The University of Alaska Fairbanks    

Flipping the switch

By ERIC GOOLD, Staff Writer

Before the lights went out at the Patty Center Saturday night, past and present stars for the University of Alaska Fairbanks volleyball team put on a show as the Nanooks geared up for the first matches of the 2004 season next weekend.

In exhibition play, the Nanooks took two out of three games from a collection of UAF Alumni, posting scores of 30-22, 26-30, 30-25 before the match was halted due to a sudden power outage on the UAF campus.

"This is just something you have to deal with," said Nanooks head coach Phil Shoemaker, who added that such tribulations are nothing new to him; he once had a match canceled due to a rainstorm inside the gym.

"The kids think we planned this," Shoemaker joked. "They said we just wanted to give them some new challenges."

The Nanooks came into the match with intensity and focus that was lacking during Friday night's exhibition sweep at the hands of the Fairbanks Flyers.

"We were definitely more comfortable out there," said senior Carlin Smith. "We were playing more together, more as a team."

Against an Alumni squad loaded with ex-Nanook greats like Candice Smith, Jen Medl, Tara Hollenbeck, Victoria Kilgore and Jen Pace, the 2004 Nanooks showed a tenacity on the attack and a consistency on defense that had the Alumni scrambling all over the floor.

"There was definite improvement over last night," said Shoemaker.

Junior April Blandford aced a serve for an early 6-3 Nanook lead in Game 1, then junior Crystal Wheelock paced the Nanooks to a 13-8 advantage with a strong service run. Candice Smith dropped in a kill for the Alumni that cut the lead to 15-12.

Carlin Smith came up with a huge block to make the tally 23-14 for the Nanooks, then freshman Danielle Ryder had an ace and sophomore Dasa Capova served the last two winners in the Game 1 victory.

Game 2 was a back-and-forth affair that saw the score tied several times. Hollenbeck crushed home a kill for an 11-9 Alumni lead, but then senior standout Mallory Bergstrom took over for the Nanooks.

A kill and two aces from the 5-foot-11 Bergstrom gave the lead back to the Nanooks at 14-12. Candice Smith had a block that tied it at 15 and forced a Nanook timeout, then Kristen Sullivan's kill gave the Alumni a 19-16 advantage.

Blandford's strong work at the net knotted the score at 22 and 23, but then the serving of Medl and solid defense secured the Game 2 win for the Alumni.

The Alumni carried their momentum into Game 3 and jumped ahead 5-1 before Shoemaker called a timeout to rally the troops.

"Magic words," said Shoemaker. "We were a little confused starting out and our defensive plan didn't sink in."

Bergstrom had a kill that closed the Nanook deficit to 8-4, then sophomore Danielle Hitzeman got hot for UAF. Consecutive kills from the 5-foot-10 outside hitter cut the lead to 8-6, and then Hitzeman landed another kill to tie the game at 9.

Wheelock blazed home a kill and Bergstrom's scorching service run gave the Nanooks their first lead at 13-10. Freshman Mallory McCormick served a series during which Hitzeman had three kills and a block to take an 18-11 UAF lead, and the Nanooks never looked back in the Game 3 win.

Despite chants of, "Play! Play! Play!" from the Alumni bench, the match was called when it was determined that the power outage on campus could last upwards of three hours.

"One thing I didn't like about last night was I thought we conceded way too early. Tonight we didn't do that," said Shoemaker. "I wish we could have a repeat of the effort we gave tonight and have a rematch with the Flyers."

UAF opens the regular season with the Midnight Sun Invitational, slated to take place Friday and Saturday at the Patty Center. Western State College, Findlay and Cal Poly Pomona will help the Nanooks begin the 2004 season.

Carlin Smith said that the Nanooks need to work on a few things before then, like service passing and getting their first serves in, but she added that the Nanooks are ready to play the 2004 season.

"I'm excited," she said. "I'm ready to break some records." Staff writer Eric Goold can be reached at egoold@newsminer.com or at 459-7591.