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No. 24 SPU rallies past UAA, 3-1

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

No. 24 SPU rallies past UAA, 3-1

SEATTLE – Alaska Anchorage's Jackie Matthisen blasted 27 kills and helped her team to a hot start Saturday, but it would not be enough as 24th-ranked Seattle Pacific rallied for a 18-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-23 victory in a showdown for first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball standings.

The loss snapped a four-match winning streak for Seawolves (15-7, 11-3 GNAC), while the Falcons (19-5, 13-2) won their sixth straight. UAA entered at No. 9 in the West Region poll, and SPU at No. 3.

SPU outside hitter Lindsey Wodrich had 22 kills, 12 digs and four blocks, and libero Anna Herold made 31 digs for the home team on Senior Day at Royal Brougham Pavilion. The Falcons also got nine kills and nine total blocks from Nikki Lowell as they dominated in team blocking, 16-7.

The Seawolves looked sharp early, getting an incredible 11 kills on 20 attempts with no errors (.550) from Matthisen in the first set. Setter Kimya Jafroudi also had 14 of her career-high 52 assists in the opening frame.

UAA could not hold onto its momentum, however, with SPU scoring six of the final eight points to earn the second set. The Falcons used a 5-0 run midway through the third to take command of that set, and took an early advantage in the fourth.

After calling timeout down 19-15, the Seawolves rallied to knot the score at 20 on consecutive kills from Nikkie Viotto, Matthisen and Robyn Burton. After forging another tie at 22, however, the Seawolves committed a service error to fall behind for the final time. Matthisen saved one match point with her final kill before Wodrich converted the clinching kill.

Burton finished with 12 kills and three blocks, while Viotto and right-side hitter Ariel Austin tallied nine kills apiece. Matthisen's 27 kills were one shy of her career-high and the most for a Seawolf this year. She also made 14 digs to earn her 11th double-double of 2011.

Along the back row, sophomore libero Quincy Haught was also one short of a career-best with 24 digs, while sophomore defensive specialist Siobhan Johansen made a career-high 15 digs.

The teams split the regular-season series after UAA's 3-1 victory in Anchorage on Sept. 29.

The Seawolves have four matches remaining as they chase a third straight NCAA berth, beginning Thursday at home against Northwest Nazarene. UAA will be trying to avenge one of its three league losses when it hosts the Crusaders for a 7 p.m. first serve at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.


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Players Mentioned

Jackie Matthisen

#RS Jackie Matthisen

MB/OH
5' 11"
Sophomore
Nikkie Viotto

#9 Nikkie Viotto

DS
5' 8"
Freshman
Robyn Burton

#4 Robyn Burton

MB
5' 11"
Freshman
Quincy Haught

#7 Quincy Haught

DS
5' 7"
Freshman
Siobhan Johansen

#10 Siobhan Johansen

S
5' 7"
Freshman
Ariel Austin

#5 Ariel Austin

RS
6' 0"
Junior
Kimya Jafroudi

#11 Kimya Jafroudi

S
5' 7"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jackie Matthisen

#RS Jackie Matthisen

5' 11"
Sophomore
MB/OH
Nikkie Viotto

#9 Nikkie Viotto

5' 8"
Freshman
DS
Robyn Burton

#4 Robyn Burton

5' 11"
Freshman
MB
Quincy Haught

#7 Quincy Haught

5' 7"
Freshman
DS
Siobhan Johansen

#10 Siobhan Johansen

5' 7"
Freshman
S
Ariel Austin

#5 Ariel Austin

6' 0"
Junior
RS
Kimya Jafroudi

#11 Kimya Jafroudi

5' 7"
Junior
S