FAIRBANKS — The Nanooks volleyball team enters this week's matchup ranked No. 23 in the nation. Alaska will host the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves in what is shaping up to be a historic meeting in the Interior.

Thursday, Oct. 2
vs. RV Alaska Anchorage | 7 p.m.
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium 

Watch Here ($$) | Live Stats | Tickets

Pack the Patty (WE WANT 1K)
The Nanooks are hosting their Pack the Patty whiteout on Thursday as we aim to have over 1,000 fans in the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium for our in-state rivalry match. Bring your friends, bring your family, bring anyone! BUY TICKETS HERE. Those in attendance also have a chance at winning Alaska Airlines round-trip tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies! 

#NookNotes

• Alaska and Alaska Anchorage enter this week's Thursday night matchup at a combined 26-2, 8-0 GNAC. Both sides are 13-1, 4-0 GNAC.
• This sets up to be one of the biggest matchups in rivalry history. 
• The Nanooks are ranked No. 23 in the country (AVCA National Poll), the first time in program history they've ever been nationally-ranked. 
• Alaska Anchorage comes into the rivalry match with 96 votes received, just missing out on the top 25.
• Tonight is a white out and the Nanooks are hosting their Pack the Patty match as they look to get over 1,000 fans in the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium tonight. 
• Tessa Onaga continues to be one of the best defensive liberos not just in the GNAC and West Region, but NCAA Division II. She is currenlty 13th in the nation with 256 total digs, and 52nd in the nation with 4.65 digs per set. Those totals are first and second in the conference. 
• Alongside her defense, Onaga has 23 aces. That total is a conference high and 53rd in DII.
• Peri Hoshock leads the Nanooks at the net, posting 1.31 blocks per set. That total is third in the GNAC. Presley Engelauf is also averaging at least one block a set at 1.00, good for 10th in the GNAC and 90th in DII.
• Hoshock's 67 total blocks is second in the conference and 10th in the nation.
• Elena Guc leads the Nanooks attack with 154 kills. That total is fourth in the conference. 
• As a team, the Nanooks have 139.0 total blocks. They lead the conference and are third in the nation in the total blocks category. 
• Alaska is keeping opponents to a .086 swing percentage through 14 matches. This is also third in the nation and leads the conference defensively. 
• The Nanooks are 12th in the nation in team digs (921) and 17th in total team kills (668). 

GNAC Standings
Your Nanooks are tied with Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington at the top of the GNAC standings through the first two weeks of conference play! Check out where the rest of the conference lands below or click HERE for the official GNAC standings.

- Alaska Anchorage | 13-1, 4-0 GNAC
- Alaska | 13-1, 4-0 GNAC
- Western Washington | 10-1, 4-0 GNAC
- Simon Fraser | 9-1, 3-1 GNAC
- Central Washington | 6-4, 2-1 GNAC
- Saint Martin's | 8-3, 1-2 GNAC
- Northwest Nazarene | 1-9, 0-3 GNAC
- Western Oregon | 1-10, 0-3 GNAC
- Seattle Pacific | 5-7, 0-4 GNAC
- Montana State Billings | 1-7, 0-4 GNAC

Meet the Opponent
Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (13-1, 4-0 GNAC)
Head Coach - Stacie Meisner (3rd Season)
Player to Watch - Tia Allen, Sr., OH
Alaska Anchorage comes into Thursday's match riding a six-match winning streak. They have played all of the same opponents as the Nanooks this season and their lone loss came on Sept. 11 against Rollins in Fairbanks at the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic. Since opening up GNAC play, the Seawolves are 4-0 with road wins at SPU (3-1) and MSUB (3-0) before a pair of home victories over WOU (3-1) and SMU (3-0). The Nanooks swept last season's series with Anchorage, defeating UAA at home 3-1 on Oct. 17 before sweeping the Seawolves in Anchorage on Nov. 16. 

Last Five Matchups
Here's a breakdown of the last five times Alaska faced off with Alaska Anchorage. The 'Nooks are 2-3 in the last five. 

- 11/16/24, W, 3-0 @ Anchorage | Box Score
- 10/17/24, W, 3-1 @ Fairbanks | Box Score
- 11/16/23, L, 1-3 @ Anchorage | Box Score
- 09/07/23, L, 0-3 @ Fairbanks | Box Score
- 10/29/22, L, 1-3 @ Anchorage | Box Score

What's to Come
The Nanooks will hit the road following Thursday's matchup with Alaska Anchorage. Next week will feature a trip to British Columbia and Northwest Washington for matchups with Simon Fraser on Oct. 9 and Western Washington on Oct. 11. Both matches are scheduled for 6 p.m. AKST and all of the action can be found on the GNAC Network. 

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