With a chance to climb back to .500, the University of Alaska Fairbanks volleyball team suffered a second consecutive loss on the tails of their four-game win streak.
With the defeat, the ‘Nooks’ hopes of climbing into the top-four of the GNAC standings, and perhaps reaching the NCAA DII volleyball tournament, are all but gone.
The Nanooks (13-15 overall, 6-8 GNAC) were competitive in all three sets but never felt like they had control despite a couple of small early leads. Head coach Brian Scott attributed the defeat — which was UAF’s second sweep at the hands of the Saints (15-8, 8-5) in as many matchups this season — to a variety of little things.
Despite being outscored by 15 points between the three sets, the Nanooks finished with just one fewer kill than the Saints. However, UAF accumulated nine more errors, largely attack errors.
“It’s not like it was a horrible number [of errors] but it just was worse than what their number was,” Scott said postgame. “[Saint Martin’s] played a really clean game tonight. They played really really well. It’s not like we played bad, they just played better.”
A few opening-set errors put UAF in an early 4-1 hole, but the ‘Nooks used a 3-0 run, featuring consecutive blocks, to close the gap to 7-6. Back-to-back blocks by Rilee White and an ace from Kinley Erickson knotted the game up at 11-11. But the Saints came out of the timeout with a successful tip and didn’t look back from there, as they extended their lead late in the set and won 25-20.
UAF tried to flip the script in the second set, as they got out to an early lead, but Saint Martin’s quickly retook control, going ahead 11-5 in large part because they were better at the service line. Ella Bines drew the ‘Nooks closer with back-to-back kills after that.
The ‘Nooks cut their deficit to as little as one point at 19-18 after a 6-1 run, and were that close as late as 24-23. But they were never able to draw even again after their initial lead, dropping the second set 25-23.
The Nanooks surged to a 3-1 lead in the third set with a couple of early kills from Lily Stewart. But the Saints soon took a 10-8 lead with four unanswered points. A 7-0 run once the ‘Nooks had tied the set gave the visitors a bit of a cushion. The hosts drew closer but any comeback attempt proved unsuccessful. The Saints controlled the set and the match, ending it with a dump to win 25-17.
Bines led UAF with nine kills, while the Saints’ Emily Garten recorded a game-high 13. Cynphany Henderson and Ainsley Smith tied for the UAF lead with 17 assists apiece, while Saint Martin’s Karla Soto recorded 38.
Scott would like UAF’s defense to get a few more stops moving forth but was encouraged by his team’s hitting.
UAF will play its final home game of the season, Senior Day, on Saturday, Nov. 4 against Western Oregon, who the ‘Nooks swept on the road in early October. UAF will end its season with a pivotal three-game road trip culminating in a match at Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 16.
Contact Gavin Struve at gstruve@newsminer.com or 907-459-7544
