The University of Alaska Fairbanks
This is an Unofficial Site of Nanook Volleyball
The University of Alaska Fairbanks
By RICHARD LARSON, Staff Writer
The first road trip of the season confirmed University of Alaska Fairbanks coach Phil Shoemaker's preseason suspicions about the Nanook volleyball team: They have plenty of talent, but still have some work to do to put everything together.
The Nanooks went 3-2 on a five-match swing through California, splitting four matches in the tough Cal Poly Pomona Invitational, then struggling to a five-game win over Cal State Dominguez Hills.
"I learned we got a long way to go to get to a championship level, but I also learned that we've got enough talent to get there," Shoemaker said.
All four teams the Nanooks faced in the Pomona Invitational were squads with the potential to qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament, and UAF beat Florida Southern and Cal State Los Angeles in four games before losing in tight three-game matches to Chaminade and Cal Poly Pomona.
"There was no question that any match we played we had the talent to win; nobody beat us up," Shoemaker said. "At the same time, anybody could've beat us, too. It was an acceptable trip. I think we earned a good degree of respect from the teams we played against, which is certainly something we wanted to do."
One of the bright spots on the road trip was the play of the Nanook freshmen, especially that of Danielle Hitzeman.
Hitzeman had 22 kills and 21 digs in her first match as a Nanook and totaled 71 kills, 55 digs and 10 ace serves in the first five matches.
"I always set high standards for myself," said Hitzeman, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter from Vacaville, Calif. "Personally I think I had an OK weekend, but I have to work on passing a little better and just on my defense overall."
After the first five games, junior Mallory Bergstrom leads UAF in kills (78) and digs (62). Freshman Jessica Clemons has 214 assists (11.26 per game), eight ace serves and 35 digs. Senior Candice Smith and sophomore April Blandford are tied for the team lead in total blocks with 15.
Blandford, a 6-foot-tall middle blocker from Valdez, didn't see much playing time as a freshman last year, but had 20 kills with an attack percentage of .405 in the Nanooks' first five matches this year.
"It's very nice to be out there on the court and having an impact on the match," Blandford said. "It is nice to see all the hard work from throughout the year pay off."
With seven freshman on the team, Blandford said that even as a sophomore with limited experience she feels like a veteran.
"It's kind of weird," Blandford said. "Usually as a sophomore you are considered a young player, but right away on this team, you kind of step in as one of the older players. It kind of gives you a kick in the pants to get you going."
During the first five matches, the Nanooks as a team had 261 kills, but committed 108 errors. They also had 34 ace serves but 41 service errors, and they also averaged 1.37 digs per game less than their opposition.
"Volleyball tends to be a game of errors, you can't afford to make errors," Shoemaker said. "At the same time you have to be aggressive. To be aggressive and have low errors comes down basically to skill, training and confidence."
Blandford said, "You can't play being timid. You have to give it all you got. You just have to be smart about it."
The Nanooks play a pair of exhibition games this weekend, facing the Fairbanks Flyers and the UAF Alumni before opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a huge match against defending champion Western Washington on Sept. 12 at the UAF Patty Center. They then face Seattle Pacific there on Sept. 13. Both matches are at 7 p.m.
The Flyers coed team will feature Neal Kistler, Kevin Raap, Brad Krupa, George Cromer, Greg Kreta, Deb Kistler, Beth Bellinger, Bev Krupa and Tara Hollenbeck. Among those competing on the alumni team will be Jen Medl, Hollenbeck, Ruth Pomeroy and Sovanny Ebbesen.
The Nanooks aim to work out a few of the kinks in their matches this weekend--both at 7 tonight--in hopes of being ready for Western Washington in a week.
"That is going to be one of those killer matches that you have to be ready for, to give it all you got," Blandford said. "I don't think anything has changed about our goals for the season. We are still intent on being No. 1 (in the conference) and we are ready to take that step."
