FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team opens GNAC play this weekend with a pair of road contests against Western Washington and Simon Fraser. The Nanook's first match comes on Thursday, September 19, against the Vikings, with the first serve set for 6 p.m. AKST. Alaska then faces off against the Red Leafs on Saturday, September 21, at 1 p.m. AKST.

Sept. 19 (Times AKST)
6 p.m. vs. Western Washington | Watch | Live Stats

Sept. 21 (Times AKST)
1 p.m. vs. Simon Fraser | Watch | Live Stats

Last Time Out
The Nanooks extended their winning streak to a program record eight games last weekend, taking all three matches during the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic en route to a tournament victory. The Nanooks only dropped one set the entire weekend and outscored their opponents by an average of nine points per set. Alaska hit .322 as a team during the tournament, slamming 14.2 kills per set while allowing just 7.9. Outside hitter Karli Nielson posted 3.57 kills per set and hit .438, while pin hitter Rilee White followed closely with 3.56 k/s. Rachel Pierce notched 23 kills while hitting .455, including posting a team-high 16 kills and a .625 hit percentage during Alaska's final match against UNC Pembroke. 

Ainsley Smith led the team with 106 assists over 10 sets while finishing with 31 digs, second behind Tessa Onaga with 38. Both tallied three service aces, with Elena Guc leading the way with five during the tournament.

Three Nanooks earned All-Tournament honors over the weekend, as Nielson took home MVP and White and Guc were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Quick Hitters

• Nielson and White are tied for ninth in the nation and first in the GNAC for total kills, each tallying 127 on the season.
• Smith's 10.08 assists per set places her at the top of the GNAC leaderboards, while her 393 total assists is the most in the nation.
• Elizabeth Jackson racked up 12 blocks over the weekend, bringing her blocks per set totals to 1.09 on the season, good for second in the GNAC.
• Tessa Onaga ranks fourth in the GNAC in digs per set with 3.87.
• Alaska is hitting .257 as a team this season with 13.44 kills, 12.18 assists and 14.56 digs per set. Conversely, their opponents are hitting .174.

Western Washington 1-5, 0-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Diane Flick-Williams (25th Season)
Player to Watch: Delaney Speer, OH, Sophomore (2024 Stats: 39 kills, 2.44 kills per set, four service aces, 2.38 digs per set, two block assists)

Simon Fraser 4-3, 0-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Gina Schmidt (12th Season)
Player to Watch: Brooke Dexter OPP, Senior (2024 Stats: 98 kills, 3.77 kills per set, .266 hit %, nine assists, six service aces, 1.81 digs per set, 13 block assists)

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