The University of Alaska Fairbanks    

Nanooks swept on 2nd day

by RICHARD LARSON, Staff Writer, Fairbanks Daily News Miner

The second day of the Cal Poly Pomona Invitational wasn't as kind to the University of Alaska Fairbanks volleyball team. After winning their first two matches on Friday, the Nanooks were swept by Chaminade and host Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday to finish the tournament with a 2-2 record.

UAF lost 30-26, 30-24, 30-28 to Chaminade in their morning match then fell 30-25, 30-23, 30-27 to Pomona in the final match of the tournament. On Friday the Nanooks defeated Florida Southern and Cal State Los Angeles in four games.

Cal State Los Angeles and Pomona each finished the tournament with 3-1 records and did not play each other. UAF, Chaminade and Findlay each finished 2-2 and Florida Southern was 0-4.

"It was a really well-balanced tournament," UAF coach Phil Shoemaker said. "There were no weak teams, that's for sure. Nobody went unbeaten. We played well, we had the ability to win both matches today, but the level of competition was outstanding."

Junior Mallory Bergstrom led the Nanooks against Chaminade with 18 kills and 15 digs. She also had four blocks. Freshman Danielle Hitzeman added 10 kills. Freshman Jessica Clemons had 35 assists and eight digs. Sophomore Crystal Wheelock had 10 digs.

Against Pomona, Bergstrom again led the offense with 16 kills. Senior Candice Smith added 10 kills. Hitzeman had eight kills and a team-high seven digs. Junior Carlin Smith added seven kills. Bergstrom, Candice Smith, Carlin Smith and Hitzeman all had attack percentages above .278 with Carlin Smith at .600.

"It was really a fireworks show. A lot of offense and not enough defense," Shoemaker said. "We hit .224, but unfortunately they hit .337. Their middles just kind of shredded us. They both hit over .500. Our blocking on the outside was OK, but in the middle, which was where their strength was, we were pretty weak."

Despite a sour second day, the tournament was a good way for the Nanooks to begin their 2003 campaign, according to Shoemaker.

"I'm happy with where we are at. There are a lot of positives we can take from here," Shoemaker said. "It was a great way for us to start the season."

The Nanooks complete their California road trip with a 6 p.m. (ADT) Monday match at Cal State Dominguez Hills.