ANCHORAGE, Alaska - It's time for Central Washington University volleyball's annual trip to The Last Frontier. The #16 Wildcats are set to play at Alaska Anchorage (11-11, 3-4 GNAC) on Thursday and Alaska Fairbanks (9-12, 2-5 GNAC) on Saturday.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Thursday, Oct. 12, 8:00 p.m.
at Alaska Anchorage
Alaska Airlines Center
Anchorage, Alaska
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LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, Oct. 14, 3:00 p.m.
at Alaska Fairbanks
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium
Fairbanks, Alaska
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LIVE STATS
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARIO ANDAYA
"We have two tough opponents we need to be fully prepared for. Each team has unique challenges we have to be ready for, but fundamentally we need to be very good to be successful. UAA is the defending champ with some returning players, and UAF is battle-tested against top-notch opponents. We will need to be ready to compete at a high level against both."
 
ABOUT THE SEAWOLVES
Led by first-year head coach Stacie Meisner, Alaska Anchorage dons an 11-11 overall record. The Seawolves are tied for 6th in the GNAC at 3-4.
 
The Seawolves split their games last weekend, beginning with a four-set loss at Saint Martin's. UAA responded with a win on Saturday at Western Oregon that went the distance.
 
Senior outside hitter Nicole Blue does a little bit of it all for UAA. She's 3rd in the GNAC and the team leader in kills per set (3.21), collecting 263 total kills. She leads the conference in service aces with 42. Blue has added 219 digs and 32 blocks so far.
 
Bethany Tuchardt is dangerous too, recording 2.53 kills per frame and 50 total blocks. Makena Eleneki and Kadyn Osborne split the setting duties, while Isabel Evans and Leilani Elder lead the team in blocks with 66 each.
 
This is the first game between CWU and UAA this year. The Wildcats are 20-24 all-time against the Seawolves, losing both matches in straight sets last year.
 
ABOUT THE NANOOKS
Ninth-year head coach Brian Scott leads an Alaska Fairbanks team with a 9-12 record. The Nanooks are tied for 8th in the GNAC at 2-5.
 
UAF was involved in a pair of sweeps last weekend. On Thursday, they were on the positive end of a sweep over Western Oregon. But, Saint Martin's returned the favor, sweeping the Nanooks on Saturday.
 
Alaska Fairbanks' statistical leader in kills and kills per set is junior outside hitter Karli Nielson. She's totaled 225 kills, an average of 3.00 per frame. Nielson also has 128 digs, blocks digs, and 17 service aces. Ella Bines and Lily Stewart command over 2.20 kills per set too.
 
Sophomore Ainsley Smith is the Nanooks' primary setter with 6.18 assists per frame. Cynphany Henderson has chipped in 4.65 assists per set too. Grace Steurer leads the team in digs (256) while Josie Jansen is the Nanooks leader in blocks (63).
 
This is the first game between CWU and UAF this year. The Wildcats are 33-9 all-time against the Nanooks, winning both games in 2022.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Last Saturday, Central Washington University volleyball returned to Nicholson Arena for the first time since Nov. 20, 2021, with a four-set win over Northwest Nazarene.
 
The Wildcats' efforts were rewarded by moving up a spot to #16 in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Coaches Poll earlier this week.
 
Against the Nighthawks, Ashley Kaufman, Ellie Marble, and Scottie Ellsworth had massive performances on the attacking end, combining for 45 of 59 of CWU's kills. Tia Andaya put up a season-high 50 assists, while Emma Daoud-Hebert led the team with six blocks.