ANCHORAGE – Seniors stars Ellen Floyd and Eve Stephens delivered huge efforts to help propel 6th-ranked Alaska Anchorage to a 25-20, 28-26, 25-22 victory over Central Washington in front of largest regular-season crowd in NCAA Div. II volleyball history – 3,888 – Saturday night at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (25-2, 15-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) got 31 assists and a career-high 24 digs from Floyd, plus 21 kills, 13 digs and six total blocks from Stephens as they completed the first unbeaten regular-season home slate since the arena opened in 2014.

Ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Div. II West Region, UAA now needs one win to clinch a tie or two to earn the outright GNAC title in its regular-season finales next week at Western Oregon and Saint Martin's.

The Wildcats (15-10, 10-7) – ranked No. 6 in the West – were led by 12 kills and eight digs from outside hitter Ashley Kaufman, along with 10 kills, 19 assists and nine digs from setter/pin-hitter Tia Andaya.

"That was another great effort against a very good team in a pressure-packed environment," said UAA head coach Chris Green. "Our defense made the difference, especially Ellen and Lisa (Jaunet) with some huge digs, and our block as well.

"I'm really happy for our seniors and our entire program to be able to experience that kind of atmosphere, and answer the call. I also want to thank our fans for coming out to make history tonight."

After sweeping the Wildcats last month in Ellensburg, the Seawolves got off to a solid start, erasing a brief 19-18 deficit to win the first set with a 7-1 run. Jaunet had three of her six kills during the winning surge, while Stephens tallied six kills and a solo block in the frame.

The second set would turn into a classic, featuring 17 ties and five lead changes. Back-to-back kills by Andaya gave the visitors an 18-16 edge, but Stephens and Isabel Evans answered with Seawolf kills, and the teams began trading points. UAA fought off a set point at 24-23 and Central Washington did the same at 25-24 and 26-25, tying it on another Andaya kill. The Seawolves responded with their big guns again, however, getting kills from Jaunet and Stephens to end it.

The third was nearly as close, with nine ties and three lead changes, staying within a three-point spread the entire way. After missing an attack long to make the score 22-22, Stephens responded with a kill to retake the lead, then stuffed Mariana Payne with a solo block to make it 24-22. Following a timeout, the Wildcats set Payne for another attack, but Stephens and Leilani Elder were there with the block to complete the sweep.

The all-time GNAC and UAA kills and points leader, Stephens also served a pair of aces.

Meanwhile, Floyd had four kills and four total blocks to go with her career-high in digs, surpassing the 21 she had last year at Western Washington.

Evans tallied six kills on .444 hitting and four block assists, and Elder had five block assists.

Senior libero Talia Leauanae finished with 13 digs, two aces and two assists.

UAA plays Thursday (6 p.m. AST) at Western Oregon and Saturday (4 p.m.) at Saint Martin's to close the regular season, with the announcement of the NCAA Tournament field set for Nov. 13.

Largest NCAA Div. II Volleyball Regular-Season Attendances
1) 3,888 – Central Washington at Alaska Anchorage (Alaska Airlines Center), Nov. 5, 2022
2) 3,520 – Omaha at Nebraska Kearney (Health & Sports Center), Oct. 15, 1996
3) 3,109 – MSU Denver at Nebraska Kearney (Health & Sports Center), Nov. 8, 2002
4) 3,017 – Wingate at Queens, N.C. (Cuddy Arena), Nov. 18, 2016
5) 3, 004 – Omaha at North Dakota State (Sapp Fieldhouse), Nov. 8, 1986