NAMPA, Idaho - The Nanooks volleyball team (21-5, 12-4 GNAC) defeated the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (6-17, 5-11 GNAC) in four sets on Saturday, Nov. 15.
How it Happened
The Nanooks used a strong offensive attack to take an early 2-0 lead on the Nighthawks. In the first, the Nanooks won 25-16 behind a .387 swing percentage and just four errors. They managed to keep the Nighthawks to a .129 swing percentage and 10 kills with six errors. The Nanooks offense maintained their strong attack in the second period, swinging .244 while NNU improved to post 16 kills and swinging .200.
Northwest Nazarene picked up the third set 25-20, pulling the match to 2-1. Neither side found their stride on offense in the third, as the Nanooks had 11 kills with nine errors while NNU hit .194 with 13 kills and six errors. The fourth set was all Nanooks. Similar to the first, Alaska ran away with the set, winning 25-15 to secure the 3-1 victory. They posted 12 kills and four errors for a .258 swing percentage while keeping NNU to eight kills and seven errors (.003).
Inside the Numbers
- Alaska led in every team category but digs. In points the Nanooks led 79-60, in kills the 'Nooks led 55-47, in aces they led 6-4, in blocks Alaska led 18-9, in assists the Nanooks led 54-44 and both sides had 57 digs.
- Elena Guc had a big game for the Nanooks. She led the way with 15 kills (.382), adding nine blocks and two digs.
- Presley Engelauf had a team-high 10 blocks with eight kills on a .444 swing percentage. Her 10 blocks matches the fourth-most in Nanooks volleyball program history and ties her for 10th in the record books.
- Cynphany Henderson finished one kill from a triple-double. She led the team with 29 assists, had 12 assists and nine kills. She added two blocks and one ace.
- Haylee Lyons also had nine kills, adding four digs, four blocks, and an ace. Peri Hoshock had seven kills, eight blocks, four digs, and one ace.
- Alaska swung .224 as a team and had 18 blocks. Their 18 blocks matches their season-high previously set on Sept. 12 in a five-set win over CSUSB.
What's to Come
The Nanooks return home next week to face Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings for their final two matches of the regular season.
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