FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team improved to 8-1 on the season and 2-0 on their home court with a 3-2 win over the Minnesota State Mavericks on Friday night.
The two teams traded every other set with Alaska taking the first, third, and fifth while Mankato claimed the second and fourth: 25-21, 17-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-9. In the first, the Nanooks posted 16 kills to Mankato's 11. Despite four more errors than the Mavericks, the 'Nooks prevailed by four. Alaska posted a big lead at 17-8 but the Mavericks rallied back to pull within three at 23-20.
Cori Leavitt stopped the rush with a kill and then
Haylee Lyons and
Peri Hoshock teamed up for a block to win the set. The Mavs took the second by eight. Both sides had nine kills in the set but Alaska swung .100 to Minnesota State's .156.
In the third, both sides were efficient on the attack as MSU finished with nine kills and two errors (.194) while Alaska hit .270 behind 15 kills and five errors. The Mavs held an early lead but a strong run from the 'Nooks gave them a 19-11 lead. Mankato made a small run to pull within four, but Alaska fended off the late push and
Lucy Braegger put the set away with a kill. The score was mirrored in favor of Minnesota State in the fourth as they forced a fifth. Alaska came out with full force in the final set jumping ahead 6-1 off the bat. The Mavericks pulled to within three at 8-5 but Alaska extended their lead back to six at 13-7 on a
Presley Engelauf kill and MSU error.
Cori Leavitt and Engelauf then finished the Mavericks off with back-to-back kills.
Inside the Numbers
- Cori Leavitt led the attack for the Nanooks as the freshman posted 18 kills with a strong .368 hit percentage. She added one block and one dig.
- Haylee Lyons followed with 13 kills, picking up a double-double while adding 13 digs. She had three assists and two blocks in the win.
- Lucy Braegger was the final Nanooks attacker with double-digit kills, finishing the match with 11. She added three blocks and one dig as well.
- Cynphany Henderson led the way with 31 assists and was one of three distributors with 10+ assists. Ashlyn White dished out 12 and Tessa Onaga finished the night with 10.
- Henderson had a near triple-double as the setter finished with eight digs and eight kills alongside her 31 assists.
- Onaga had 30 digs to go along with her 10 assists, finishing with a double-double. Kellan Flynn followed with 18 digs as well in the win.
What's Next
The Nanooks face Fresno Pacific tomorrow night in the finale of the 2026 Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic. The fourth annual Food Truck Rally will run from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. in the Patty Center parking lot and fans get free attendance to any of the three volleyball matches with a food purchase.
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