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Spikers dominate 'Jackets for 12th straight win

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

Spikers dominate 'Jackets for 12th straight win

ANCHORAGE – Freshman outside hitter Leah Swiss registered nine kills, six aces and 10 digs Thursday to lead a balanced attack for 11th-ranked Alaska Anchorage in a 25-11, 25-10, 25-13 volleyball victory over Montana State Billings at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (12-0, 4-0 GNAC) also got eight kills from senior Katelynn Zanders in their Great Northwest Athletic Conference home opener, plus seven apiece from Julia Mackey and Erin Braun as they extended the best start in program history in front of a record crowd of 1,366.

The Yellowjackets (1-10, 0-3) were led by six kills from Ashlynn Ward and 10 digs from libero Kimmy Kirk as they fell to the Seawolves for the 11th straight time.

UAA out-hit its longtime rival .363 (39 kills-10 errors-80 attacks) to -.060 (17-22-83), marking the first time ever that the Seawolves have held a GNAC opponent to a negative percentage. Founded in 2001, this is the 15th year of GNAC competition.

Led by Swiss's six aces, UAA jumped to 6-2 leads in each of the three sets and was never challenged from there.

The Seawolves got errorless hitting from Braun and Mackey as they combined for 14 kills on just 21 swings, while senior Caitlin Hanson added five kills and a match-high six block assists. Junior setter Morgan Hooe had 30 assists and seven digs to help the Seawolves hit above .300 for the eighth time this season, and freshman Taylor Noga registered six digs.

With the victory, UAA now stands just one win shy of the program record for longest win streak of any type – 13 by the 2009 GNAC title squad. That chance will come next week when the Seawolves host two more home matches, facing Seattle Pacific on Oct. 1 and Saint Martin's on Oct. 3. Both contests start at 7 p.m. ADT and can be viewed live throughout Alaska on GCI cable Channels 1 (sd) and 999 (hd).

Click here or call 907-786-1562 for Seawolf Volleyball ticket information.

NOTES: Swiss's six aces were the most for a Seawolf since Kimya Jafroudi had the same number on Oct. 18, 2012 against Saint Martin's … UAA's opponent attack percentage was its best since holding American International to a -.067 mark on Sept. 5, 2013 … Zanders is now just eight kills shy of becoming the third player in Seawolf history with 1,200 for her career … Braun had a pair of blocks, moving into a tie for No. 10 on UAA's career list with 234 … UAA now leads 43-10 in the all-time series against MSUB, including 23-4 in Anchorage … UAA has won 33 of 36 sets during its current 11-match win streak vs. MSUB.

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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
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
Taylor Noga

#5 Taylor Noga

5' 10"
Freshman
OH/L