Nanooks Travel for Pair of Matches at Saint Martin’s, Western Oregon – University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

FAIRBANKS – The Nanooks are back in action after a week-long break as they gear up to face Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon this week away from home. Alaska claimed victory in its last contest vs. the Wolves, taking the match in five sets, but fell in four to the Saints earlier this season.

Thursday, Oct. 24

6 p.m. at Saint Martin’s | Watch | Live Stats

Marcus Pavilion

Saturday, Oct. 26

6 p.m. at Western Oregon | Watch | Live Stats

New PE Building

Last Time Out

The Nanooks took down in-state foes Alaska Anchorage in their only match last week, earning the four-set victory over the Seawolves at home. After dropping the first set 25-23, the Nanooks took the final three sets 25-21, 25-22 and 25-19, earning their first win against the Seawolves since November 2021.

Alaska struggled in the hitting department to start the match, swinging at a .171 clip in the first set. The Nanooks would get back on track the following set, posting an attacking percentage of .343 as a team compared to .097 for the Seawolves. They followed that by putting up hitting percentages of .262 and .367 in the third and fourth sets, respectively.

Karli Nielson paced the Nanooks with 16 kills in the match, hitting .275 while picking up five digs, three aces and four total blocks. Elena Guc and Rilee White would join Nielson in double-digit kills with 12. They posted hitting percentages of .346 and .391, respectively, while White led the team with four service aces. Josie Jansen posted a .545 hit percentage during the contest, slamming seven kills and finishing with three total blocks. Tessa Onaga led Alaska with 20 digs in the match, while her 13 assists were a season-high for the libero. Finally, Alaska’s two setters both notched 20+ assists, with Ainsley Smith leading the team with 24 and Cynphany Henderson following with 22. They would also both post 13 digs, tying for second-most on the team. The Nanooks hit .282 as a team, compared to a .239 mark for the Seawolves, while doubling up UAA in the service department, recording 10 aces and allowing five.

Quick Hitters

• Nielson ranks second in the GNAC with 3.34 kills per set, while her .262 hitting percentage places her ninth.
• Smith’s mark of 8.74 assists per set is good for second-best in the conference.
• The Nanooks have two of the top-four blockers in the GNAC, as Elizabeth Jackson ranks third with 1.13 blocks per set and Jansen comes in right behind her in fourth with 1.12.
• White has the fourth-most aces per set in the GNAC this season, posting a mark of 0.47.
• Onaga’s 3.93 digs per set is good for fifth-best among GNAC players.
• Alaska ranks second in hitting percentage and kills per set, swinging at a .237 clip as a team while tallying 13.07 kills per set. They trail Simon Fraser in both categories.

Meet the Opponent

Saint Martin’s 5-12, 3-6 GNAC

Head Coach: Wade Taylor (1st Season)

Player to Watch: Emmy Hansen, OH, Junior (2024 Stats: 178 kills, 2.58 kills per set, 0.28 aces per set, 2.17 digs per set, 0.41 blocks per set)

The Nanooks dropped their previous matchup against the Saints last month. Since then, SMU has won one of its last five matches. Saint Martin’s went 1-1 this past week, earning a five-set victory at Montana State Billings before falling to Seattle Pacific in four.

Western Oregon 12-6, 4-5 GNAC

Head Coach: Kaiao Nahale-a (3rd Season)

Player to Watch: Madison Hornback, OH, Senior (2024 Stats: 222 kills, 3.08 kills per set, .203 hitting %, 0.19  aces per set, 2.18 digs per set, 0.38 blocks per set)

The last time the Nanooks and Wolves squared off, both teams played to a five-set thriller, which saw the Nanooks come back from down two sets to one to claim the victory. WOU split its two matches last week, losing to Seattle Pacific in five sets before taking a four-set win over MSUB.

The Wolves are the top serving team in the GNAC, as their 2.43 team service aces per set are 0.49 more than the next closest squad.

GNAC Standings

Simon Fraser (12-4, 8-1 GNAC)

Central Washington (10-5, 8-1 GNAC)

Western Washington (7-8, 6-3 GNAC)

Alaska (13-6, 5-4 GNAC)

Western Oregon (12-6, 4-5 GNAC)

Alaska Anchorage (10-9, 4-5 GNAC)

Seattle Pacific (4-13, 4-5 GNAC)

Northwest Nazarene (6-11, 3-6 GNAC)

Saint Martin’s (5-12, 3-6 GNAC)

Montana State Billings (7-12, 0-9 GNAC)

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