FAIRBANKS, Alaska (Sept. 10, 2021) – The (RV) Colorado State Pueblo University volleyball team preserved its perfect start with two wins on the first day of the Nanook Classic. The ThunderWolves grinded out a 3-2 win over (RV) Alaska Anchorage and then swept Ursuline College 3-0 to end the day.

Match 1 | (RV) CSU Pueblo 3 – (RV) Alaska Anchorage 2

The ThunderWolves kicked off the day with a morning match against another team receiving votes in the University of Alaska Anchorage. CSU Pueblo started off the first set with a quick 4-1 lead off a Hannah Delor ace and a Megan Mattingly kill.

After the Pack got to an 8-7 lead, the momentum quickly shifted. The Seawolves were able to go on a 7-1 run and take a commanding advantage.

The Pack tried to make a surge later in the set. Mattingly logged another kill and was followed by a Jazzy Espinoza block as well as an Elaine Thibadeau ace. The Seawolves stifled the comeback attempt and put the first set away 25-17.

Entering the second set, it seemed the Seawolves would carry their momentum throughout the frame. The Pack rallied their way back from down 8-4, to only trailing 12-10. With fuel from a Delor ace, the ThunderWolves took a 13-12 lead.

The set became back-and-forth jousting with neither team going on any run longer than 3-0.

Finally, the Pack were able to gain control and finish the set on a 5-1 run that was capped off by a Mattingly kill. Following the 25-21 set two win, the Pack found themselves in a 1-1 battle.

The ThunderWolves started off the third set at a disadvantage, dropping to a 9-4 deficit early. After trailing by as many as eight, the Pack got back within five following a Grace Hern kill. Three points later, Espinoza made the score 17-14 with a kill of her own, but it was ultimately to no prevail.

The Seawolves took the third set 25-19 and got within one set win of taking the match.

The fourth set was a battle of wills between the evenly matched opponents. Jessica Amend logged three aces early and jumped the Pack ahead 6-2 to kick off the set. Later, the Seawolves gained an 11-7 lead and looked to be trying to run away with the fourth set.

The Pack responded in a big way. Thibadeau stepped up to the plate for the Pack and gave consistent serves. During the 8-0 run, Thibadeau logged three service aces while Espinoza and Kasey Jahnke helped the cause with kills of their own.

The ThunderWolves gained a 23-20 lead, but Anchorage was not finished yet. After a 5-0 run, the Seawolves pushed the match to run long. Needing to win by two, Delor got the Pack within one point of taking the match again, giving CSU Pueblo a 26-25 advantage.

The Seawolves tied it back up at 26. To the fortune of the Pack, the Seawolves committed two attack errors and allowed CSU Pueblo to stay alive and push the match to five sets with a 28-26.

The fifth set was all business for the ThunderWolves. Payton Stack started off a 4-0 run with a kill which was followed up by three more by Mattingly.

The Seawolves were able to get it back to 9-8, but CSU Pueblo would not yield this time. Espinoza took over the set and recorded four straight kills. Stack put an exclamation on the match and clinched the 15-9 fifth set match win with another kill.

Stack finished the opening match win with a team-high 13 kills followed by Mattingly's 12. Hern led the assist category for the match with 21 on the morning. Thibadeau led the way with 14 digs.

Espinoza tallied seven blocks while Milica Djukic and Stack each logged four.

Game 2 | CSU Pueblo 3 – Ursuline 0

The second match of the long day at the Nanook classic went more according to plan for the Pack. After resting following the morning five-set grind, the ThunderWolves came back fiercer than ever to face Ursuline.

The first set saw a lopsided domination frame by the Pack. The ThunderWolves never trailed by any significant margin and ran away with the frame in convincing 25-17 fashion. The Pack had even performances and limited any significant Ursuline run.

The second set was in Pack control even more than the first. The set was never in danger and the ThunderWolves were able to cruise to the victory. Once again, the set was never in danger for the ThunderWolves, and they were able to take a commanding and momentum shifting 2-0 lead.

Finally, CSU Pueblo faced down the Arrows and tried to clinch a 3-0 sweep in the final match of the day.

This time, the Arrows challenged the Pack to the very end. Although the ThunderWolves were able to fend off the challenges, Ursuline got within two points at 24-22 near the end.

The Pack were able to put things away and clinch a 25-22 third set win and clinch another three-set sweep.

The sweep marks the Pack's fourth of the season and put the team 6-0 for the first time since 2012. CSU Pueblo finished the second match with 38 kills, 33 assists, 50 digs and 18 block assists.

The ThunderWolves were led by Jahnke, Delor, and Stack with nine kills apiece. Espinoza and Jahnke finished with an impressive .500 attack percentage. Hern led the way with 12 assists and was followed closely by Amend's 11. Thibadeau led the digs category for the second time of the day with 18.

The second day of the Nanook Classic will begin for the Pack at 4:30 p.m. MDT against another challenge, (RV) California State, Los Angeles. The Pack then stare down the Classic's host, Alaska Fairbanks at 9:30 p.m.