Seawolves roll to road win over MSUB

BILLINGS, Mont. – Jackie Matthisen slammed 15 kills and made 14 digs Thursday to lead Alaska Anchorage to a 25-19, 25-23, 25-20 sweep of Montana State Billings in Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball action at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The regionally 9th-ranked Seawolves (15-6, 11-2 GNAC) also got big nights from libero Quincy Haught and right-side hitter Ariel Austin to win for the 11th time in 12 matches and keep pace with Seattle Pacific – their opponent on Saturday – in the league title rice.

MSUB (9-14, 3-11) was led by 13 kills from outside hitter Monica Grimsrud, but the hosts were out-hit .257 and outblocked 12-4 as UAA swept the season series for the second straight year.

It was another historic night for Matthisen as the senior from East Anchorage High School moved into third place on the program's all-time kills list with 1,036, surpassing Brianne McCabe (1,024 from 1999-02). Her double-double marked her team-leading 10th this season and was the 30th of her three-year career.

For the first two sets it was Austin who carried the Seawolf offense, however, tallying seven of her nine kills in those frames. The Colorado native posted UAA's top hitting percent for the second straight night at .400, while tallying career-highs of three solo and seven total blocks.

The Seawolves led virtually the entire match, fending off a late Yellowjacket rally in the second when Robyn Burton earned one of her seven kills on set point. Matthisen then took over in the third with 10 kills on .571 hitting.

Haught had 21 digs for the second time in three matches, tying her own mark for the most in a 3-setter by a Seawolf this year, while Nikkie Viotto added 11 digs and four kills.

UAA and regionally 3rd-ranked SPU (18-5, 12-2) meet Saturday at 2 p.m. in Seattle.

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Players Mentioned

#RS Jackie Matthisen: MB/OH; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#9 Nikkie Viotto: DS; 5' 8"; Freshman

#4 Robyn Burton: MB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#7 Quincy Haught: DS; 5' 7"; Freshman

#5 Ariel Austin: RS; 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#RS Jackie Matthisen
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: MB/OH

#9 Nikkie Viotto
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: DS

#4 Robyn Burton
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: MB

#7 Quincy Haught
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: DS

#5 Ariel Austin
: 6' 0"; Junior
: RS