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UAA captures wild win in GNAC opener

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

UAA captures wild win in GNAC opener

ANCHORAGE – Julia Mackey ripped 13 kills and Brooke Pottle finished a wild rally on match point to give Alaska Anchorage a 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23 victory over Seattle Pacific in both teams' Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball opener Thursday.

The Seawolves (7-6, 1-0 GNAC) also got 11 kills from sophomore outside hitter Katelynn Zanders and 17 digs from junior libero Quinn Barker as they improved to 5-1 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex this season.

The Falcons (4-5, 0-1) were led by match-highs of 15 kills from outside hitter Madi Cavell, 28 digs from libero Brianna Leenders, and nine total blocks from middle hitter Jackie Arnold, but the visitors couldn't win for the second straight year in Anchorage.

Pottle, a 5-8 outside hitter from Peoria, Ariz., finished with nine kills, showing a knack for delivering on the biggest points. In a back-and-forth first set that featured 13 lead changes, UAA found itself trailing 23-22 after a kill by Arnold. But Mackey connected on a set from senior Siobhan Johansen (24 assists, 10 digs), followed by back-to-back kills by Pottle to clinch it.

SPU controlled the second frame and led 24-17 before UAA rallied for six consecutive points, capped by a Zanders kill. Falcons coach Chris Johnson whistled a timeout, however, and his team responded with a kill from Jessica Miller to knot the match.

After leading throughout the third set, the Seawolves seemed to be breezing in the fourth, taking an 18-12 lead on a Mackey spike. SPU would respond again, earning five straight points and surging ahead 21-20 when Zanders' attack went just long.  Zanders recovered with a kill on the ensuing rally to start a 4-0 run that gave the Seawolves match point. SPU then stayed alive on a kill from Cavell and block assists by Arnold and Sara Biondi, prompting UAA head coach Chris Green to take his final timeout.

On the ensuing serve, both teams dug their opponents' initial attacks, and Zanders made a diving dig on a spike by Cavell. The deflection went back over to Cavell, who seemed to have a clear shot straight down, but UAA freshman middle blocker Erin Braun showed lightning-quick reflexes to make a desperation dig that floated towards freshman setter Morgan Hooe. With no chance to make a traditional set, Hooe instinctively kicked the ball – soccer-style – back to Pottle, who found an opening on the other side against a scrambling SPU defense.

Hooe, the former Alaska Gatorade Player of the year from South Anchorage High, finished with 17 assists and a career-high 16 digs.

UAA also got four kills and six total blocks, including a pair of solos, from Braun, plus three kills and seven block assists from senior middle blocker Jodi Huddleston.

The Seawolves return to action Saturday when they host Montana State Billings (2-7, 0-1) in another GNAC match at the WFSC. First serve is 7 p.m. ADT.

NOTES: Johansen moved into 18th place on UAA's career digs list, now with 842 … Johansen now needs just five more assists to pass Stephanie Martinez (1,264, 2002-05) for No. 11 on UAA's career assists list … Mackey reached double-digit kills for the seventh time in 13 matches this year … UAA has won eight of the last 13 meetings to cut SPU's all-time series lead to 28-16 … SPU is UAA's third-most common opponent … upcoming foe MSU Billings is UAA's second-most common foe with 48 all-time meetings.


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Players Mentioned

Siobhan Johansen

#10 Siobhan Johansen

S
5' 7"
Freshman
Jodi Huddleston

#16 Jodi Huddleston

MB
6' 1"
Junior
Julia Mackey

#6 Julia Mackey

RS
5' 11"
Freshman
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
Morgan Hooe

#2 Morgan Hooe

S
5' 6"
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
Julia Mackey

#6 Julia Mackey

5' 11"
Freshman
RS
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
Morgan Hooe

#2 Morgan Hooe

5' 6"
Freshman
S
Brooke Pottle

#13 Brooke Pottle

5' 8"
Junior
OH