ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Nanooks volleyball team (20-5, 11-4 GNAC) fell in a long five-set battle at Central Washington (17-5, 13-2 GNAC). Alaska is back in action on Saturday. 

How it Happened
The Nanooks came out of the gates strong, posting an early 2-0 lead. In the first, the Nanooks cruised to a 25-15 victory, taking a 1-0 lead. They posted 14 kills on just three errors (.367%) while keeping CWU to nine kills, four errors and a .167 swing percentage. In the second set, both sides put up 18 kills as the Nanooks pulled out a 31-29 win to make it 2-0. The 'Nooks surrendered one more error than Central Washington but prevailed in the long set after facing two set points for CWU. 

Central Washington picked up the third set 25-20, making it 2-1. They outhit the Nanooks .263 to .102. In the fourth, the Nanooks posted another 18 kill set, but fell 25-23. CWU outhit the Nanooks .216 to .204 after the Nanooks surrendered two more errors than the Wildcats. In the fifth, the Nanooks posted eight kills to Central's nine. Alaska held a lead as the teams changed sides, but CWU picked up the 15-13 set five win for the 3-2 victory.

Inside the Box

• Mikala Henderson led the Nanooks with 20 kills. She added eight digs, three total blocks, and swung .265. Elena Guc added 16 kills, seven digs, and four blocks. 
• Presley Engelauf had 10 kills and five blocks tonight. She added two digs. 
• Cynphany Henderson had a big night for the Nanooks. She had 38 assists, 18 digs, six kills, two blocks, and an ace. 
• Ashlyn White played a big role for the 'Nooks tonight. She added 20 assists, nine digs, and two aces. 
• Alaska posted 70 kills and 85.5 points tonight. They had six aces, 67 assists, and 98 digs. 

What's to Come
The Nanooks head to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday for a matchup in Nampa, Idaho. Alaska has three matches remaining in the regular season. 

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