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UAA escapes Lions to win inaugural AAC match

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

UAA escapes Lions to win inaugural AAC match

ANCHORAGE – Junior outside hitter Katelynn Zanders slammed 12 kills and made nine digs Friday morning as the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team held on for a 25-16, 17-25, 25-16, 24-26, 15-9 victory over Saint Leo in the inaugural match at the brand-new Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (1-0) also got a match-high 13 kills from junior right-side hitter Julia Mackey to prevail in the first of six contests in the SpringHill Suites Invitational.

The Lions (0-1), from the Sunshine State Conference, were led by 15 kills and 14 digs from outside hitter Lauren Campbell. Tawni Warren added 11 kills, three aces and five digs for the Floridians.

The match was a battle of teams that both qualified for the NCAA Div. II Tournament last fall.

Zanders, coming off AVCA Second Team All-American honors in 2013, recorded the first kill in the new arena as the Seawolves controlled play throughout the first set. Saint Leo turned the tables in the second set before Mackey came alive in the third, registering four kills to help UAA retake the lead.

UAA appeared on the way to victory with leads of 21-17 and 24-22 late in the fourth, but the Lions rallied for four straight points to end the frame and send it to a deciding fifth set.

Zanders started the fifth with a kill and two consecutive aces, and senior outside hitter Brooke Pottle (6 kills, 6 digs) delivered a kill to give the Seawolves the first four points and force a quick timeout by the Lions. The lead increased to 8-2 on a block by Mackey and sophomore Erin Braun, and Saint Leo got no closer than 9-5 the rest of the way. Zanders – who hit .370 and added four aces – registered the final two kills for UAA, including match point.

Braun, the reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, finished with seven kills and a match-best five total blocks, while senior libero Quinn Barker – the 2013 GNAC Newcomer of the Year – had 22 digs. Sophomore Morgan Hooe had 26 assists and freshman Kristi Farley added 15 as the duo shared setting duties. Junior middle blocker Caitlin McInerney had six kills and three total blocks, and junior outside hitter Sarah Johnson gave UAA a lift off the bench, contributing three kills on .500 hitting and six digs.

UAA returns to the court tonight at 7 p.m. for Match 3 of the SpringHill Suites against LIU Post – the defending NCAA Div. II East Region champions.


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Players Mentioned

Sarah Johnson

#12 Sarah Johnson

OH
6' 1"
Freshman
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
Caitlin Hanson

#8 Caitlin Hanson

MB/RS
5' 11"
Sophomore
Morgan Hooe

#2 Morgan Hooe

S
5' 6"
Freshman
Brooke Pottle

#13 Brooke Pottle

OH
5' 8"
Junior
Kristi Farley

#10 Kristi Farley

S
5' 6"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sarah Johnson

#12 Sarah Johnson

6' 1"
Freshman
OH
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
Caitlin Hanson

#8 Caitlin Hanson

5' 11"
Sophomore
MB/RS
Morgan Hooe

#2 Morgan Hooe

5' 6"
Freshman
S
Brooke Pottle

#13 Brooke Pottle

5' 8"
Junior
OH
Kristi Farley

#10 Kristi Farley

5' 6"
Freshman
S