ANCHORAGE -- Heather Lyons' double-double performance Saturday was not enough for the UAA volleyball team as visiting Northwest Nazarene scored a 30-24, 30-28, 24-30, 30-22 victory over the Seawolves at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
Lyons had a match-high 13 kills and 10 digs for UAA (3-8, 0-3 GNAC), but the Seawolves still suffered their fourth straight defeat and remained winless in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. NNU (6-6, 2-2) used a balanced attack, led by 12 kills apiece from Chelsea Lewis and Lindsey Fryer.
The Crusaders took advantage of a shaky Seawolf start to easily capture the first game, then held on for victory in the second when Chelsey Jones' attack went wide on game point.
UAA put its best effort together in Game 3, as Lyons banged four kills without an error, and freshman setter Tehane Kahalehau had 10 assists, six digs and three kills in the frame.
In Game 4, UAA held an early 12-11 led, but NNU took control of the match with eight straight points, and the Seawolves could get no closer than 23-20 the rest of the way.
Jones and Caitlin Grenier led UAA with five blocks apiece, while Kahalehau and freshman Pasadeanna Aukusitino made 15 digs each.
The Crusaders posted a .218 hitting percentage to UAA's .155, while the Seawolves made more digs, 78-71 and more blocks 10-8.
UAA will try to get into the GNAC win column Thursday, Sept. 21, when it travels to Lacey, Wash., to take on Saint Martin's (0-7, 0-3).
