FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team concluded the 2024 Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic on Saturday evening against UNC Pembroke. After splitting the first two sets, the Nanooks took the final two to secure the 3-1 victory and win the tournament via point-differential over Alaska Anchorage. With the win, Alaska moves to 8-2, 0-0 GNAC, with UNC Pembroke dropping to 2-5, 0-0 CC on the season.

Outside hitter Karli Nielson was named tournament MVP, while Rilee White and Elena Guc earned All-Tournament honors.

How it Happened
Alaska took the first set 25-13, with the Nanooks notching point streaks of four, four and seven during the opening set. Guc led the team with four kills while tallying back-to-back service aces, and Elizabeth Jackson collected three more aces for the Nooks. Alaska never trailed during the opener, cruising comfortably to a first-set win. The Nanooks outhit the Braves .360 to .059 to start the match.

After falling behind early in the second, Alaska brought itself back into the set thanks to six straight points to erase a 19-14 deficit. During that stretch, the Nanooks received four kills from Rachel Pierce. She would finish the set with six kills, but it would not be enough to complete the comeback, as Alaska fell 25-22. The Nanooks posted their lowest hit percentage of the contest during the set, registering a mark of .136 as a team.

The Blue and Gold built a comfortable lead out of the gate in the third set, jumping out to an 18-6 advantage over the visiting Braves. The Nanooks had runs of 5-0 and 7-0 during their opening 18 points, with three kills from White and two each from Jackson, Pierce and Kristina Head. Despite a late surge from the Braves, the Nanooks closed out the third with another Pierce kill, taking the set by 10 points. Pierce once again led the way for the Nooks with four kills. Alaska shook off the rust from their second set, posting a .355 hitting percentage compared to .094 for the visitors.

After being down 5-4 in the fourth set, Alaska logged another seven-point unanswered streak, capped off by two straight White service aces. From there, the Nanooks coasted to a 25-14 set victory, receiving their final four points from Pierce kills. Alaska concluded the evening by recording a .333 swinging percentage during the closing set while holding the Braves to just a .069 mark.

By the Numbers

• It was a statement outing for Pierce as she led the team with 16 kills while hitting .625 during the contest. She also chipped in with four block assists and six digs.
• White also collected double-digit kills, posting 12 on the night with a .214 hit percentage. In addition, she tallied three aces, eight digs and two block assists.
• Head and Guc logged six kills apiece, with the former ending the night hitting .500.
• Tessa Onaga and Ainsley Smith tied for the team lead in digs with 13, while Smith had 42 of Alaska's 47 assists.
• The Nanooks outhit the Braves .273 to .177, finishing with 50 team kills.
• White and Jackson both tallied three service aces, while Alaska had 14 aces as a team.

What's Next
Alaska begins GNAC action on Thursday, September 19, on the road at Western Washington, with first serve set for 6 p.m. AKST.

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