ANCHORAGE ? Another huge double-double from Rhea Cardwell wasn't enough Saturday to save the Seawolf volleyball team from its fifth straight loss as Montana State Billings earned a 31-29, 30-17, 27-30, 30-25 win at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
UAA (4-7, 0-5 GNAC) lost despite its best blocking performance of the season with 14, and its second-highest hitting percentage this year at .203.
MSUB (11-3, 5-1 GNAC) remained in a first-place tie as the first-year Great Northwest Athletic member received big kills performances from its stars Devon Crotteau (23 kills, 19 digs) and Alicia Cazemier (20 kills).
The Yellowjackets have won five straight to remain knotted with Western Oregon atop the league standings.
UAA junior middle blocker Jessica Morehouse also was key to keeping the Seawolves close throughout, hitting a career-high .600 (9 kills-0 errors-15 attempts), while junior outside hitter Joanna Johnson had 12 kills and four block assists, and senior middle blocker Kim Stolk added 10 kills and seven total blocks.
The Seawolves seemed on the ropes after getting blown out in the second game, but they bounced back in the third frame behind four kills from Cardwell and four total blocks from Stolk.
UAA took an early lead in the fourth game and hung tight, trailing 22-21, before the Yellowjackets pulled away for the victory.
Seawolf setter Milica Micovic dished 49 assists in the loss.
UAA takes to the road next week when it visits defending league champ Seattle Pacific on Sept. 27 (6 p.m. ADT) and Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 29 (5 p.m. ADT).
