ANCHORAGE (Oct. 18) - O'Lita McWilliams had career-highs of 26 kills and 28 digs to help the UAA volleyball team to a thrilling 36-34, 32-34, 32-30, 22-30, 15-11 victory over arch-rival Alaska Fairbanks at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex tonight.

The Seawolves (11-7, 5-5 GNAC) also got 19 kills from Mindy Cason as they avenged an earlier loss to the Nanooks (9-6, 6-4). UAF got 25 kills and 18 digs from Mallory Bergstrom and 23 kills and 12 digs from Danielle Hitzeman.

Both teams had at least one chance at game point in the first three games before UAF pulled away with the fourth. UAA won a defense-oriented fifth game with just a .115 hitting percentage to UAF's .033. McWilliams had three kills, including match point, and four digs in that decisive frame.

McWilliams' 28 digs were the most for a Seawolf since Janelle Veith had 32 on Sept. 7, 2000. Four other Seawolves - Kalie Davis (career-high 19), Michelle Garvin (17), Kirsten Hunley (16) and Kasey Kuelper (13) - had double-figure digs as UAA wound up with a season-high 105.

UAF managed just 77 digs, but stayed in the match by outblocking the Seawolves 19-12. The Nanooks were hurt by 10 service errors, with several coming at key points late in games.

Kuelper tied her season-high with 64 digs, going over the 60 plateau for the sixth time this year. The senior setter also finished with a career-best eight kills and 22 attempts.

Junior middle blocker Katina Ozrelic finished with 11 kills, six block assists and a career-high seven digs in front of the season-high crowd of 821.

UAA now leads the all-time series with UAF 49-27 and has won eight of the last nine meetings at the Sports Complex.

The Seawolves will try to climb above .500 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play when they host Western Oregon (Oct. 24) and Humboldt State (Oct. 25) at the Sports Complex next weekend. Both matches begin at 7:05 p.m.