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Spikers stay hot with sweep of Nanooks

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

Spikers stay hot with sweep of Nanooks

ANCHORAGE – Sophomore outside hitter McKenzie Moss notched a double-double and host Alaska Anchorage used a huge blocking advantage Wednesday to earn its 10th consecutive victory with a 25-18, 25-23, 25-22 sweep of arch-rival Alaska Fairbanks at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves (20-7, 12-2 GNAC) also got 13 kills from sophomore hitter Jackie Matthisen, plus a match-high 15 digs from senior libero Stacie Meisner, as they notched the program's first 20-win season since 1996.

UAF (11-13, 5-8) got a match-high 14 kills from senior Megan Thigpen, but the Nanooks saw their three-match winning streak end.

The victory puts the regionally 5th-ranked Seawolves two matches ahead of Seattle Pacific (15-9, 9-3) in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings and clinches at least second place – easily the program's best finish in the league's nine-year history.

After pulling away from a 10-10 tie to win the opening set, the Seawolves spotted the Nanooks advantages in the second and third frames.

Trailing 22-23 in the second, UAA caught a break when UAF senior Heather Lyons served into the net to tie it. Senior setter Calli Scott (match-high 33 assists) then converted on a quick attack, and Meisner served one of her three aces to take a 2-sets-to-0 lead.

Facing a 14-18 deficit in the third, Matthisen banged a kill to start an 8-1 Seawolf run. At 22-21, UAA's Cortney Lundberg and Marie Borowikow combined to block Lyons, and the Seawolves would win on two more Nanook attack errors.

The Seawolves had a 14-6 edge in the blocking department, equaling the best 3-set performance in the GNAC this year.

Moss finished with 11 kills, 10 digs and a career-best five total blocks (2 solo), while Scott had a near-perfect hitting night with five kills on six attempts (.833). Senior middle blocker Ashley Bates was huge as well, notching all seven of her career-high blocks in the final two sets.

Borowikow tallied five block assists, while Lundberg – the GNAC's leading blocker – notched seven kills and four block assists.

With a victory in their next match, against Northwest Nazarene (Thur., Nov. 12, 7 p.m., WFSC), the Seawolves would tie the school record for consecutive victories and move another step closer to their first NCAA playoff appearance since 1990.


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Players Mentioned

Heather Lyons

#1 Heather Lyons

OH
5' 11"
Sophomore
Ashley Bates

#7 Ashley Bates

MB
6' 0"
Junior
Cortney Lundberg

#13 Cortney Lundberg

MB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Jackie Matthisen

#RS Jackie Matthisen

MB/OH
5' 11"
Sophomore
Stacie Meisner

#14 Stacie Meisner

L
5' 8"
Junior
McKenzie Moss

#6 McKenzie Moss

OH
5' 11"
Freshman
Calli Scott

#4 Calli Scott

S
5' 8"
Junior
Marie Borowikow

#13 Marie Borowikow

OH
6' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Heather Lyons

#1 Heather Lyons

5' 11"
Sophomore
OH
Ashley Bates

#7 Ashley Bates

6' 0"
Junior
MB
Cortney Lundberg

#13 Cortney Lundberg

6' 1"
Sophomore
MB
Jackie Matthisen

#RS Jackie Matthisen

5' 11"
Sophomore
MB/OH
Stacie Meisner

#14 Stacie Meisner

5' 8"
Junior
L
McKenzie Moss

#6 McKenzie Moss

5' 11"
Freshman
OH
Calli Scott

#4 Calli Scott

5' 8"
Junior
S
Marie Borowikow

#13 Marie Borowikow

6' 3"
Freshman
OH