NAMPA, Idaho (Sept. 12) - The UAA volleyball team got off to a rough start in league play, losing their opener 30-26, 32-30, 30-22 to host Northwest Nazarene here Thursday.

The Seawolves (4-5, 0-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) were led by 11 kills from senior middle blocker Brianne McCabe, as their four-match winning streak was snapped.

Louise Free led the Crusaders (4-3, 1-0) with 11 kills and six digs as NNU outhit UAA .292 to .156 and won the blocking battle 12-2.

The Seawolves trailed from start to finish in the first and third games, and narrowly dropped the second after leading 19-18 and forging a 30-30 tie.

Setter Kasey Kuelper led the Seawolves in both digs (12) and assists (42), but the Crusaders succeeded by shutting down UAA's leading hitter, Carolyn DeKay, who struggled with four kills and five errors.

UAA will try to get in the win column Saturday when they visit Seattle University in a 6 p.m. ADT start.