ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Junior Kim Stolk had nine kills Thursday but the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team couldn't overcome 22nd-ranked Central Washington's balanced attack as the hosts took a 30-28, 30-18, 30-19 victory at Nicholson Pavilion.
The Seawolves (5-18, 2-12 GNAC) got a team-high 13 digs from senior libero Rachael Knecht as they suffered their fifth straight loss. CWU (18-5, 9-4), ranked seventh in the latest West Region poll, improved its playoff position thanks to 14 kills from Stephanie Powell and 12 kills apiece from Kristin Pasley and Emily Veenker.
UAA hung tight in the first game, taking a late 27-26 lead on a CWU attack error. However, the Wildcats fought back with four of the last five points to claim a 1-0 lead, ending the frame on kills from Rachael Schurman and Veenker.
The Seawolves fell behind early in the second and third games and could not recover.
UAA, which got 22 assists and seven digs from freshman setter Tehane Kahalehau, next plays at 13th-ranked and league-leading Seattle Pacific on Saturday. First serve is at 6 p.m. ADT.
