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Crusaders end Seawolves' win streak in Nampa

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

Crusaders end Seawolves' win streak in Nampa

NAMPA, Idaho – Three Alaska Anchorage players posted double-doubles but it was not enough to complete a comeback attempt Thursday as the No. 7-ranked Seawolves lost for the first time this season, falling to host Northwest Nazarene, 25-23, 28-26, 25-27, 25-22 at the Johnson Sports Center.

The Seawolves (14-1, 6-1 GNAC) were led by 14 kills and 15 digs from senior outside hitter Katelynn Zanders as their school-record 14-match win streak came to an end. Freshman outside hitter Leah Swiss had 13 kills, 12 digs and four blocks, and senior right-side hitter Julia Mackey added 10 kills and digs for UAA, which hit a season-low .125.

The defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference-champion Crusaders (8-7, 5-2) stayed in the current race behind the 17 kills and eight blocks of middle blocker Madi Farrell. Outside hitter Kendra Bodine delivered 14 kills – including match point – and 17 digs as NNU won for the fourth straight time against UAA.

Entering the match with the highest national rank in program history, UAA was tied or ahead late in each of the first two sets, but the Crusaders won the key rallies in each frame for a commanding 2-0 lead. With the score knotted at 23 in the first, NNU took advantage of a UAA service error and got a block from Hailey Cook and Farrell. In the second, the Seawolves erased a 22-18 deficit to earn a pair of set points, including at 26-25 on a kill by Zanders, but the Crusaders responded with three straight kills from Elayna Rice, Farrell and Bodine.

The Seawolves climbed out of an 8-2 hole in the third set and took a 24-23 lead on a block by Swiss and junior Erin Braun. NNU gained a 25-25 tie on a service error before the Seawolves got a kill from Mackey and a stuff by Swiss and senior Caitlin Hanson to stay alive.

UAA appeared poised to send it the distance, earning a 9-7 lead in the fourth, before the Crusaders took control again. After a Swiss kill tied it at 16, NNU went on a 5-0 run and eventually had another match point at 24-18. UAA fended off defeat for four more points before Cook fed Bodine for the clinching kill.

Junior setter Morgan Hooe delivered 37 assists, 11 digs and had six kills on nine attempts (.667), while freshman libero Kyla Militante-Amper made a team-high 16 digs and dished a career-high-tying six assists. Braun had six kills and five total blocks.

The Seawolves return to action Saturday with another tough match at Central Washington (10-4, 6-1). First serve is set for 6 p.m. ADT in Ellensburg. Free live video is available at portal.stretchinternet.com/uaa.

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Players Mentioned

Julia Mackey

#6 Julia Mackey

RS
5' 11"
Freshman
Katelynn Zanders

#14 Katelynn Zanders

OH
5' 9"
Freshman
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
Leah Swiss

#7 Leah Swiss

OH
6' 0"
Freshman
Kyla Militante-Amper

#3 Kyla Militante-Amper

L/S
5' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Julia Mackey

#6 Julia Mackey

5' 11"
Freshman
RS
Katelynn Zanders

#14 Katelynn Zanders

5' 9"
Freshman
OH
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
Leah Swiss

#7 Leah Swiss

6' 0"
Freshman
OH
Kyla Militante-Amper

#3 Kyla Militante-Amper

5' 3"
Freshman
L/S