FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team picked up a huge 3-2 win over Rollins College on Thursday night. In their home-opener, the 'Nooks were fueled by the home crowd as they erased a 2-1 set deficit and picked up sets four and five to complete the comeback win.

How it Happened
Alaska fell in the opening set, 25-22. Both sides opened up with strong offense as Rollins posted 16 kills, and an impressive .414 swing percentage. Alaska nearly matched the Tars, however, putting up 16 kills of their own. The 'Nooks committed two more errors in the opening set. That all changed in the second set as the Nanooks posted monster numbers of their own, grabbing a dominant 25-12 set two victory. The 'Nooks had only a pair of errors to go with their 16 kills. They kept the Rollins attack at bay, keeping them to just seven kills and a .103 swing percentage. Alaska put up a .483 attack percentage, cruising to the set win and tying the match at 1-1. 

The third set was close. Rollins squeaked out a 26-24 set three win despite Alaska outhitting them 15-11 in kills. They jumped out to an early lead, including a 10-point lead at 12-2, but Alaska fought back to eventually take a 23-22 lead; their only lead of the set. Rollins eventually put up four of the final five points to earn the set three win. Alaska picked up the fourth set win to force the deciding set. In the fifth, the Nanooks quickly jumped out to an 8-2 lead at the change of sides. Rollins made a run, pulling to within one at 10-9, but a Kelli Wright kill and Peri Hoshock ace shot the momentum back to the Nanooks. The Tars pulled within one again at 13-12, but a block by Elena Guc and Elizabeth Jackson followed by an attack error on Rollins gave the 'Nooks the five-set win.

Inside the Numbers

• Haylee Lyons posted 16 kills to lead the 'Nooks. The outside hitter was everywhere for Alaska, finishing the night with nine digs, five aces, four blocks, and three assists. 
• Cynphany Henderson and Ainsley Smith both had double-doubles tonight. Henderson finished with a team-high 27 assists and added 13 digs while Smith had 25 assists and 13 digs. 
• Alaska posted 65 assists tonight; a new season-high. They also posted a new season-high in team kills, totaling 69 in the victory tonight. 
• Tessa Onaga had 19 digs for the 'Nooks. She added seven assists and two aces. 
• Elena Guc had 13 kills, four assists and an assist. Kellie Wright also had a great offensive showing, posting 15 kills (.375), five digs, three blocks and an assist. 
• Peri Hoshock was the final Nanooks player in double-digits, finishing with 10 kills, six block assists, one solo block, two digs and an assist.
• Both sides finished with 12 team blocks. Alaska had 12 service aces, and 74 digs. 

What's to Come
The Nanooks are back in action tomorrow at 7 p.m. They take on the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes. CSUSB won a five-set match over Rockhurst this afternoon in Fairbanks (3-2).

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