ANCHORAGE – Sophomore hitters Katelynn Zanders and Julia Mackey combined for 17 kills Thursday night to lead the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team to a 25-22, 25-13, 25-18 sweep of American International in the opener of the SpringHill Suites Invitational at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
The Seawolves (2-2) got eight kills and a career-high 15 digs from Zanders, while Mackey finished with match-highs of nine kills and five total blocks. Junior libero Quinn Barker made 17 digs along the back row, helping UAA hold the visitors from Springfield, Mass., to negative attack percentages in all three sets.
The Yellowjackets (0-1) were led by six kills from outside hitter Siri Ngundam, getting outhit .157 to -.067 overall.
UAA also dominated in digs (53-39), blocks (11-4) and service aces (8-3) as it won the first-ever volleyball meeting between the schools.
The Seawolves won despite an extremely slow start, falling behind 6-0 and 10-2 in the opening set. Junior outside hitter Brooke Pottle helped spark a huge 9-1 run to tie it, however, and the Seawolves pulled ahead 21-18 with five straight points. Leading 22-21, senior middle blocker Jodi Huddleston connected down the middle, and the Seawolves clinched it on a setting error by AIC.
The hosts took total control early in the second set and pulled away late in the third.
Freshman setter Morgan Hooe tallied personal-bests of 20 assists and 10 digs, while senior setter Siobhan Johansen had 13 assists and a pair of aces. Huddleston finished with four total blocks, including a pair of solos.
American International returns to action in match 3 of the 17th annual tournament, Friday at 11:30 a.m. (ADT) against Notre Dame de Namur. UAA is off until Friday's late match, a 7 p.m. opening serve vs. Texas A&M Kingsville.
