SEATTLE – Led by big efforts from middle blockers Caitlin Hanson and Erin Braun, the 11th-ranked Alaska Anchorage volleyball team earned its fifth straight victory Saturday with a 25-22, 25-20, 25-17 victory over Seattle Pacific at Brougham Pavilion.
The Seawolves (20-2, 12-2 GNAC) got a career-high 11 kills on. 550 hitting from Hanson as they reached the 20-victory mark for the third straight season and the 11th time in program history. Braun added nine kills on .368 hitting and equaled Hanson with a match-high four total blocks.
UAA took control for a tight first set when setter Morgan Hooe snuck consecutive 'dump' kills into the middle of the SPU defense for a 23-21 advantage. Braun made it 24-22 moments later, and the Seawolves clinched the opening set on an attack error by Lexi Biondi.
Biondi led the Falcons (6-16, 4-10) with nine kills, but the Seawolves managed to extend their win streak to six matches in the head-to-head series, including four straight wins at Brougham.
The Seawolves also got nine kills and 11 digs from senior outside hitter Katelynn Zanders, plus eight kills on .368 hitting, nine digs and four blocks from senior right-side hitter Julia Mackey. Junior setter Morgan Hooe was efficient with 34 assists and four kills, and freshman libero Kyla Militante-Amper had a team-high 14 digs.
With the win, the Seawolves kept pace in a four-way tie for first in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with Western Washington, Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. Two of those foes invade the Alaska Airlines Center next week as CWU visits Thursday night, followed by NNU on Saturday. Call 907-786-1562 or visit GoSeawolves.com for ticket information.
