Scoreboard

#12 Seawolves sweep Saints in GNAC opener

Women's Volleyball UAA Media Relations

#12 Seawolves sweep Saints in GNAC opener

ANCHORAGE – Leah Swiss blasted nine kills and setter Morgan Hooe dished 24 assists to lead a balanced offensive attack Friday, pacing 12th-ranked Alaska Anchorage to a 25-16, 25-20, 25-20 sweep of Saint Martin's in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball opener for both teams.

Freshman right-side hitter Diana Fa'amausili added seven kills and four blocks as an Alaska Airlines Center season-high crowd of 1,108 watched the Seawolves (11-1, 1-0 GNAC) earn their 10th straight victory.

The Saints (4-1, 0-1) were led by eight kills and 11 digs from outside hitter Rebecca Mitchell, but the visitors from Lacey, Wash., were out-hit .194 to .073, ending their best start in program history.

UAA – the defending GNAC champion – surrendered the first two points of the match before quickly correcting course with a 10-2 run, capped by two straight aces from Hooe. A solo block by Erin Braun made it 17-9, and the senior delivered a kill on set point a few moments later.

The Saints took an early advantage in the second set, which featured 11 ties and five lead changes. But deadlocked at 18-18, an SMU service error opened the door for a 3-0 run by UAA, and the Seawolves took the frame on two straight Saints attack errors and an ace by Braun.

UAA never trailed in the third set, using four kills from Braun and four block assists from freshman Vanessa Hayes to pull away.

Hooe finished with four kills on .600 hitting, seven digs, four total blocks and two aces as the All-American continued her fine play. Swiss added seven digs, four total blocks and two aces, while Braun had six kills on .333 hitting, six total blocks and four aces.

Sophomore libero Kyla Militante-Amper – the reigning GNAC Defensive Player of the Week – made a match-high 18 digs, continuing her streak of 15-plus digs in all 12 matches this year.

The Seawolves return to action Saturday with another home match against Seattle Pacific (4-5, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Call 907-786-1562 or visit GoSeawolves.com for ticket information.

NOTES: UAA earned its 17th straight victory over SMU, extending the longest winning streak against any opponent in program history; SMU's last win in the head-to-head series came in 2007 … Hooe collected her 78th career victory in Green & Gold, matching former teammate Julia Mackey (2012-15) for No. 5 on the all-time list; Braun earned her 80th career win and now stands just one shy of Tracy Zink (81 wins, 1987-90) for No. 3 … Braun improved her career total blocks number to 370, now just two shy of Maria Ammerman (1981-88) for sixth on that list.


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Players Mentioned

Julia Mackey

#6 Julia Mackey

RS
5' 11"
Freshman
Erin Braun

#15 Erin Braun

MB
6' 0"
Freshman
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
Diana Fa

#17 Diana Fa'amausili

RS
5' 11"
Freshman
Vanessa Hayes

#18 Vanessa Hayes

MB
5' 11"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Julia Mackey

#6 Julia Mackey

5' 11"
Freshman
RS
Erin Braun

#15 Erin Braun

6' 0"
Freshman
MB
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
Diana Fa

#17 Diana Fa'amausili

5' 11"
Freshman
RS
Vanessa Hayes

#18 Vanessa Hayes

5' 11"
Freshman
MB