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Swiss propels No. 12 UAA as spikers start 10-0

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

Swiss propels No. 12 UAA as spikers start 10-0

PORTLAND, Ore. – Freshman Leah Swiss posted 13 kills and 13 digs Saturday to lead No. 12 Alaska Anchorage to a 25-23, 25-21, 25-18 sweep of Concordia in a battle of unbeaten Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball teams at Cavalier Court.

The Seawolves (10-0, 2-0 GNAC) also got 10 kills, 12 digs and three aces from senior outside hitter Katelynn Zanders as they matched the 1988 club for the best start in program history, despite hitting for a season-low .126 attack percentage.

The Cavaliers (9-1, 1-1) were led by 12 kills and 13 digs from Ashley Jibby, but the GNAC newcomers could not capitalize on a fast start.

Coming into the weekend with the program's highest national ranking ever, UAA looked to be in trouble in the opening set as it committed seven attack errors and managed just one kill in the first 17 rallies. After quickly overcoming that deficit for a 15-13 lead, the Seawolves went back and forth with the Cavs for the rest of the frame.

A Jibby kill and a Mackey error gave Concordia 23-21 lead, but a Cavalier service error opened the door for the Seawolves. Swiss – an outside hitter from Anchorage's Dimond High School – notched consecutive kills, and junior setter Morgan Hooe followed with a block on Brenna Huwe's attack to end the set.

The Seawolves took control with a 17-13 lead in the second set, getting consecutive aces from freshman Taylor Noga to cap a 7-2 run. Concordia crept within 21-20, but following another UAA timeout, the hosts committed another of their 11 service errors. Serving with a 23-21 advantage, Zanders pounded an authoritative kill down the middle, and senior right-side hitter Julia Mackey provided an instant replay on set point with one of her seven kills.

UAA won eight straight points on Zanders' serve to claim a 9-1 lead in the third. A block by Mackey and Erin Braun made it 19-8 before the Cavaliers made a late rally, clawing within 22-17 to force a Seawolf timeout. Up 22-18, Hooe delivered a quick kill on a feed from Kyla Militante-Amper, and then fed Zanders for a kill. The match ended on a wide attack by Huwe.

Despite being out-hit for the first time this year, .137 to .126, the Seawolves took advantage of their best serve/receive performance of 2015. UAA served a season-best eight aces while committing just two errors, compared to Concordia's three aces and 11 errors.

Hooe dished 27 assists, made four block assists and led four Seawolves in double-figure digs with 16. Swiss hit a match-best .297 (13 kills-2 errors-37 attacks) and added three block assists in the first-ever volleyball meeting between the schools.

Mackey finished with 12 digs and three block assists, and senior middle blocker Caitlin Hanson made a match-best seven block assists.

UAA completes a three-match road swing when it travels north to in-state rival Alaska Fairbanks (0-9, 0-2) on Tuesday night. First serve at the Patty Center is set for 7 p.m., with free live video 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
Taylor Noga

#5 Taylor Noga

OH/L
5' 10"
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
Taylor Noga

#5 Taylor Noga

5' 10"
Freshman
OH/L