Sept. 24, 2006

Box Score

By Matias Saari, Sports Writer, Fairbanks Daily Newsminer Published September 24, 2006 Posted in Sports

LACEY, WA - The Alaska Nanooks found themselves in a tough position on Saturday, down a game on the road and fighting to even the volleyball match.

But kills by Corlyn Bolster and Jenna Jones finished off a close second game, and the Nanooks controlled St. Martin's of Lacey, Wash., the rest of the way en route to a 28-30, 30-26, 30-21, 30-22 win.

The Nanooks improved to 3-9 overall and 2-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and snapped a 10-game conference road losing streak.

"It was a more determined effort," said Alaska coach Phil Shoemaker by telephone Saturday night. "I think they're developing a little more confidence in just continuing to play hard. They're starting to figure out that the other team isn't going to lose just because you're ahead."

Repeating a trend that has plagued them this season, the Nanooks led 27-25 in the first game before committing three errors as the Saints rallied back to win. But thereafter, Alaska played consistently to beat St. Martin's (1-8, 1-4), which was coming off its first win of the season Thursday against Alaska Anchorage.

Shoemaker credited his team's mental toughness on Saturday.

"We came up with some big plays when some big plays were needed tonight," he said.

Alaska started the match without freshman middle hitter Megan Thigpen, who sustained a concussion going for a ball late in Thursday's four-game loss at Western Oregon and did not practice Friday. Thigpen sat on the bench for most of game one on Saturday, then was a vital contributor in games two through four.

"If we could have made it through the match without her we would have," said "Shoemaker. "She was a big part of our win, which is no great surprise."

Thigpen registered a team-high 12 kills with just one error for a hitting percentage of .367. She also tallied 18 digs.

After hitting poorly with 24 kills and 16 errors in the first two games, Alaska rebounded with 31 kills and just six errors in the final two games as it built sizable leads and coasted to victory.

Sophomore Korlyn Bolster contributed 11 kills and hit .444 while senior Katrina Jensen came up with seven kills and a team-high seven blocks. The Nanooks limited St. Martin's star Shealun Campisi to 12 kills and a dismal hitting percentage of .021.

The Nanooks return home Sunday, then hit the road again next Wednesday for games against Seattle University and Western Washington, respectively.