The University of Alaska Fairbanks    

UAF netters set to face tourney foes

By BOB ELEY Sports Editor

Nanook volleyball fans will get a sneak preview of this weekend's Midnight Sun Invitational Tournament on Thursday night when all four teams will be in action.

After splitting a pair of exhibition matches last weekend against the Fairbanks Flyers and the UAF Alumni, the Nanooks officially open the season at 8 p.m. on Thursday with a match against the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos. Findlay of Ohio and Western State of Colorado play in the opener of the pre-tournament doubleheader.

"The quality of the competition is going to be very good, and that's exciting for me because we're really going to be tested," UAF coach Phil Shoemaker said Tuesday evening. "We want to do well and we're capable of doing well, but there are no gimmies. This is not a soft tournament field at all."

The round-robin Midnight Sun Invitational gets under way on Friday evening, when Cal Poly plays Findlay at 6 p.m., followed by Western State-UAF matchup at 8 p.m.

Each team plays twice on Saturday.

The Nanooks take on Western State at 11 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. matchup between Cal Poly and Western State. In the final session, Findlay takes on Western State at 6 p.m. and Cal Poly plays UAF at 8.

Things won't get any easier for the Nanooks the following weekend as they will entertain NCAA Division I schools Sacramento State, Colgate University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the Auto Service Co. Nanook Classic.

"We'd rather play tough teams at the start of the season so that we get tested," Shoemaker said.

Shoemaker, who is heading into his fifth season at the helm of the Nanooks, said he's excited about the prospects of the upcoming season.

"We're not in midseason form, but I think we're going to be good and hopefully soon," he said. "We've got a good group that works hard and as a result will improve greatly over the course of the season."

Shoemaker will hold a "Chalk Talk" open to all fans 15 minutes prior to each home game this season.

Sports Editor Bob Eley can be reached at beley@newsminer.com , sports@newsminer.com or 459-7581.