FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team hits the road for a pair of big GNAC matches at Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. 

Thursday, Nov. 13
at Central Washington | 6 p.m. AKST
Nicholson Pavilion | Ellensburg, Wash.

Watch Here ($$) | Live Stats

Saturday, Nov. 15
at Northwest Nazarene | 3 p.m. AKST
Johnson Sports Center | Nampa, Idaho

Watch Here ($$) | Live Stats

Last Time Out
The Nanooks are coming off of a big home week where they split against two nationally-ranked opponents. The Nanooks fell on Thursday, Nov. 6 to the No. 14-ranked Western Washington Vikings in three sets. Alaska flipped the script against their next opponents, the No. 8-ranked Simon Fraser Red Leafs, winning in four for a crucial conference and in-region victory. On Thursday, the Nanooks welcomed 1195 students from around the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District for their annual Elementary Field Day. A special thanks to their game day sponsor, Alaska 529, for helping make Thursday so special for so many in the community! On Saturday, the Nanooks hosted a Canned Food Drive and received almost 450 pounds of donated food. All food was then donated to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, thank you to all who donated! 

Player of the Week
Cynphany Henderson earned the GNAC's Offensive Player of the Week honor on Monday, Nov. 10. Henderson was outstanding for the Nanooks this past week, playing in all seven sets and leading the team to a key victory over No. 8-ranked Simon Fraser on Saturday. Across two matches, she recorded a team-high 27 kills (3.86 per set) while hitting .522. She also tallied 27 assists (3.86 per set), two aces (0.29 per set), and 28 digs (4.00 per set), finishing with a team-best 31.0 points.

On Thursday against Western Washington, Henderson posted 14 kills (.522), 11 assists, eight digs, one ace, and 15 points. She followed that performance with a historic showing against Simon Fraser, becoming just the second Nanook in the GNAC era to record a triple-double. She finished with 13 kills (.522), 16 assists, 20 digs, one solo block, two block assists, and one ace for 16.0 points.

Henderson's triple-double was the first by a Nanook since Danielle Hitzeman accomplished the feat on Sept. 18, 2004, with 12 kills, 11 digs, and 26 assists against Northwest Nazarene.

#NookNotes

• The Nanooks lead the GNAC in three categories as of Monday, Nov. 10. They are first in the conference with 16.92 digs per set. They are also first in opponent hitting percentage, keeping opponents to a .128 swing percentage. That ranks the 'Nooks 10th in the country.
• Alaska also has the best winning percentage in the conference, checking in with a .833 win percentage. 
• Cynphany Henderson's triple-double was the first this season in the GNAC. She leads the conference with one, and also ranks 17th in the nation with one. 
• Tessa Onaga has 417 total digs this season. That total leads the GNAC and is 59th in the country. That total currently ranks 12th all-time in total digs in a single season by a Nanook.
• She is third in the GNAC with 4.58 digs per set. That total currently sits in seventh in program history for a single season total. 
• Peri Hoshock leads the Nanooks with 102 blocks. That total is fourth in the conference and currently places her 16th all-time for season total blocks in Nanooks program history. Her 1.19 blocks per set are fourth in the GNAC and tied for fourth-most in a single season by a Nanook. 
• Elena Guc has 257 kills to lead the Nanooks. She also leads the way with 2.82 kills per set and 3.32 points per set. 
• Ainsley Smith is eighth in the conference with 498 assists. Cynphany Henderson is right behind in 11th for assists with 398.

GNAC Standings
The top of the GNAC is still up for grabs as we enter the final two weeks of the season. The Nanooks currently sit in third with their 11-3 GNAC mark. View the full GNAC Volleyball standings HERE.

1. Central Washington (16-5, 12-2 GNAC)
2. Western Washington (18-4, 12-3 GNAC)
3. Alaska (20-4, 11-3 GNAC)
4. Simon Fraser (17-4, 11-4 GNAC)
5. Alaska Anchorage (19-5, 10-4 GNAC)
6. Seattle Pacific (10-12, 5-9 GNAC)
6. Northwest Nazarene (6-15, 5-9 GNAC)
8. Saint Martin's (12-11, 5-10 GNAC)
9. Western Oregon (2-21, 1-14 GNAC)
10. Montana State Billings (2-18, 0-14 GNAC)

NCAA Regional Rankings
The first edition of the NCAA West Region Volleyball rankings are out as of Nov. 2 - listed alphabetically - and the Nanooks are included in the top 10. Find the 10 teams listed below! 

• Alaska Anchorage
• Alaska
• Cal State LA
• Cal Poly Pomona
• Central Washington
• Fresno Pacific
• Hawaii Hilo
• Point Loma
• Simon Fraser
• Western Washington

AVCA National Poll
The Nanooks are one of three GNAC teams in the latest AVCA Top 25 rankings. Simon Fraser remains the highest-ranked GNAC team, checking in at No. 12 this week with 601 points. Western Washington dropped one spot from last week, coming in at No. 15. Alaska moved up one spot after last week, checking in at No. 18 with 348 points. This ranking matches their previous program-best national ranking. View the entire poll HERE.

12. Simon Fraser, 601 points, 17-4
15. Western Washington, 487 points, 18-4
18. Alaska, 348 points, 20-4

RV. Alaska Anchorage (60), Central Washington (29)

Meet the Opponents
Central Washington Wildcats (16-5, 12-2 GNAC)
Head Coach: Mario Andaya (30th Season, 486-312)
Player to Watch: Scottie Ellsworth, R-Sr., OH, Kent, Wash.
The Wildcats enter Thursday at the top of the GNAC standings with a 16-5, 12-2 GNAC record and a five-match winning streak. Central Washington has not lost since visiting the Nanooks in Fairbanks on Oct. 18. Alaska dropped CWU in four sets. Since then, CWU has lost just one set. They turned around and swept Northwest Nazarene on Oct. 25, Seattle Pacific on Oct. 30, and Montana State Billings on Nov. 1. On the road at Saint Martin's, the Wildcats won in four sets on Nov. 6 before sweeping Western Oregon on Nov. 8. Alaska's win earlier this season snapped a three-match losing streak to CWU. Alaska is 2-3 over the last five matches against Central Washington, and they have not won in Ellensburg since Nov. 2, 2002. 

Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (6-15, 5-9 GNAC)
Head Coach: Doug English (13th Season, 181-151)
Player to Watch: Abby Black, R-Jr., OH, Wenatchee, Wash.
Northwest Nazarene enters this week having split last week on the road. Five of their six wins this season have come in GNAC play. They knocked off the Western Oregon Wolves last Thursday in five sets before falling to the Saint Martin's Saints on Nov. 8 in five sets. NNU visited Fairbanks on Oct. 16 and the Nanooks made quick work of the Nighthawks, sweeping them. Alaska has won the last two matchups with NNU going back to last season. In the last five matchups, Alaska has the lead 3-2, including a win in both Nampa and Fairbanks in the last two meetings. Since 2020 the Nanooks are 9-4 against Northwest Nazarene.

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