FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team returns home for two GNAC matches this week against the Red Leafs of Simon Fraser and the Vikings of Western Washington. Alaska currently sits at 10-4, 2-2 GNAC. 

Thursday, Sept. 24
vs. No. 19 Simon Fraser | 7 p.m.
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium 

Saturday, Sept. 26
vs. RV Western Washington | 2 p.m.
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium

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Last Time Out
The Nanooks hit the road last week for their first two GNAC road matches. They left Nampa, Idaho with a five-set victory over the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks that saw Cynphany Henderson post her third-career triple-double. She led the way with 35 assists, 14 digs, and 10 kills. This was her first triple-double of the season after her first two came last year. After the Nanooks went up 2-1, NNU won the fourth forcing the fifth set. In the fifth, Alaska jumped out to an early big lead and held on 15-9 to earn the five-set win. On Saturday, the Nanooks did not have the same fate as they fell to Central Washington in straight sets. Emma Freeman and Cori Leavitt led the way with eight kills each. Henderson, once again, led the way with 22 assists. Kellan Flynn had a team-high 12 digs in the back row. 

GNAC Standings
The Nanooks are currently tied with two other teams for fifth in the current GNAC volleyball standings. They sit at 2-2, matching up with Alaska Anchorage and Central Washington. Find the rest of the standings below or CLICK HERE to view online. 

• No. 19 Simon Fraser - 6-3, 3-0 GNAC
• Seattle Pacific - 8-4, 3-1 GNAC
• RV Western Washington - 5-4, 2-1 GNAC
• Western Oregon - 6-5, 2-1 GNAC
• No. 22 Alaska - 10-4, 2-2 GNAC
• Alaska Anchorage - 9-5, 2-2 GNAC
• No. 23 Central Washington - 6-4, 2-2 GNAC
• Saint Martin's - 5-6, 1-2 GNAC
• Northwest Nazarene - 7-4, 1-3 GNAC
• Montana State Billings - 2-10, 0-4 GNAC

AVCA Top 25
Three GNAC teams are in the AVCA top 25 poll this week after week two of GNAC play. Simon Fraser comes into the week ranked the highest, sitting at No. 19 after earning 290 points. The Nanooks are the second-highest GNAC team, ranking No. 22 this week with 169 points. Central Washington is No. 23 this week and made the jump from the receiving votes category into the top 25. They earned 127 points this week. Western Washington is the only GNAC team receiving votes and not ranking in the top 25; this week they received 36 votes. The AVCA top 25 can be found HERE.

Canned Food Drive
Thursday night is a canned food drive, brought to you by our sponsor, the Alaska Army National Guard. Fans who bring three canned food items or three non-perishable items, will receive free admission to the match against Simon Fraser! All donations will go towards the Fairbanks Community Food Bank. First serve on Thursday is 7 p.m.

Volleyball Community Day
Saturday is volleyball community day. The Fairbanks Volleyball Association, Elevate Volleyball, and the UAF Volleyball Club will be in attendance. Fans who want to come learn about how to get involved in volleyball around Fairbanks are encouraged to stop by their tables in the Patty Center Lobby! First serve on Saturday is 2 p.m.

#NookNotes

• Cynphany Henderson enters this week ranking fourth in the nation with her one triple-double. That leads the GNAC as well and trails a trio in NCAA DII with three triple-doubles each. 
• Henderson's 311 assists ranks 95th in the nation and third in the GNAC. She ranks sixth in the conference with 6.48 assists per set. 
• Cori Leavitt and Haylee Lyons have been the one-two punch for the Nanooks attack. They are within four kills of each other with Leavitt leading the way with 137. Lyons follows with 133. That ranks them fourth and seventh in the GNAC.
• Leavitt has been very efficient in her attack, as the lefty is swinging .304 through 14 matches. That is good for seventh in the GNAC. 
• Peri Hoshock has continued to be a presence at the net for the Nanooks as the senior middle-blocker leads Alaska with 49 total blocks. That ranks second in the GNAC and 29th in NCAA DII. Her 1.00 blocks per set is sixth in the GNAC.
• Presley Engelauf has also been a scary sight for opposing attackers as she is just behind Hoshock with 46 total blocks (50th in NCAA DII, fourth in GNAC), and 0.88 blocks per set (14th in GNAC). 
• Tessa Onaga leads the Nanooks with 256 digs. That total also ranks first in the GNAC and places her 13th in NCAA DII. Her 5.02 digs per set also leads the conference and is 27th in the nation. 

Meet the Opponents
Simon Fraser Red Leafs (6-3, 3-0 GNAC)
Head Coach: Gina Schmidt
Simon Fraser comes to Fairbanks on Thursday with a three-match winning streak. They dropped their season-opener against Chaminade before winning three-straight, including a five-set win over then No. 4 Point Loma. After falling in back-to-back matches to Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona, the Red Leafs have won three-straight over Central Washington, Northwest Nazarene, and Western Washington, all coming at home in Burnaby, B.C. Alaska won the last matchup against Simon Fraser, coming on Nov. 8 of last season. The 'Nooks won it in four sets after falling on the road at SFU in four sets. Alaska is 5-0 in their last five home matches against the Red Leafs. 

Western Washington Vikings (5-4, 2-1 GNAC)
Head Coach: Diane Flick-Williams
Western Washington will open their Alaska road trip in Anchorage on Thursday. The Vikings are riding a one-match losing streak after dropping their match at Simon Fraser in five sets. They opened up 2026 with a loss to PLNU in straight sets before winning two-straight over Chaminade and San Francisco State. They the went 1-2 against Cal State San Bernardino, Cal Poly Pomona, and Cal State LA, with their win coming over LA on Sept. 5. After entering GNAC play at 3-3, WWU won their first two over Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. WWU has won the last two matchups with the Nanooks, sweeping them in both meetings last year. The Nanooks last victory over the Vikings came on Nov. 23, 2024 when they swept Western at home in Fairbanks. 

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