Sept. 27, 2007

NAMPA, Idaho - The Alaska Nanooks overcame a 2-1 deficit Thursday night to capture their first conference road victory of the season, defeating the Northwest Nazarene Crusaders by scores of 26-30, 30-27, 31-33, 30-24, and 15-12. The win, which snapped Alaska's four-match losing streak, improved the Nanooks to 8-6 overall and 2-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Both teams traded points to start the match but the Crusaders widened the gap with an early 10-6 lead. Alaska clawed its way back into the game, catching NNU at 12-12, when the back-and-forth action resumed. With the score tied at 25-25, the Nanooks were unable to seal the deal, committing unforced errors on three of the final five points and giving the Crusaders a 30-26 triumph.

It appeared as if NNU would repeat their performance early in the second game after jumping out to an early 9-2 margin. Freshman middle hitter Erica Gage served five consecutive points, however to spark Alaska's comeback and senior outside hitter Jenna Jones helped the cause, serving an ace to tie the game at 19-19. The Nanooks saw the tables turned when they watched the Crusaders give them six of the last nine rallies behind errors on the opposite side of the net. Alaska took the second set 30-27.

Game Three saw the score tied 18 times as the match continued to prove a thriller for the 724 fans in attendance. In the end, however, NNU outlasted Alaska 33-31.

Although they were down 2-1 heading into the fourth game, the Nanooks finally got the start they needed in the fourth game. Strong serving from Gage and sophomore Jessica Hill gave Alaska a 10-3 advantage, and the Nanooks never relented. Although the Crusaders made small runs throughout the game, they never got within less than five points of the Nanooks.

Down to the wire in the fifth game, the Nanooks looked as if they had the match in the bag. Alaska got to 14-8 but NNU made a late surge in battling to 14-12 before a kill by sophomore Megan Thigpen lifted the Nanooks to victory.

Thigpen, who got a double-double performance, led Alaska with a match-best 18 kills along with 15 digs, while junior middle hitter Korlyn Bolster was right behind with 16 kills. Gage and Hill also registered double-figure kills for Alaska with 10 and 11, respectively. Jones matched sophomore setter Alexa Sherman's defensive efforts, tallying 16 digs apiece, and Sheman led the match with 54 assists.

Loni Evenson and Cammy Dranginis paced NNU with 14 kills each and Lindsay Forseth had the Crusaders only double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs.

Alaska continues its road trip Saturday in Seattle, Wash., when they take on Seattle Pacific. The Falcons were upset in five games Thursday night by Alaska Anchorage. The Nanooks return to the Patty Center on Oct. 4 to host Saint Martin's at 7 p.m.