FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team hosts SMU and WOU this week for their GNAC home openers. The 'Nooks (11-1, 2-0 GNAC) are riding a nine-game winning streak and look to stay hot on their home court.
Thursday, Sept. 25
vs. Saint Martin's | 7 p.m.
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium
Saturday, Sept. 27
vs. Western Oregon | 2 p.m.
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium
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Last Time Out
The Nanooks cruised to a pair of sweeps last week on the road at Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific. On Thursday, Sept. 18, the 'Nooks beat MSUB 3-0 behind eight kills from
Elena Guc. She added six blocks.
Kelli Wright added six kills and four blocks in the win.
Cynphany Henderson led the 'Nooks with nine assists while
Ashlyn White added eight, and
Ainsley Smith finished with seven.
Tessa Onaga finished with 16 digs and a pair of aces in the win. On Saturday, the Nanooks beat SPU in straight sets.
Elena Guc and
Peri Hoshock led the way offensively with 10 kills each. Hoshock also added five digs and a block while swinging .400 on the attack.
Ainsley Smith finished with a double-double, posting 22 assists and 11 digs in the win.
Tessa Onaga had another big game defensively for the Nanooks, posting 26 digs in the three-set win.
Oops She Did it Again
Tessa Onaga won the GNAC VB Defensive Player of the Week honor again this past week, her second-straight time earning it. Onaga helped propel the Nanooks to a perfect start in conference play, leading the team to road wins over Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific. The junior earned her second consecutive Defensive Player of the Week honor after averaging 7.00 digs per set—over two digs more than any other GNAC player who appeared in two matches last week. She opened the weekend with 16 digs against the Yellowjackets before recording 26 against the Falcons, her second-highest total of the season. Beyond her defensive impact, Onaga added three service aces and eight assists, while committing no service or reception errors across the two matches. She currently ranks second in the GNAC with 4.74 digs per set.
#NookNotes
- Entering Thursday's match, the Nanooks lead the GNAC in total team blocks with 118. That total is third in the nation. Their 2.51 blocks per set puts them 15th in the nation and fourth in the GNAC.
- Peri Hoshock has been a force at the net for the Nanooks. She has 61 total blocks and is second in the GNAC and seventh in the GNAC.
- Her 1.33 blocks per set is fourth in the conference and 15th in NCAA DII.
- Their 789 team digs also leads the GNAC and is ninth in the nation. Tessa Onaga has 223 this season, good for first in the GNAC and 10th in NCAA Division II.
- Onaga is third in the GNAC with 4.74 digs per set. She also has 22 aces so far this season, that total tops the GNAC and is 26th in the country.
- Elena Guc and Kelli Wright have been solid for the Nanooks offense. Guc has 128 kills this season, good for fifth in the GNAC, while Wright follows with 112, good for ninth in the conference.
- As a team, the Nanooks are one of the best at keeping opponents off the board on the attack. They are holding their opponents to a .078 swing percentage, good for first in the GNAC and third in the nation.
Meet the Opponents
Saint Martin's Saints (8-1, 1-0 GNAC)
Head Coach: Haley Domeck, 1st Season
Player to Watch: Emily Garten, Jr., OH
The Saints are off to a historic start at 8-1, 1-0 GNAC. They knocked off the Western Oregon Wolves on Thursday, Sept. 18 in Monmouth, Ore. to open GNAC play. Before opening conference play, the Nanooks went 4-0 at the Javelina Volleyball Classic in Kingsville, Tx. with four-straight sweeps over Lake Erie College, Southern Arkansas University, Bridgeport, and Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The Nanooks won the last matchup with SMU. Before that win, the Saints had a three-match winning streak on the Nanooks.
Western Oregon Wolves (1-8, 0-1 GNAC)
Head Coach:
Kaiao Nahale-a, 4th Season
Player to Watch:
Maela Honma, So., OH
Western Oregon is off to a slow start this season, but not an opponent to be taken lightly. They currently sit at 1-8, 0-1 GNAC after falling to the Saint Martin's Saints on Sept. 18. Western Oregon's lone win this season came at the Gator Classic in San Francisco, Calif. against Menlo College. They picked up a four-set win on Sept. 12. The Nanooks have won the past two matchups with WOU. WOU's last win over Alaska came in Nov. 2023, a four-set win in Fairbanks.
GNAC Standings
Below are the current GNAC volleyball standings as of Wednesday, Sept. 24. To view on the official GNAC website click
HERE.
- Alaska Anchorage | 11-1, 2-0 GNAC
-
Alaska | 11-1, 2-0 GNAC
- Western Washington | 8-1, 2-0 GNAC
- Saint Martin's | 8-1, 1-0 GNAC
- Simon Fraser | 7-1, 1-1 GNAC
- Central Washington | 5-4, 1-1 GNAC
- Seattle Pacific | 5-5, 0-2 GNAC
- Montana State Billings | 1-5, 0-2 GNAC
- Western Oregon | 1-8, 0-1 GNAC
- Northwest Nazarene | 1-8, 0-2 GNAC
AVCA Coaches Poll
The Nanooks received 123 votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll. They are the first team out of the top-25. Simon Fraser currently sits at No. 11 in this week's poll, the highest-ranked GNAC team. Western Washington joins SFU in the top-25 at No. 22 with 187 votes. Alaska Anchorage is behind the Nanooks with 105 votes while Central Washington received 17 votes. To view this week's poll, click
HERE.
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