ANCHORAGE (Oct. 29) - The Seawolf volleyball team played one of its best matches of the season but fell just short of victory as Western Washington prevailed 30-27, 27-30, 30-26, 28-30, 15-10 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex tonight.

Five players reached double-figure kills for UAA (10-12, 4-10 GNAC), led by 18 from Carolyn DeKay and 17 from Jenny Mitchell. The Vikings (13-7, 9-4) boosted their postseason hopes as Meghan Evoy and Kristy Carstensen combined for 44 kills.

UAA's Diana Gordon was outstanding along the back row with a career-high and team season-best 36 digs, just three short of Jen Szczerbinski's school record. Gordon also recorded a career-high 10 kills for her first ever double-double.

In the final game, UAA fell behind 5-0 before recovering to tie it 8-8 on a booming kill by DeKay. The Vikings then took control with the next five points and won on Rachael Knecht's setting error on match point.

DeKay, who missed the last two matches with a back injury, committed just one attack error for an outstanding .515 hitting percentage. The junior from Eagle River also moved past Vanessa Tsukano (880 from 1997-2000) for sixth place on UAA's career kills list with 886.

Mitchell played well also, getting 16 digs to record her team-best seventh double-double of the season. Middle blockers Katina Ozrelic and Mindy Lindquist delivered 14 kills each for the Seawolves.

Freshman Kortney Kuelper came off the bench to make 11 digs in the first action of her career. The East High product also had one of UAA's team season-high 11 aces.

The match extended WWU's win streak in the series to nine, with UAA's last victory coming in 1998.

UAA returns to action Saturday night when it hosts Seattle Pacific at the WFSC. First serve is 7:05 p.m.