Monday, September 22, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Alaska Anchorage volleyball team’s strong first week in conference play has earned it GNAC Red Lion (@redlionhotels) Team of the Week honors.

The Seawolves started conference play off with a 5-set classic at  Western Washington. After dropping the first two sets, UAA gathered itself and stormed back for the 3-2 win over the nationally 10th-ranked Vikings.

“Our hitters and offense were just more efficient later in the match,” Alaska Anchorage head coach Chris Green said. “We knew we played poorly the first two games, but the team stepped up and made kills when we had to.”

Katelynn Zanders led the Seawolves with 25 kills and Morgan Hooe added 53 assists. Each player also had 11 digs.

The second match was a three-set road victory over Simon Fraser. With this win, the Seawolves broke the school record for consecutive road wins with 12 dating back to last season.

“It’s just worked out that way,” Green said of the 12 wins. “We don’t do anything different than at home. The coaches have more control over how the players eat and when they sleep so that might be factor.”

Julia Mackey recorded a game-high 12 kills while Kayla McGlathery finished with eight.

Going back home on Saturday, UAA brought in another impressive crowd of 1,070 to cheer on the Wolves to a four-set victory over Montana State Billings.

“It’s exciting having a crowd like that,” Green said. “The crowd we had Saturday was more than the [old arena] could hold. We appreciate it. It’s been really great.”

Erin Braun had an impressive showing against MSUB, earning 10 kills and totaling 12 points.

The Seawolves, who sit atop the GNAC rankings and are on the border of entering the Top 25 as of last week’s national rankings, finished the week with six players earning double-digit kills and five players with at least 21 digs.

“Our middle blockers have been great,” Green said. “Erin Braun and Kayla McGlathery, they just don’t make mistakes. When they get sets and kills our team is successful, but it’s really a whole team effort.”

Senior Quinn Barker recorded an impressive 68 digs in the three matches while fellow senior Brooke Pottle had 14 kills and 21 digs. As a team UAA had 164 kills, 148 assists and 26 blocks.

Alaska Anchorage will play Seattle Pacific tonight (Monday) at home before traveling to Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington on Thursday and Saturday.