ANCHORAGE (Sept. 1) - Nebraska-Kearney's Miranda Rhodes had 28 kills to help her team to a 30-19, 23-30, 26-30, 30-22, 15-7 victory over the Seawolf volleyball team tonight in the championship match of the UAA Invitational.

Senior Marise Knock had 15 kills and 23 digs for UAA (3-3), which was trying to win its tournament for the first time in eight tries. Setter Melissa Carper had 59 assists for the ninth-ranked Lopers (7-1).

Rhodes, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, compiled her 28 kills in only 55 attempts with five errors. She also tallied five blocks.

UAA was led byunior Brianne Halling, who equaled her career-high with 17 kills. Halling had zero attack errors in 31 attempts (.548). Seawolf setter Janelle Veith, outside hitter Carolyn DeKay and Knock were named to the All-Tournament team.

The Lopers had not lost a game in the tournament, but the Seawolves took Games 2 and 3 of the title match behind DeKay, who tallied 11 of her 16 kills in those frames. But the Lopers took control in the fourth and fifth, with the Seawolves never threatening the lead.

Earlier, in the third-place match, St. Joseph's (3-4) defeated San Francisco State (0-9) behind 18 kills from All-Tournament selection Jill Ryan. The Pumas won 30-16, 30-20, 26-30, 30-27.

The Seawolves wind up their non-conference schedule next weekend at the Capital City Classic in Charleston, W.Va., where they will face West Virginia State, host Charleston, Wheeling Jesuit and Ashland (Ohio).

All-Tournament Team

Carolyn DeKay, UAA

Marise Knock, UAA

Jill Ryan, St. Joseph's

Kendra Schroer, Nebraska-Kearney

Melissa Carper, Nebraska-Kearney

Janelle Veith, UAA



Most Outstanding Player - Miranda Rhodes, Nebraska-Kearney