Thursday, December 8, 2016
by Alaska Anchorage Athletic Communications

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Alaska Anchorage outside hitters Chrisalyn Johnson and Leah Swiss combined for 39 kills and 32 digs Thursday to lead their team to a 14-25, 25-22, 27-25, 25-16 victory over Angelo State in the NCAA Division II Volleyball Championships national quarterfinals at the Sanford Pentagon.

With their victory, the Seawolves (33-2) advance to the program’s first-ever NCAA semifinals appearance, Friday at 2 p.m. Alaska Standard Time (3 p.m. Pacific). Alaska Anchorage will face No. 2 Palm Beach Athletic, which defeated No. 7 seed USC-Aiken in its quarterfinal match.

The 3rd-seeded Belles (34-4) were led by 18 kills and 22 digs from outside hitter Brianna Sotello, but UAA was able to limit All-American outside hitter Mallory Blauser to 16 kills on .131 hitting thanks to 13 team blocks.

After suffering their most lopsided set loss of the season, the 6th-seeded Seawolves roared back to lead the second frame from start to finish. Building a 20-14 edge, UAA was forced to fight off a late surge by the Lone Star Conference champions, getting a kill from Johnson to clinch it.

UAA seemed well in control of the third, earning a 16-8 lead before another late ASU surge tied it 22-22. After missing a chance at one set point, the Seawolves faced a potentially deflating situation when a Blauser kill made it 25-24 for the Texans. Freshman right-side hitter Diana Fa’amausili ended a good rally with a kill, however, and teamed on a block with fellow rookie Vanessa Hayes to flip the score in UAA’s favor. Fa’amausili then converted a kill from setter Morgan Hooe on the next rally earn the set.

Angelo State took a brief 2-1 lead in the fourth set before UAA wrested control with a 7-0 run and never looked back. Swiss – an AVCA Second Team All-American – had six of her 19 kills in the frame, along with a big solo block. The Seawolves built a 20-10 lead and finished it off with Fa’amausili’s seventh kill of the day.

Johnson finished with 20 kills and 16 digs for her 12th double-double this season, while Swiss added 17 digs and three aces, claiming her team-high 14th double-double. Hayes matched her career high with seven total blocks, and Fa’amausili finished with seven blocks as well.

Along the back row, sophomore libero Kyla Militante-Amper added to her UAA single-season record with 26 digs and sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Noga had 11 digs.

Hooe – the Seawolves’ First Team All-America setter and West Region Player of the Year – dished 46 assists and tied her career high with 19 digs.

Alaska Anchorage will play in Friday’s early NCAA semifinal match at 2 p.m. AST, with live video and stats coverage at NCAA.com. For Anchorage-based fans, the Alaska Airlines Center will host a ‘Final Four Watch Party’ on the arena's big screen. Doors open at 1 p.m. AST and the event is free to the public. A concession stand will be open for food.