Oct. 5, 2006

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The Nanooks started the match with a service ace and concluded it with a Saint Martin's service error. In between, the Alaska spikers dominated the Saints as they seek to move upwards in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

The efficient Nanooks made quick work of an overmatched St. Martin's squad on Thursday at the Patty Center, taking a 30-23, 30-18, 30-26 victory while posting their best hitting percentage of the past two seasons.

Alaska improved to 4-11 overall and 3-5 in the GNAC by registering 52 kills while committing just 13 errors for a hitting percentage of .345, while holding St. Martin's (1-11, 1-7) to a paltry .131 clip.

"We're kind of building our confidence," said sophomore middle hitter Korlyn Bolster, who notched 12 kills and two blocks with just two hitting errors. "We beat a team that we should beat."

The competition will certainly improve on Saturday as the Western Oregon Wolves, who handled Alaska Anchorage in three games Thursday, come to town. The Nanooks, who lost a hard-fought match at WOU on Sept. 21, are seeking payback and can tie the Wolves (6-12, 4-4) in the middle of the GNAC with a win on Saturday.

"They are a really annoying defensive team. They just don't let the ball hit the floor," said Alaska coach Phil Shoemaker of Western Oregon. "We got outworked defensively (Sept. 21)."

Then Alaska travels to last-place Alaska Anchorage (0-8, 3-13) on Oct. 11 before returning home the next weekend against second-place Western Washington and Seattle University. With four of five matches at home, and three of those against teams at or near the bottom of the GNAC, this stretch of games marks a crucial juncture in the Nanooks' season.

But first, the young Nanooks had to take care of business Thursday, and they jumped on the Saints immediately and never trailed in game one. Game two was more of the same, as the Nanooks had 20 kills with two errors for an unheard of hitting percentage of .545, more than triple their average of .159 on the season.

With a bevy of service errors (and 11 on the game), Alaska let St. Martin's hang around in game three, and the Saints only trailed by two points before a backcourt kill by freshman Megan Thigpen followed by a kill and ace from Jessica King put the Nanooks back in command at 28-23.

"The energy on the court was very good," said Shoemaker. "I think the kids went out with a sense of purpose and we were very aggressive."

Shoemaker subbed freely and the entire 12-player roster saw action, including reserves Sarah Lowry, Sarah Boyer, Sedra Zlock and sophomore Hannah Armstrong of Eagle River, who drew a hefty cheer for a dig that set up Thigpen near the end.

"I was really happy that we got a chance to play everybody at least a little bit," said Shoemaker.

Thigpen notched her 11th double-double of the season with 11 kills, 12 digs and zero errors. Thigpen is ranked among the GNAC's top 15 in kills per game (14th), digs per game (13th), points per game (12th), service aces per game (sixth) and hitting percentage (12th).

Freshman setter Alexa Sherman had 34 assists while sophomore defensive specialist (libero) Miranda Trudeau tallied 19 digs.

The Nanooks limited St. Martin's freshman sensation Shealun Campisi, who ranks second in the GNAC at 4.12 kills per game, to 12 kills and 10 digs.