Monday, October 7, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Alaska Anchorage volleyball team picked up a pair of sweeps at home last week over Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday to improve to 5-1 in GNAC play. For their dominant performance, the Seawolves were selected as the GNAC Team of the Week.

Alaska Anchorage had a .302 hitting percentage as a team in the win over Central Washington. Four of the Seawolves’ starters had a hitting percentage of .250 or better. The Seawolves also recorded eight blocks and 55 digs in the match.

In the rout of Northwest Nazarene, Alaska Anchorage had a hitting percentage of .305 as a team while limiting the Nighthawks to a .065 hitting percentage. The Seawolves dominated the first set, 25-7.

Junior middle blocker Kayla McGlathery was named the GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the week after leading the Seawolves with 23 kills, seven blocks and a .487 hitting percentage in the two three-set wins. McGlathery opened the week with 12 kills, three blocks, two digs and a .455 hitting percentage on Thursday against Central Washington. She followed that with 11 kills, four blocks, a dig and a .529 hitting percentage on Saturday against Northwest Nazarene.

“Central came out with excellent passing and was very sharp at the beginning of the match, but we did a nice job of hanging close until we could make our run,” head coach Chris Green said about the win over the Wildcats.

Sophomore right side hitter Eve Stephens racked up 11 kills, an ace and eight digs in the win over Central Washington then followed with 11 kills, two aces, two blocks and seven digs against Northwest Nazarene.

Setter Ellen Floyd contributed 74 assists, six blocks and 16 digs on the week, and senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes added 15 kills, an ace, two blocks and seven digs of her own in the two matches.

Libero Talia Leauanae had an impressive week on defense with 15 digs on Thursday and 12 digs on Saturday.

“Our serving was effective and we got a solid effort from our back row. Any time you’re able to hit over .300, it means you’re doing the right things, fundamentally,” Green said.

The win over NNU was Alaska Anchorage’s third straight victory. The Seawolves are now 10-4 (5-1 GNAC) on the season and sit in a tie for second place in the GNAC standings with rival Alaska.

Up next, Alaska Anchorage will look to extend its winning streak on the road as the Seawolves will travel to Oregon to play at Concordia on Thursday and at Western Oregon on Saturday.