ANCHORAGE -- The Seawolf volleyball team got off to a quick start Thursday in their Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener but couldn't keep the pace as 18th-ranked Seattle Pacific emerged with a 28-30, 30-18, 30-23, 30-25 victory at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.Sophomore Heather Lyons led UAA (3-6, 0-1 GNAC) with 10 kills, while junior Paepaetele Poasa had 14 digs. SPU (9-2, 1-0) was powered by Angie Wodrich's 15 kills and 13 digs, and Jenna Von Moos' 43 assists.
UAA took advantage of 15 Falcon hitting errors to capture the first game, coming back from a 28-26 deficit with the final four points. Sophomore Caitlin Grenier had two service aces in the winning rally.
But SPU regained its composure in the second game and kept the pressure on UAA's defense with solid hitting by Wodrich and all-league outside hitter Alyssa Given (14 kills).
Grenier and Poasa had eight kills apiece for the Seawolves, while senior libero Rachael Knecht made 12 digs. Setter Tehane Kahalehau finished with 32 assists, seven kills and nine digs.
The Seawolves get another shot at a ranked team Saturday when they host No. 15 Central Washington at the WFSC at 7 p.m.
