Championship. The 'Swords advanced to the second round of the NCAA West Regional after beating No. 8 San Francisco State in straight sets but fell to the eventual national champion Cal State LA.
Chaminade boasts a squad that contains an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and Freshman of the Year in setter Leilani Ama and a PacWest First Team All-Conference member in middle blocker Lizanyela Lopez. Newcomers include two graduate transfers in outside hitter Letizia Cammillucci from San Jose State and middle blocker Anna Stucchi from Santa Clara University.
Hawaii Hilo - Hawaii Hilo is coming off a 12-16 season that saw them finish 9-11 in the PacWest. Last season, the Nanooks and Vulcans split their two matches, with UHH taking the first contests in straight sets before Alaska got one back in five sets. Entering the new season, Hawaii Hilo was tabbed as the sixth-ranked team in the PacWest Preseason Poll. The Vulcans are returning eight players who saw action during the 2023 season, including Second Team All-PacWest members Tani Hoke (Libero), Taylor Tullo (Outside Hitter) and Isabella Hadaller (Outside Hitter).
Hawaii Pacific - Hawaii Pacific is entering 2024 after going 5-19 during its previous campaign while going 5-15 in PacWest action, placing them in ninth place in the conference. The Sharks ended last season with momentum, winning their final two contests against Academy of Art University and Hawaii Hilo, both of which came in five sets.
History
vs. Chaminade
Last Five: 1-4
vs. Hawaii Hilo
Last Five: 2-3
vs. Hawaii Pacific
Last Five: 3-2
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