FAIRBANKS, Alaska --- The Western Oregon volleyball team had showed signs of improvement from a year ago in a 4-4 start to this season - already equaling their 2021 win total.

Thursday night opening GNAC play at a 10-2 Alaska Fairbanks team that had won seven straight matches - WOU announced to the rest of the conference it is, in fact, a different squad.

The Wolves battled with the Nanooks in a five-set thriller, beating Alaska Fairbanks 3-2 (19-25, 29-27, 25-20, 20-25, 15-10) at the Patty Center. 

The win snaps an eight-match losing streak to the Nanooks and is WOU's first win in Fairbanks since 2016.

WOU after dropping the first set 25-19, trailed 23-19 in the second set and appeared doomed to go down 2-0 before a  Sarah Crowell kill ignited a 5-0 run for the Wolves to give them set point at 24-23. WOU eventually trailed 27-26 before a kill by Madison Hornback, a Kiana Pel ace and a block by Hornback closed out the second set to even it up at 1-1.

The Wolves fell behind 5-0 in the third set before eventually evening it up at 12-12. The score was 16-16 when a 7-1 run for WOU capped by a Chloe Asciutto block made it 23-17 before eventually winning the set 25-20.

After dropping the fourth set 25-20, the Wolves never trailed in the fifth set - using a 6-0 run that included kills from Hornback and Ella Nordquist to pull away for the 15-10 win.

Crowell paced the Wolves with 16 kills while Hornback had 15 kills, 14 digs, two aces and three blocks. Bailee Hartsook added 11 kills as well. Laney O'Neil had 27 assists while Sophie Casarez had 22. Ally Henry finished with 21 digs and 10 assists.

WOU returns to action Saturday night as it takes on No. 16 Alaska Anchorage.