FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team needed just three sets to get back in the win column on Thursday, Oct. 16. Alaska moved to 15-3, 6-2 GNAC and 7-0 on their home court with a 3-0 win over Northwest Nazarene (4-11, 3-5 GNAC).

How it Happened
Alaska picked up a set one win 25-22 behind 16 kills and a controlled attack. They posted a .229 swing percentage. Despite NNU swinging more efficient with a .259 swing percentage, Alaska kept them to just 10 kills in the opener. The second and third set were similar. The Nanooks posted 15 kills with just four errors (.306) while NNU hit .333 with 13 kills and three errors, but it was the Nanooks coming out on top in the second 25-21 for a 2-0 lead. 

In the third, Alaska posted just one error and hit .333 with 14 kills. NNU posted 17 kills with a .239 swing percentage but six errors was a difference maker in the third as Alaska grabbed a 25-23 set victory and swept the Nighthawks.

Inside the Numbers

• Both offenses showed up tonight in the Interior. The Nanooks swung .291 as a team, finishing with 45 kills and 13 errors. NNU posted a .272 swing percentage on 40 kills and 12 errors. 
• Alaska added nine aces tonight, five coming from Ainsley Smith.
• Smith added 37 assists and eight blocks to go along with her five aces. 
• Mikala Henderson led the Nanooks attack, posting 18 kills on 30 attacks (.433). She picked up nine digs, an ace, an assist and a block in the victory. 
• Elena Guc added 10 kills tonight (.381), the only other Nanooks attacker to post double-digit kills. She had three digs and a pair of blocks in the win. 
• Haylee Lyons had a team-high 14 digs tonight. She paired that with five kills, an ace, and an assist. 
• The Nanooks .291 swing percentage as a team is their second-highest performance of the year and their highest since they posted a .320 team percentage against Cal State San Marcos on Sept. 4, 2025 (W, 3-0). 

What's to Come
The Nanooks remain at home for one more match, this Saturday, Oct. 18 against Central Washington (11-4, 7-1 GNAC). CWU knocked off Alaska Anchorage tonight in four sets and comes into Fairbanks receiving votes in the national poll and winners of their last six. First serve is at 2 p.m. and it's Go Pink! with the Nanooks. We've partnered with BCDC and the first 250 fans will receive a pink scarf thanks to our game day sponsor, Kinross-Alaska! 

Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksVB
X - @NanooksVB
FB - Alaska Nanooks Volleyball Read Full Article