Scoreboard

Wildcats topple Seawolves in three

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

Seawolves rally past 'Jackets, 3-0

BILLINGS, Mont. – Sophomore outside hitter Katelynn Zanders blasted 19 kills and keyed a late run in the second set as the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team earned a 25-18, 25-23, 25-18 sweep of Montana State Billings at Alterowitz Gymnasium on Thursday night.

The Seawolves (20-9, 14-3 GNAC) also got seven kills, 10 digs and a career-high four aces from junior outside hitter Brooke Pottle as they swept the season series and improved their playoff position. UAA entered with a No. 7 ranking in the NCAA Div. II West Region poll, which determines which eight teams make the NCAA West Region Championships.

The Yellowjackets (6-20, 3-14) were led by 13 kills from junior outside hitter Monica Grimsrud, but the home team could not capitalize on its upset chances late in the first and second sets.

After holding the 'Jackets at bay through much of the first set, the Seawolves got three straight kills from Zanders to extend an 18-17 lead to 21-17, as UAA collected seven of the last eight rallies.

MSUB turned the tables in the second, leading throughout the set and building a 23-19 edge on an Ashlyn n Ward kill, prompting Seawolf head coach Chris Green to call his final timeout. UAA again went to Zanders – a 5-9 outside hitter from South Anchorage High School – who delivered two thunderous kills to start a 6-point, match-changing run. Freshman middle blocker Erin Braun teamed with Zanders on the tying block, and Braun followed with a kill to give UAA set point. MSUB's middle attack was thwarted again by Braun, and the Seawolves took all the momentum to the locker room.

UAA scored the first seven points of the third set and led 20-5 before the Yellowjackets made a late surge.

Zanders added 10 digs to record her 13th double-double of the season and seventh in last eight outings. Meanwhile, senior Siobhan Johansen dished 37 assists, libero Quinn Barker made 11 digs, and senior middle blocker Jodi Huddleston pounded six kills.

The victory gave UAA its eighth straight win and fourth straight season sweep of MSUB, along with a 40-10 edge in the all-time series. More importantly, the Seawolves clinched their second 20-win season under sixth-year head coach Green, and the ninth in program history.

UAA – which clinched no worse than a tie for second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings – ends the regular season with a key match at Seattle Pacific on Saturday (6 p.m. AST). The announcement of the NCAA Div. II Tournament fields will be made on Monday, Nov. 25 at 3:30 p.m. AST.

NOTES: Less than two years into her 4-year career, Zanders moved up to No. 17 on UAA's career kills list, now with 647, and is just one shy of tying Karen Moore (1994-96) for 16th place.

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Players Mentioned

Siobhan Johansen

#10 Siobhan Johansen

S
5' 7"
Freshman
Jodi Huddleston

#16 Jodi Huddleston

MB
6' 1"
Junior
Katelynn Zanders

#14 Katelynn Zanders

OH
5' 9"
Freshman
Quinn Barker

#1 Quinn Barker

L
5' 4"
Junior
Erin Braun

#15 Erin Braun

MB
6' 0"
Freshman
Brooke Pottle

#13 Brooke Pottle

OH
5' 8"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Siobhan Johansen

#10 Siobhan Johansen

5' 7"
Freshman
S
Jodi Huddleston

#16 Jodi Huddleston

6' 1"
Junior
MB
Katelynn Zanders

#14 Katelynn Zanders

5' 9"
Freshman
OH
Quinn Barker

#1 Quinn Barker

5' 4"
Junior
L
Erin Braun

#15 Erin Braun

6' 0"
Freshman
MB
Brooke Pottle

#13 Brooke Pottle

5' 8"
Junior
OH