Thursday, October 20, 2011

Alaska Anchorage got big performances up and down the lineup Thursday as the Seawolves moved into a first-place tie in the GNAC race by defeating Western Washington, 25-12, 25-23, 25-15 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex in Anchorage.

Jackie Matthisen led UAA (13-6, 9-2), which has won nine of its last 10 matches, with a match-high 12 kills, while setter Kimya Jafroudi had 35 assists, 12 digs and three blocks.

Western Washington (11-5, 9-3), which came in with a half-match lead over UAA and Seattle Pacific, got seven kills apiece from Marlayna Geary and Breanne Graham and held the Vikings to a .051 percentage.

Seattle Pacific (15-5, 9-2), which is now tied for first with Alaska Anchorage, defeated Saint Martin's, 25-19, 25-8, 25-18.

Elsewhere Thursday, Western Oregon beat Montana State Billings, 25-18, 25-21, 25-17, and Simon Fraser ended a long losing streak outscoring Alaska Fairbanks, 14-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-13, 15-13.

Alaska Anchorage, which hit .250, took control early in the first and third sets and was never threatened in those frames in its win.

The second set was a different story, however, as the Vikings grabbed a 17-15 lead with a four-point run and seemed on the verge of knotting the match with a 23-21 edge.

Robyn Burton delivered a kill on the next point and, following a timeout, Nikkie Viotto tied it with one of her three service aces.

Matthisen, who increased her career total to 1,003 kills, then ripped a kill, and the Seawolves took the set when Geary's sharp-angle attack curved out of bounds.

Burton, Viotto and Ariel Austin, who had a match high .389 percentage, each had eight kills. Quincy Haught led UAA with 21 digs.

Shelby Swanson had 45 assists, tying the most in a three-set match this season in the GNAC, in leading Seattle Pacific past Saint Martin's.

SPU hit .379 as Cailin Fellows had 19 kills and a .533 percentage. Also in double figures was Lindsey Wodrich with 11 kills. Nikki Lowell hit at a .545 pace (7-1-11).

Swanson had two aces and a kill along with her assists, while Anna Herold had a match-high 21 digs.

Kristeen Juarez led Saint Martin's (4-14, 3-9) with seven kills. Kristyn Ross and Katy Ferguson had six each.

Krissi Kemper led Western Oregon (9-7, 8-4) with 11 kills as it disposed of MSU Billings in 69 minutes. Kemper hit for a .458 percentage (11-0-24).

Becky Blees had eight kills and five blocks for the Wolves while Danielle Reese had seven kills and also had five blocks.

Monica Grimsrud and Krista Norris each had nine kills for MSUB (9-11, 3-8). The Wolves, who limted MSUB to one team block, outhit the 'Jackets .263 to .140.

Simon Fraser (1-15, 1-11) won the final two sets to defeat Alaska Fairbanks (2-17, 2-9) and end a 20-match losing streak dating back to its final five matches of the 2010 season.

Jessica Young led the Clan with 14 kills and three aces and Chelsea Elvy had 11 kills. Kristjana Fridfinnson contributed nine kills and also had a team-high five blocks.

Casey Tidwell led Alaska Fairbanks (2-17, 2-9) with 16 kills and Keri Knight had 12. Morgan Tebbs was credited with seven blocks including two solos.