FAIRBANKS – Eve Stephens delivered 14 kills and 13 digs but the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team could not complete its comeback attempt Saturday, falling 25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 26-24 to Alaska Fairbanks at the Patty Center.

The Seawolves (17-11, 10-6 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also got 40 assists from junior setter Ellen Floyd as the suffered their third straight loss.

The Nanooks (16-12, 9-7) got a match-high 16 kills from AveRee Reynolds, plus 34 assists, seven kills on .778 hitting and 14 digs from setter Cate Whiting, to earn a split of the season series.

"It was another match where we had our chances, especially late in set 4, but too many passing errors hurt us this afternoon," said UAA head coach Chris Green, whose team entered with a No. 8 ranking in the NCAA Div. II West Region. "We will have to regroup and finish strong in front of our home fans next week."

After allowing UAF to hit .385 and .375 in the opening two sets, the Seawolves responded with a strong third frame. UAA led 23-20 before the hosts stormed back to tie it, but Floyd fed senior Vera Pluharova for a go-ahead kill, then ended it with a quick kill on a pass from Mahala Kaapuni.

The fourth would be another seesaw affair, featuring seven ties and three lead changes. The Seawolves earned set point at 24-22 when Whiting was called for a ball-handling error, however they could not convert on their two ensuing tries. Tied 24-24, UAA's Akor Maywin committed an attack error, and Whiting followed with a kill to end the match.

Stephens recorded her 11th double-double of the season, hitting an impressive .387 and adding four aces and six total blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Lisa Jaunet added 10 kills, Pluharova had nine kills, and Maywin tied her career high with seven total blocks.

Floyd reached a milestone in the loss as her two aces tied her for the UAA career record, equaling Jen Szczerbinski's mark of 162 aces from 1988-92.

The Seawolves return to the Alaska Airlines Center for their final two regular-season matches, facing Western Oregon on Thursday and Saint Martin's on Saturday, with first serve at 7 p.m. both nights. Surf to GoSeawolves.com for tickets. All attendees must wear masks.