MATCH #10
Western Oregon (3-6) vs. Alaska Anchorage (8-0)
Thursday, Sept. 17, at. 7 p.m.
Monmouth, Ore. – New PE Building
LIVE STATS
 
MATCH #11
Western Oregon (3-6) vs. Alaska Fairbanks (0-7)
Saturday, Sept. 19, at. 7 p.m.
Monmouth, Ore. – New PE Building
LIVE STATS 

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon volleyball begins the GNAC season this weekend as No. 14 Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks will travel to Monmouth.
 
Last week, the Wolves hosted the Western Oregon Volleyball Invitational, facing off against Adelphi, Chico State, Wisconsin-Parkside, and Notre Dame de Namur. They went 2-2 over the weekend, and their overall record now stands at 3-6. They defeated Adelphi 3-1 as well as Notre Dame de Namur 3-2, but fell to Chico State 1-3 and Wisconsin-Parkside 2-3.
 
With an exciting comeback win over Notre Dame de Namur, Western Oregon looks to continue improving and start out strong in the GNAC against the pair of Alaska universities.
 
OFFENSIVE ATTACK
Alisha Bettinson and Amanda Short lead the Wolves in kills as Bettinson racked up 88 kills, and Short contributed 80 in preseason play. Maddie Mehciz supplied the offensive support with a total of 131 assists, reaching a season-high 57 against Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday.  
 
DURABLE DEFENSE
Christie Colasurdo has a total of 181 digs this season, and she tallied a season-high of 30 against Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday. Blocks have significantly helped the Wolves as Paige Kelsey, Sydney Blankinship, and Mariella Vandenkooy contributed 20, 15, and 13 blocks, respectively, throughout the preseason.
 
ABOUT ALASKA ANCHORAGE
The Seawolves are undefeated this season after eight games of preseason play. They prepared for the GNAC by playing in the SpringHill Suites Invitational at the Alaska Airlines Center and the GNAC/Pac West Crossover Tournament in Ellensburg, Washington.
 
Last weekend in Ellensburg, Alaska Anchorage faced the top four finishers from last year's Pacific West Conference, including Fresno Pacific, Point Loma, BYU-Hawaii, and Dixie State. Freshman Kyla Militante-Amper was named the GNAC's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for her performance at the tournament. She recorded a team-high 65 digs, setting a career-high of 23 digs on Friday against Point Loma. She also had 18 digs and five assists against BYU-Hawaii.
 
Julia Mackey, Leah Swiss, and Katelynn Zanders all pave the path for kills this season. In Saturday's match against Dixie State, Mackey added 17 kills, while Swiss and Zanders each added nine. All three Seawolves reached double digits in kills during the tournament.
 
All-time Series: Western Oregon leads 15-14
Last Meeting: Alaska Anchorage, 0-3, at home
 
ABOUT ALASKA FAIRBANKS              
Alaska Fairbanks has not won a game yet this season after seven matches. They hosted the Flint Hills Resources Nanook Classic, where they played against Minot State, Saint Joseph's, and St. Mary's. The Nanooks then went on to play in the GNAC/Pac West Crossover Tournament in Seattle, Washington. They faced California Baptist, Academy of Art, Hawaii Pacific, and Azusa Pacific.
 
Sam Harthun leads the offense with 91 kills and an average of 3.25 kills per set this season. Miranda Grieser has contributed 135 assists, and Meagan Olsen's 111 digs has provided the defensive pillar.
 
All-time Series: Western Oregon leads 17-12
Last Meeting: Western Oregon, 3-0, at home
 
NEXT WEEK FOR WOU: The Wolves are on the road next week as they will travel to Saint Martin's on Thursday, Sept. 24, and Seattle Pacific on Saturday, Sept. 26.