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Veterans power Seawolves past Wildcats

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

Veterans power Seawolves past Wildcats

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Alaska Anchorage volleyball team got big nights from outside hitters Jackie Matthisen and Nikkie Viotto on Thursday as the Seawolves won their seventh straight match with a 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 decision over Central Washington at Nicholson Pavilion.

The Seawolves (11-5, 7-1 GNAC) also got 37 assists from reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week Kimya Jafroudi to remain tied for first place in the league.

Outside hitter Jordan Offutt led the Wildcats (9-7, 3-5) with 12 kills, but the home team was out-hit .230 to .171 as the Seawolves won for the sixth time in the last seven meetings and avenged a shutout loss here from last season.

Matthisen finished with 18 kills on .318 hitting and had six digs, while Viotto notched her third career double-double with 10 kills – including match point – and 13 digs. Sophomore libero Quincy Haught also continued her fine play with 18 digs for the third straight match.

All three sets were close throughout, with the largest lead being three points for either team. The Seawolves, however, maintained narrow advantages late in each frame and came up with key plays every time the Wildcats tied or came close.

Tied at 23 in the opener, the Seawolves got a break with a CWU service error, and Matthisen and Robyn Burton combined to block Offutt on set point. After trading points for seemingly the entire second set, the Seawolves again earned the last two points on a Matthisen kill and an attack error by Offutt.

With the score 19-19 late in the third, the Seawolves took a timeout and responded by winning a marathon point that ended with a Wildcat setting error. Matthisen followed with another kill and fellow senior McKenzie Moss served an ace to make it 22-19. The Seawolves would seal it with kills from true freshman Alyssa Paisley, Matthisen and Viotto to record just their second sweep in 30 all-time meetings against the Wildcats. UAA had not swept CWU since 1981.

“Jackie was really at the top of her game tonight,” said UAA head coach Chris Green. “She was able to see the openings in the defense and hit it effectively off their block. Overall, I'm proud of the way our team responded in a tough environment where we had our worst match a year ago.”

Junior right-side hitter Ariel Austin had six kills and three block assists, and Paisley delivered a solid match filling in for injured starter Miranda Doing. The 6-2 rookie from Murrieta, Calif., had her first two career kills and came up with four total blocks, including a big solo midway through the third set.

The Seawolves take their road show to Nampa, Idaho, on Saturday, where they will face Northwest Nazarene (8-5, 5-3) at 5 p.m. ADT. UAA is currently tied with Western Washington for the league lead, with WWU traveling to fellow contender Seattle Pacific on Saturday.
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Players Mentioned

Jackie Matthisen

#RS Jackie Matthisen

MB/OH
5' 11"
Sophomore
McKenzie Moss

#6 McKenzie Moss

OH
5' 11"
Freshman
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
Ariel Austin

#5 Ariel Austin

RS
6' 0"
Junior
Miranda Doing

#14 Miranda Doing

MB
5' 11"
Junior
Kimya Jafroudi

#11 Kimya Jafroudi

S
5' 7"
Junior
Alyssa Paisley

#15 Alyssa Paisley

MB
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jackie Matthisen

#RS Jackie Matthisen

5' 11"
Sophomore
MB/OH
McKenzie Moss

#6 McKenzie Moss

5' 11"
Freshman
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
Ariel Austin

#5 Ariel Austin

6' 0"
Junior
RS
Miranda Doing

#14 Miranda Doing

5' 11"
Junior
MB
Kimya Jafroudi

#11 Kimya Jafroudi

5' 7"
Junior
S
Alyssa Paisley

#15 Alyssa Paisley

6' 2"
Freshman
MB