ANCHORAGE – Junior setter Ellen Floyd delivered 27 assists and a match-high 15 digs Friday to propel the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team to a 25-10, 25-17, 25-21 sweep of Alaska Fairbanks in the Seawolves' 2020-21 home opener at the Seawolf Sports Complex.

Playing their first home match since Nov. 2019, the Seawolves (4-0) also got 10 kills from freshman outside hitter Nicole Blue and nine kills, 10 digs and three aces from junior right-side hitter Eve Stephens.

The Nanooks (3-3) got a match-high 11 kills from AveRee Reynolds, but the visitors were outhit .231 to -.018 and outdug 57-47.

"We played very well in the first two sets, and although we didn't maintain it in the third, we were able to earn the sweep with good serving and solid defense throughout," said UAA head coach Chris Green.

After splitting the match's first eight rallies, the Seawolves used a 5-1 surge to pull ahead and closed their dominant opening set with an 8-0 run behind the serve of Stephens.

The Nanooks jumped to a 4-0 lead in the second set but could not continue their momentum. After being tied 8-8, UAA got two aces and a kill from Stephens during a 5-0 run to take control. A block by Blue and freshman Mahala Kaapuni stretched it to a 20-11 advantage, and senior Vera Pluharova delivered the set-point kill minutes later.

The third set was a back-and-forth affair until the Seawolves pulled away in the late going. Tied 17-17, sophomore outside hitter Hannah Pembroke started a 3-1 run with a kill, and a series of UAF attack errors set up Pluharova for an ace on match point.

Blue connected for a match-best .333 attack percentage and was 7-of-7 on service receptions, while Stephens – the reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week – hit .212 and tied her aces career-high for the third time in as many matches.

Pembroke finished with seven kills, Pluharova had six kills and three total blocks, and Kaapuni notched four kills on nine swings and four blocks assists. Junior libero Talia Leauanae added 13 digs and a pair of assists.

The win improved UAA's series lead against its oldest rival to 73-36 overall and 42-12 in Anchorage. It was the first time the Seawolves have played at their old home court since 2013, having spent the last seven years at the Alaska Airlines Center, which is being used for public health assistance.

It was also the first non-conference meeting between the teams since 2000, when both were in their final season in the Pacific West Conference.

UAA and UAF will meet for a rematch Saturday at 1 p.m., with live stats and video links available at GoSeawolves.com. Due to COVID-19 protocols, in-person fans are not being allowed.