OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team fell to Saint Martin's in straight sets on Thursday, Oct. 8.
The Saints of Saint Martin's took the opening set 25-23. Both sides put up 12 kills, but the Nanooks surrendered 11 errors to SMU's six. Alaska swung .022 while SMU hit .158. The Nanooks jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind a pair of Kellan Flynn aces and blocks from Presley Engelauf and Cori Leavitt. The Saints chipped away, pulling within one and eventually tying the first set at 9-9. The two sides flipped leads with SMU running out to a 16-12 lead after coming back. The Nanooks fought back though, regaining the lead at 17-16 on a Haylee Lyons kill. They traded points, eventually being tied at 23-23, but unfortunately, SMU won the final two points for the first set win.
In the second, the Nanooks posted eight kills and eight errors, swinging .000. SMU had 12 kills and two errors to hit .313 as a team. Similar to the first, the Nanooks jumped ahead 7-2 in the second. SMU pulled even at 8-8 but the Nanooks fended off the initial run. After a 12-12 tie, the Saints took the lead back and jumped ahead 16-12. Alaska pulled to within three at 17-14, but SMU pushed ahead and won the second 25-17. In the third, the Saints offense came alive and hit .483 behind 15 kills and just one error. The Nanooks posted a strong 12 kills but surrendered seven errors and hit .143. Saint Martin's opened up with a 10-4 lead before extending it to 19-10. Down the stretch, the Nanooks strung together a few points pulling within seven, but SMU closed out the third 25-16.
Inside the Numbers
What's Next
The Nanooks head to Western Oregon on Saturday for a GNAC matchup with the Wolves. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. AKST.
Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksVB
X - @NanooksVB
FB - Alaska Nanooks Volleyball
