HONOLULU – Junior Eve Stephens produced 12 kills and fellow veterans Ellen Floyd and Vera Pluharova came through in the clutch Friday night to power the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team to a season-opening 25-21, 27-25, 26-24 sweep of Hawaii Pacific at the Shark Tank.

The Seawolves got 27 assists, four aces and 11 digs from Floyd as the junior setter and preseason All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection helped her team overcome set points for the Sharks in both the second and third frames.

The Sharks (0-2) got eight kills on .615 hitting from outside hitter Karina Gatewood, but the rest of her teammates were limited to an .021 clip, and UAA out-aced the hosts 13-7.

"Despite our struggles offensively, we found a way to pull out a win," said UAA head coach Chris Green, whose team faces HPU in a rematch at 2 p.m. ADT Saturday on the same court. "We need to play much better tomorrow."

An early turning point came midway through the first set when Green called timeout with his team trailing 13-9. The Seawolves were hitting -.167 at that point, but they improved to .286 the rest of the frame, taking their first lead at 20-19 on a kill by Stephens. After HPU tied it with a kill from Nicole Ferris, UAA responded with two straight aces from Floyd and the set-point kill by middle blocker Akor Maywin to cap a 5-1 run.

The Seawolves needed another comeback to take the second, falling behind 19-16. UAA got even at 20-20 on a Stephens ace but found itself in a 24-23 hole when Pluharova hit an attack long. An HPU service error opened the door, though, and true freshman Sydney Johnson gave the Seawolves the lead with her first career ace. After a Sharks kill, UAA went ahead on an HPU service error, and Floyd served another ace for the clincher.

UAA appeared to be sailing through the third set, taking leads of 10-5 and 16-11 before the hosts came storming back with 11 of the next 12 points. But HPU's momentum was halted by another service error that made the score 22-18, and Pluharova took over. The senior middle blocker ripped a kill and combined on a block with Lisa Jaunet to draw closer, and she blasted another kill to tie it at 22-22. The Sharks took a 24-23 edge on an ace by Demi Winters, but Floyd would have a hand in helping UAA win the next three points, feeding an assist to Pluharova, picking up a quick kill off a great dig by Stephens, and teaming with true freshman Leilani Elder to block Emily Joseph's attack on match point.

Pluharova picked up five of her seven kills in the final set, while Jaunet – a sophomore outside hitter making her Seawolf debut – finished with six kills, two blocks and was a perfect 11-of-11 on serve receptions.

Stephens hit .241 and added three aces and six digs as the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year surpassed Sabrina Bingham (1,024 kills, 1996-99) for ninth place on UAA career kills list.

The Seawolves also got strong defensive outings from junior libero Talia Leauanae and freshman defensive specialist Reilly Plumhoff as the duo combined for 11 kills and 27-of-27 on serve receptions.

Following Saturday's rematch, UAA will stay in town for two more contests against another Pacific West Conference foe, playing Chaminade at 8 p.m. ADT Saturday and noon ADT Sunday at McCabe Gymnasium. All four contests this weekend are being played without fans in attendance due to the current COVID-19 situation. Surf to the UAA volleyball schedule page at GoSeawolves.com for links to live video and stats.