The volleyball team picked up some frequent flyer miles and two wins and a loss this weekend as it traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, for the Nanook Classic.
Duke (2-1) nearly came back from a 2-0 deficit on Saturday in its final game of the tournament against UNLV, but eventually lost, 3-2. The Runnin' Rebels (3-0) won the first two games, 15-4 and 16-14, as the Blue Devils struggled with their hitting percentage. They regrouped to post 15-5 and 15-12 victories in the third and fourth games to tie up the match. But the Runnin' Rebels took the fifth and deciding game, 15-10, to hand Duke its first loss of the year. Both teams had defeated Alaska-Fairbanks and Iowa State earlier in the tournament.
Sarah Peifer posted 20 kills and six service aces for the Blue Devils. The junior outside hitter also recorded 11 digs. Junior middle blocker Jami Ediger had her strongest outing of the tournament with 17 kills and seven digs. Sophomore setter Nina Rybak set a career-high with 44 assists, but outside hitter Ashley Harris, who put up a combined 22 kills in the first two matches of the weekend, was held to six kills against UNLV.
Justine Kamelamela's match-high 25 kills led the Runnin' Rebels. Meri-de Boyer had a match-high 64 assists.
Duke kicked off its season with two three-game victories in its first two matches of the tournament. On Thursday night the Blue Devils cruised to a 15-7, 15-8, 15-6 win over host Alaska-Fairbanks (0-2). Peifer paced Duke with 13 kills and 10 digs. In her collegiate debut, Harris added a team-high 14 digs and 10 kills, while Rybak contributed 25 assists.
Kristen Sullivan had a match-high 18 digs for the Nanooks.
In Friday's 15-8, 15-13, 15-12 win over Iowa State (0-2), Harris led the Blue Devils with 12 kills, three service aces and five digs. Peifer provided a solid all-round effort with nine kills, two assists, four aces and six digs. Alaska native Megan Irvine tied Ediger for the team lead with seven digs, and freshman Pam Gottfried started three games at setter and notched 23 assists.
Virginia Hoss put up 17 kills and 10 digs for the Cyclones, and Sarah Pieper added 36 assists.
The Blue Devils play in another tournament next weekend, but this one will be closer to home. They host the Duke Classic in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Friday and Saturday, facing Coastal Carolina, Ball State and Nevada.
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