The University of Alaska Fairbanks    

Nanooks volleyballers hit the road

By RICHARD LARSON, Staff Writer

The University of Alaska Fairbanks volleyball team embarks on its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference road trip of the season this weekend, visiting Western Oregon today and Humboldt State on Saturday.

The Nanooks are 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the GNAC after winning a tough five-game match over Alaska Anchorage last weekend at the Patty Center. Western Oregon is 6-6 overall and Humboldt State is 3-9. Both teams are 1-3 in the GNAC.

Both Western Oregon and Humboldt lost to Western Washington in three quick games and to Seattle Pacific in four games last weekend. UAF lost to Western in four games and beat SPU in four games two weeks ago. The Wolves, however, did beat Cal Poly Pomona in four games earlier this year while the Nanooks were swept by Pomona.

"If you look at scores, Western Oregon was good enough to beat Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly beat us; so that better catch them a little respect from us," UAF coach Phil Shoemaker said. "I think that we are better than they are, but you have to go in there and prove it. That's the bottom line."

Assistant coach Bev Krupa and half the Nanooks team left for Western Oregon early Wednesday morning. Shoemaker and the rest of the team stayed in Fairbanks for the Alaska Fairbanks Women's Sports Appreciation Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at Wedgewood Resort before leaving town. The luncheon was sponsored by Lois Lind, wife of UAF chancellor Dr. Marshall L. Lind, and recognized the accomplishments of women athletes from all the UAF teams.

After playing their first three GNAC matches at home, the Nanooks look to add a pair of key road wins. Shoemaker wasn't worried about any ill effects journeying to Oregon and California might have on the team.

"It's just travel. We've done it before," Shoemaker said. "We need to go down there prepared to play hard and to play well enough to win, we can do that. They are good teams, but I think we'll be up to the challenge."

The Nanooks, who have two juniors and one senior on the roster, have shown flashes of brilliance this season, but have had trouble maintaining a consistent level of play.

"There are still an awful lot of things we have to work on," Shoemaker said. "We are relying on two freshmen setters and two other freshmen are playing key roles all the time for us. We have got to get better in all phases of the game, but we've got a great group of kids and I think we'll get there."

Junior Mallory Bergstrom leads the Nanooks on the season in kills with 135 (4.22 per game) and in digs with 132 (4.12 per game). Freshman Danielle Hitzeman is second on the team in kills with 103 (3.32), second with 11 service aces and second with 101 digs (3.26). Middle hitters April Blandford and Carlin Smith lead the Nanooks in attack percentage with Blandford hitting at .389 and Carlin Smith at .305.

Freshman setter Jessica Clemons has 344 assists (10.75 per game). Clemons also has 10 ace serves. Freshman Katie Tobiasz leads the team in ace serves with 13. Sophomore Libero Crystal Wheelock has 78 digs (2.52) while Candice Smith and Clemons each had 71 digs (2.22).

The Nanooks have 73.5 total blocks as a team compared to only 48.5 by their opponents. Candice Smith leads the way with 31 totals blocks, followed by Carlin Smith (23), Tobiasz (21), Blandford (17), Bergstrom (15) and Hitzeman (12).

Western Oregon is led by Talia Sanderson, who has 148 kills (4.35 per game). Kim Tower has 124 kills. Amy Tyler and Sarah Entenman share the setting duties.

Humboldt State is led by Jessica Murray (143 kills) and Julia Shaw (144) kills. Tony Fedrick has 301 assists. Humboldt State has served for 109 aces in 12 matches (2.53 a game) and has allowed 90 aces (2.09).

"Both teams have good outside hitter and both play pretty good defense," Shoemaker said. "Any time you have those two things you can stay in a lot of matches."

The Nanooks will continue to work freshman setter Dasa Capova into the lineup this weekend. Capova, who missed the first month of the season with a stress fracture in her foot, saw limited time in the match against Anchorage.

"She's been able to do more this week," Shoemaker said. "She seems to be having less pain. Her conditioning and her familiarity on the court are getting better."