Friday, November 18, 2022
by Alaska Anchorage Athletic Communications

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Senior right-side hitter Eve Stephens had 20 kills and Ellen Floyd dished 43 assists, but a historic season abruptly ended Thursday for No. 4 ranked Alaska Anchorage as Chaminade earned a 25-20, 22-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12 upset in the NCAA Division II West Region Volleyball Championships first round at Western Washington's Carver Gym.

The top-seeded Seawolves (27-3) also got 14 kills from senior outside hitter Lisa Jaunet, but could not slow the attack of the eighth-seeded Silverswords (25-7), who hit .292 and produced an 88-54 advantage in digs.

Chaminade was led by 20 kills on .389 hitting by Sasha Colombo, 17 kills on .471 hitting and 12 digs from Greta Corti, and 34 digs, 12 assists and three aces from libero Nanna Inoue.

After beating Chaminade in three sets Aug. 20 in Honolulu, UAA fell victim to .529 hitting by the PacWest Conference champions in the opening set of the rematch. The Seawolves responded by hitting .316 to win the second set, and came through with an impressive late run to take the third. Stephens had five kills in that frame and freshman defensive specialist Madison Galloway made a diving play in the late going to help the Seawolves win a key rally.

The GNAC champions had a chance to complete their comeback with a 20-18 lead in the fourth, but the Silverswords answered with a 7-1 run to send it the distance.

The fifth set stayed within a two-point spread until the final rally, with the Silverswords snapping a 12-12 tie on consecutive kills by Lataisia Saulala and Corti, who then paired for the block on match point.

UAA was led by 20 digs from senior ibero Talia Leauanae, while sophomore middle blocker Isabel Evans delivered a match-high seven total blocks.

The GNAC and West Region Player of the Year, Stephens accounted for three aces and a match-high 24 total points, finishing her career with GNAC and school records of 2,293 points and 1,926 kills.

Meanwhile, Floyd had five kills and 13 digs in her 134th and final collegiate match. The First Team All-West Region performer finished as the UAA and GNAC career leader in aces (213) and the UAA career leader in assists (4,773), coming just seven assists shy of tying that league mark. The Pensacola., Fla., native also equaled the most sets played (495) in UAA history, tying Jen Szczerbinski (1988-92) and Tracy Zink (1987-90) atop that list.