ANCHORAGE ? Joanna Johnson tied for match-high honors with 11 kills Thursday, but a short-handed Alaska Anchorage volleyball team was unable to keep up with Great Northwest Athletic Conference co-leader Western Oregon, falling 30-19, 30-21, 30-22 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves (5-9, 1-7 GNAC), who were competing without top player Rhea Cardwell, got nine digs apiece from Johnson, Rachel Kidwell, Samantha Calderwood and Cristal Negron. WOU (10-5, 7-1) was led by an 11-kill, 11-dig showing from Haley Kostrba as the Wolves remained in a first-place tie with Western Washington.

It was a tough night for the Seawolves, who earlier this week found out that Cardwell would miss at least two weeks because of a stress fracture in her lower left leg. Without Cardwell's 3.34 kills and 3.84 digs per game, UAA was outhit .274 to .093 and outdug 62-41.

UAA led the blocking category for just the second time this year, 8-5, including a pair of solos by senior Kim Stolk.

The Wolves, meanwhile, were efficient in spreading their offense, getting nine kills apiece by Stacey Bennett and Lisa Martini, and eight more from Sharon Peterson and Kayla Mainer. Starting setter Amy Herron dished 38 assists despite sharing playing time in the third game.

The Seawolves will try to get back on track Saturday when they host Saint Martin's at the WFSC at 7 p.m.