ANCHORAGE – Tournament Most Outstanding Player Kersti Nix blasted 15 kills and setter Ally Offerdahl tallied 32 assists Saturday to lead No. 18 Central Missouri to the unofficial title of the Seawolf Invitational with a 25-18, 25-13, 25-17 volleyball sweep of host Alaska Anchorage at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (6-2) got nine kills and nine digs from junior right-side hitter Eve Stephens as their four-match winning streak was halted.

The Jennies (4-0) also got nine kills on .348 hitting from Audrey Fisher, while Nix collected a double-double with 12 digs. UCM outhit UAA .222 to .008 and won the blocking battle 9-3.

"I'm disappointed that we put up that kind of performance tonight, especially after showing how well we are capable of playing last night (in a 3-0 win over Indianapolis)," said UAA head coach Chris Green, whose team was swept for the first time at the Alaska Airlines Center since Sept. 8, 2017 and just the fourth time in the history of the building, which opened in 2014. "Central Missouri is an excellent team, and we did not step up to their level."

The Seawolves got off to a strong start and claimed a 13-11 lead on a block by Stephens and senior Vera Pluharova in the first set, but the Jennies called timeout and quickly changed the momentum with a decisive 11-2 run.

Central Missouri dominated the second set with a .257 to -.026 hitting advantage, although UAA would make the third more competitive, with nine ties and seven lead changes. The Seawolves led 15-14 in the third when freshman Leilani Elder converted a pass from setter Ellen Floyd, but the Jennies used another huge surge, closing the match with a 10-2 run.

Pluharova had the lone quality hitting performance for UAA, tallying eight kills with a .462 attack percentage. Floyd – who made the all-tournament team along with Stephens – collected 25 assists and tied with libero Talia Leauanae for match-high honors with 13 digs.

The Seawolves conclude their non-conference schedule with four matches next week at the Nanook Classic in Fairbanks, starting with a Thursday 4 p.m. contest against Ursuline. Surf to the UAA Volleyball schedule page at GoSeawolves.com for links to live video and stats.

2021 Seawolf Invitational All-Tournament Team
MaKenna Barnhart, Indianapolis
Madison Beebe, Biola
Hannah Engelken, Central Missouri
Ellen Floyd, Alaska Anchorage
Ally Offerdahl, Central Missouri
Eve Stephens, Alaska Anchorage
Cate Whiting, Alaska Fairbanks
Most Outstanding Player: Kersti Nix, Central Missouri