FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team fell to No. 9 Fresno Pacific on Saturday, Sept. 5 to place second in the 2026 Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic. With the win, FPU claimed the 2026 title, going 4-0 on the weekend.
Alaska posted strong offensive numbers, but FPU's attack in return outpowered Alaska. The 'Nooks swung .214 as a team, finishing with 40 kills and just 16 errors, but the opposing side posted a .414 swing percentage, 42 kills, and just six errors. FPU picked up a 25-15 set one win behind 12 kills and just one error. The Nanooks matched them with their own dozen kills, but six errors and a .176 swing percentage compared to FPU's .524 swing percentage was too much to overcome. In the second, the Sunbirds surrendered just one error again. This time they posted 17 kills to one error while Alaska had 14 kills to five errors.
The Nanooks fell in the second by eight and entered the third trailing 2-0. In the third, the Sunbirds ran ahead with another big lead but Alaska fought back late. Despite the late run, Alaska fell by five in the third and were swept, finishing their home tournament 2-1.
Cori Leavitt and
Tessa Onaga were named to the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic All-Tournament Team following an impressive three game stretch.
Inside the Numbers
- Leavitt led the Nanooks with 11 kills and a .450 swing percentage. She added one assist, block, and dig.
- Cynphany Henderson had a team-high 18 assists alongside four digs and two kills. Ashlyn White added 11 assists and four digs.
- Tessa Onaga had a team-high 13 digs and four assists and one ace.
- Peri Hoshock led the Nanooks with two blocks. She had six kills, two digs and an ace as well tonight.
- Lucy Braegger finished with seven kills, and Emma Freeman added six.
What's Next
The Nanooks welcome Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific next week for their first two GNAC matches. Thursday's matchup with MSUB is the annual Elementary Game and is a special 11 a.m. start.
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