Alaska Nanooks weekly update: Oct. 23
October 23, 2018
LAST WEEK: Idle | THIS WEEK: vs. #17 Jacksonville State University (Oct. 25, Oct. 27 and Oct. 28)
After sweeping Ohio State and Nebraska two weeks ago, the No. 4 Alaska Nanooks coed rifle team returns to the range this week, as they host the No. 17 Jacksonville State Gamecocks in three separate matches. The Nooks kick things off on Thursday, Oct. 25, at the E.F. Horton Rifle Range in the Patty Center, before taking on the Gamecocks at the Tanana Valley Sportsmen’s Association on Saturday, Oct. 27. Jacksonville State and Alaska will close out the weekend back at the E.F. Horton Rifle Range on Sunday, Oct. 28. All three matches will feature two relays with the first beginning at 9 a.m., while the second relay is slated for 1:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL | 11-10 Overall, 8-6 GNAC
LAST WEEK: 1-1 | THIS WEEK: at Concordia (Oct. 25), at Western Oregon (Oct. 27)
The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team split at home last week, edging Simon Fraser 3-2 before falling to the then-No. 4th-ranked Western Washington Vikings 3-0 on Saturday. The loss to WWU snapped a seven-match conference winning streak for the Nanooks, a program-best since joining the GNAC in 2001. Alaska will hit the road this weekend, taking on the Concordia Cavaliers in Portland, Oregon on Thursday, Oct. 25 before heading to Monmouth, Oregon to face the Western Oregon Wolves on Saturday, Oct. 27. Thursday’s match is scheduled for 6 p.m. Alaska time, while Saturday’s contest is set for 1 p.m. Alaska time.
HOCKEY | 0-5-1 Overall, 0-0-0-0 WCHA
LAST WEEK: 0-1-1 at #9 Denver | THIS WEEK: at #7 Minnesota State Mankato (Oct. 26-27)
The Alaska Nanooks hockey team continues their two-week road trip after going 0-1-1 against the No. 9 Denver Pioneers last weekend. The Nanooks fell 4-1 on Friday at Magness Arena before skating to a 3-3 overtime tie on Saturday. Alaska opens up Western Collegiate Hockey Association play this weekend against the No. 7 Minnesota State Mavericks this Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Verizon Center in Mankato, Minnesota. Puck-drop both nights is scheduled for 4:07 p.m. Alaska time.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
LAST WEEK: Idle | THIS WEEK: vs. Alumni (Nov. 3)
The Alaska Nanooks women’s basketball team will be hosting its annual alumni game this Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Alaska Airlines Court at the Patty Center. Get your first glimpse of the 2018-2019 Nanooks with the scrimmage set to take place at 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
@NanooksHockey’s Martinsson named WCHA Goaltender of the Week
On Monday, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association named Alaska hockey’s junior goaltender Anton Martinsson the WCHA Goaltender of the Week. The honor is Martinsson’s third of his career, first of the season, and Alaska’s first conference honor of the season. The Klippan, Sweden, native led all conference netminders over the weekend in minutes (123:26), saves (64), shots (70) and save percentage (.914). In Friday’s 4-1 loss, Martinsson collected a record night, making a single-game personal-best 39 saves.
Martinsson now ranks first among WCHA netminders in minutes (262:25), saves (126) and shots (140).
@NanooksMBB’s Baham named to preseason All-GNAC Team
Last Thursday, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced its 2018-2019 men’s basketball preseason all-conference team, which featured Alaska Nanooks senior guard Alex Baham. Baham becomes the first Alaska player to earn a preseason honor under first-year head coach Greg Sparling and the first Nanook to receive preseason recognition since the 2016-2017 season.
Last season, Baham was the only Alaska player to appear and start in each of the Nanooks’ 26 contests last season, averaging 11.5 points per game. As one of the league’s best three-point shooters, Baham was named an All-GNAC Honorable Mention last spring.
Nanooks of the Week
On Monday, the Alaska Nanooks sports information office declared redshirt-freshman Kaia Norbye (swimming) and junior Jacob Walsh (men’s cross country running) the Oct. 22 selections for the Alaska Nanooks of the Week.
Kaia Norbye | R-Fr. | Karasjok, Norway
The Alaska Nanooks swim team opened the 2018-2019 season against the Azusa Pacific Cougars last weekend, defeating APU 108-95 on Friday before falling 107-98 on Saturday. Out of the six events Norbye competed in, the Karasjok, Norway, native placed first overall in four events and second overall in the remaining two. Norbye took first in the 400-yard medley relay (3:58.71), the 50-yard free on Friday (00:24.46) and Saturday (00:24.57) and the 200-yard medley relay (1:49.55), before taking second in the 100-yard freestyle (00:53.22) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:52.00).
Jacob Walsh | Jr. | Eagle River, Alaska
Walsh was the first Alaska Nanook from the men’s cross country running team to cross the finish line on Saturday, as the Nooks competed in the 45th annual Western Washington Cross Country Invitational at the Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham. In a field of 163 harriers, Walsh placed 81st overall with a 10km time of 34:53.0 for 58 points.
Nanooks Ski Team Day at Beaver Sports on Oct. 26
The Alaska Nanooks men's and women's Nordic ski teams have partnered up with Beaver Sports for their annual Ski Team Day on Friday, Oct. 26. Fifteen percent of all regular sales will be donated to the Alaska Nanooks ski team that day. Anyone who makes an additional cash donation of $5 or more will receive 20 percent off any clothing purchased that day. At 6pm AKT, Alaska Nanooks Nordic ski team head coach Nick Crawford will be hosting a free waxing clinic.
Women's basketball meet and greet on Nov. 2 at Mt. McKinley Bank
Come and meet your 2018-2019 Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team at Mt. McKinley Bank on Nov. 2 during First Friday! The event is free and open to all ages. There will be autograph signings, giveaways and free food and beverages. The event will take place from 4-6 p.m. inside Mt. McKinley Bank, 500 4th Ave., Fairbanks.
Tickets for women's basketball vs. Oregon on sale now
Tickets for the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball exhibition game against the University of Oregon Ducks on Tuesday, Nov. 6, are currently on sale. With limited seating available, fans can purchase their tickets at the Alaska Nanooks Ticketing Office located in the lobby of the Patty Center or online here >> http://bit.ly/2PCWbir
2018-2019 season tickets on sale
Season ticket packages for the upcoming Alaska Nanooks hockey, men's basketball and women's basketball games are now on sale at the Alaska Nanooks ticketing office located in the lobby of the Patty Center. The office is open Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturdays from noon-6 p.m. during weeks when hockey is home. For all ticketing information, including pricing for season ticketing packages and single-game tickets, visit http://bit.ly/2NqvyA3.
Follow the Nanooks
Keep up with your favorite Alaska Nanooks teams and players in their weekly practices, community service projects and in-game updates through social media.
Alaska Nanooks: @alaskananooks (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks (Facebook) | alaskananooks (Instagram)
MXC/WXC & MSKI/WKI: @AlaskaNanooksXC (Twitter) |Alaska Nanooks XC (FB)
HOCKEY: @NanooksHockey (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks Hockey (FB)
MBB: @NanooksMBB (Twitter)
RIFLE: Alaska Nanooks Rifle (FB)
SWIM: @NanooksSwim (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks Swimming (FB)
VB: @NanooksVB (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks Volleyball (FB)
WBB: @NanooksWBB (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball (FB)
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks, follow @AlaskaNanooks on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks page on Facebook.