Seniors carry Seawolves past #23 Hawks

ANCHORAGE – Seniors Julia Mackey and Katelynn Zanders combined for 40 kills and freshman Leah Swiss made big plays in the late-going Friday to lift the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team to a 25-18, 25-22, 16-25, 28-26 victory over No. 23 Rockhurst in the SpringHill Suites Invitational at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (2-0) got 21 kills and 18 digs from Zanders, plus a career-high 19 kills on .362 hitting and eight digs from Mackey as they won the first-ever volleyball meeting between the schools.

The Hawks (1-1) – coming off a 28-5 campaign – were led by 14 kills and 15 digs from outside hitter Morgan Rietzke, while Alyssa Arnold made a match-high 22 digs for the Kansas Citians.

UAA also got a career performance from junior setter Morgan Hooe, whose 55 assists topped her previous best by one. Hooe had 13 digs and registered career-high-tying five block assists for the second straight match as well.

Swiss, a redshirt freshman from Anchorage's Dimond High School, swatted seven kills and had team-bests of 17 digs and seven total blocks.

With the score tied 25-25 in the fourth set, Swiss put up a solo block on Arnold to earn match point. Arnold rebounded quickly with a kill to tie it 26-26 before Mackey converted a feed from Hooe, leaving UAA with a chance at its fourth match point. The Seawolves finally secured the victory as Swiss and senior middle blocker Caitlin Hanson combined to stuff Arnold on the right side.

The Seawolves close tonight's Invitational action at 7 p.m. against No. 5 Nebraska Kearney (1-0), while Rockhurst will play next against Azusa Pacific (0-2) at 9:30 a.m. ADT Saturday.

SpringHill Suites Invitational
2015 Standings
(Round robin – through 4 of 10 matches)
Team              W L SW SL
Alaska Anchorage 2 0   6 2
Nebraska Kearney 1 0   3 2
Rockhurst         1 1   4 3
Cal Poly Pomona   0 1   0 3
Azusa Pacific     0 2   3 6

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Players Mentioned

#6 Julia Mackey: RS; 5' 11"; Freshman

#14 Katelynn Zanders: OH; 5' 9"; Freshman

#8 Caitlin Hanson: MB/RS; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#2 Morgan Hooe: S; 5' 6"; Freshman

#7 Leah Swiss: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#6 Julia Mackey
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: RS

#14 Katelynn Zanders
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: OH

#8 Caitlin Hanson
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: MB/RS

#2 Morgan Hooe
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: S

#7 Leah Swiss
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH