The University of Alaska Fairbanks    

UAF spikes victory in volleyball

By BOB ELEY, Sports Editor

In a way, the University of Alaska Fairbanks volleyball team bounced back twice Saturday night.

The Nanooks not only rebounded from Thursday night's loss to Western Oregon to beat Humboldt State in Arcata, Calif., but they had to come from behind to do it.

After losing the first two games to the Lumberjacks, the Nanooks rebounded to claim a 27-30, 26-30, 30-27, 30-25, 15-11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory in a marathon match that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes and was played in front of more than 300 raucous Humboldt State fans.

"It was quite a match,'' UAF coach Phil Shoemaker said in a telephone interview Saturday night.

"We weren't really playing bad, we just weren't playing winning volleyball,'' Shoemaker said of the first two games. "In Games 3, 4 and 5, we didn't do that much different, but we quit stalling out. When we got a lead we were able to make a run or two to keep it."

The win boosts the Nanooks to 3-2 in conference play and 6-4 on the season. Humboldt State fell to 2-4 and 4-10.

Freshman outside hitter Danielle Hitzeman led the Nanooks with 20 kills and a .368 attack percentage. She also had 12 digs and a service ace. Mallory Bergstrom added 17 kills and 18 assists on the night and Katie Tobiasz, another freshman, chipped in 10 kills.

"Hitzeman did great tonight," Shoemaker said. "She's been super steady on the outside all year long.

April Blandford anchored the defensive net play with eight total blocks and Crystal Wheelock turned in an outstanding effort in the back row with a team-high 21 digs.

"Mallory did a nice job at the net offensively and defensively and April was pretty solid with those eight blocks," Shoemaker said. "Crystal's 21 digs were huge. I'm sure it was a career high for her."

Improved serving also helped the Nanooks turn the tide on Saturday night. Freshman setter Jessica Clemons registered four of UAF's nine aces to go along with 32 assists. Freshman setter Dasa Capova of the Czech Republic had 15 assists and an ace.

"Our serving was much better in the last three games," Shoemaker said. "We cut down on our errors and picked up a few aces."

UAF returns home to host Seattle University at 6 p.m. Friday and Northwest Nazarene at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Patty Center.