FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team returns home to end the first half of GNAC play. Alaska welcomes Northwest Nazarene (4-10, 3-4 GNAC) and Central Washington (10-4, 6-1 GNAC) to the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium on Thursday and Saturday. 

Thursday, Oct. 16
vs. Northwest Nazarene | 7 p.m.
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium
Game Day Sponsor: Bucko's Coffee

Saturday, Oct. 18
vs. RV Central Washington | 2 p.m.
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium
Game Day Sponsor: Kinross Alaska

Watch Live ($$) | Live Stats | Tickets

Staff & Faculty Appreciation (Thursday)
The Nanooks will be celebrating UAF staff and faculty on Thursday against Northwest Nazarene. The Nanooks will highlight staff and faculty members throughout the night. All UAF staff and faculty are invited to Thursday's match - if you show an active Staff/Faculty UAF Polar Express card, you and a plus one are in for free! 

Go Pink! with the Nanooks (Saturday)
The Nanooks have partnered with the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska (BCDC) for Saturday's match against Central Washington. Fans are encouraged to wear pink as we continue the fight against breast cancer. The first 250 fans in attendance will receive a specialty Alaska Nanooks x Kinross Alaska pink scarf! 

Last Time Out
The Nanooks are looking to snap a two-game slide after falling at No. 7 Simon Fraser last Thursday and No. 20 Western Washington on Saturday. Alaska's comeback attempt fell short at SFU after they fell behind two sets. They picked up the third in big fashion, but after a back-and-forth fourth set, the Red Leafs grabbed the four set win. In Bellingham, the Nanooks battled WWU well, but the Vikings overpowered the 'Nooks and grabbed a sweep in the nationally-ranked showdown. 

AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II National Rankings
The Nanooks entered this week ranked No. 21 in the nation after the release of the AVCA National Poll on Monday, Oct. 13. They were one of three GNAC teams to make the top 25. Simon Fraser remained the highest-ranked GNAC team at No. 9 (798 points). Western Washington moved up to No. 18 (360 points) in this weeks poll, and the Nanooks moved to No. 21 with 197 points. Alaska Anchorage (47), and Central Washington (12) received votes this week. 

#NookNotes

• The Nanooks enter Thursday's matchup with NNU as one of the best defensive teams in the country. Alaska leads the GNAC in digs per set (17.08), opponents hitting percentage (.108), team digs (1127), and team total blocks (159.0). 
• They also rank 43rd in the nation in digs per set, second in opponents hitting percentage, 22nd in team digs, and 12th in team total blocks. 
• Tessa Onaga leads the GNAC in three categories: digs per set (4.67), service aces (26), and total digs (308). Her 308 digs is 32nd in the nation, while her digs per set total is 55th in NCAA DII.
• Peri Hoshock continues to be one of the best at the net in the GNAC and nation. Hoshock is third in the GNAC with 1.24 blocks per set. That total is also 20th in the nation. Her 77 total blocks is fourth in the conference and 22nd in NCAA DII.
• Joining Hoshock in the top 10 in the GNAC for total blocks is Elena Guc. Guc has 57 blocks this season, good for eighth in the GNAC. Presley Engelauf is just outside the top 10 at 14th with 49. 
• Alaska's distribution department is split between Ainsley Smith and Cynphany Henderson. As a team, they have 761 assists, good for second in the GNAC. Smith has 349 assists this season, while Henderson has 280. Both rank in the top 10 in the GNAC. 
• Elena Guc is sixth in the GNAC for kills with 192. Her 2.91 kills per set is also 11th in the conference. 

GNAC Standings
The Nanooks are currently tied with Alaska Anchorage in fourth place in the GNAC Standings. Check out what the 10-team standings look like below! 

1. No. 18 Western Washington | 13-2, 7-1 GNAC
2. RV Central Washington | 10-4, 6-1 GNAC
3. No. 9 Simon Fraser | 12-2, 6-2 GNAC
4. No. 21 Alaska | 14-3, 5-2 GNAC
4. RV Alaska Anchorage | 14-3, 5-2 GNAC
6. Northwest Nazarene | 4-10, 3-4 GNAC
7. Saint Martin's | 9-6, 2-5 GNAC
7. Seattle Pacific | 7-8, 2-5 GNAC
9. Montana State Billings | 1-11, 0-7 GNAC
9. Western Oregon | 1-14, 0-7 GNAC

Meet the Opponents
Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (4-10, 3-4 GNAC)
Head Coach: Doug English (13th Season, 179-146)
Player to Watch: Abby Black, R-Jr., OH, Wenatchee, Wash.
The Nighthawks come into Fairbanks in the midst of a three-match winning streak. The streak began on Oct. 4 with a win at MSUB (3-0). They then welcomed Saint Martin's and Western Oregon to Nampa, Idaho where they took down SMU in five sets before sweeping WOU. 

Central Washington Wildcats (10-4, 6-1 GNAC)
Head Coach: Mario Andaya (30th Season, 480-311)
Player to Watch: Scottie Ellsworth, R-Sr., OH, Kent, Wash.
Central Washington enters this week on a five-match winning streak. After dropping a five-setter at home against Western Washington on Sept. 20, CWU has tallied a pair of sweeps, two four-set victories, and a five-set win over SPU. They knocked off WOU and SMU, both 3-1, last week at home. 

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