ANCHORAGE (Oct. 14) – Senior Nicole Blue ripped 16 kills and sophomore Madison Galloway posted a career-high 21 digs Saturday to help the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team rally for a 23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-16 victory over Northwest Nazarene in front of a near-record crowd of 3,280 fans at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (12-12, 4-5 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also got 14 kills from junior outside hitter Bethany Tuchardt and nine kills from junior middle blocker Leilani Elder as they beat NNU for the 10th straight time overall and eighth straight at home.

The Nighthawks (8-9, 4-5) were led by nine kills apiece from Londyn Giles and Maren Dent, but the visitors from Nampa, Idaho, could not retain their momentum from a hot-hitting opening set.

"We had a tough loss in the first set, however I think the crowd really helped us get back on track and keep our energy at a high level throughout," said UAA head coach Stacie Meisner. "Our defense really stepped up in the final three sets, extending some long rallies that we eventually won. We also got a huge lift off the bench from Trinity Tatupu, whose numbers don't jump off the stat sheet, but who nevertheless made some critical plays at critical moments."

The attendance of 3,280 now gives the Seawolves two of the top four regular-season attendance figures in NCAA Div. II volleyball history. UAA broke the previous record with 3,888 in last season's home finale against Central Washington, before Nebraska Kearney reclaimed the record with 4,003 fans for its Sept. 6 match against Peru State this year.

Despite leading through much of the opening set, UAA could not take advantage of six NNU service errors and a late 21-17 advantage. Morgan Wilding's ace gave the Nighthawks a 23-22 lead, and Abby Black buried a kill to end the set on an 8-2 surge as NNU hit .545 (12 kills, no errors, 22 attacks) in the frame.

UAA's defense would go on lockdown mode, however, allowing just .026 hitting over the final three sets, and eventually outdigging the visitors 70-51.

After holding the Nighthawks at bay for most of set three, the Seawolves found themselves tied 23-23 when Bella Burney hit into a block by Giles and Madi Smith. The hosts would not give up the lead though, as Blue's attack on the next rally hit the tape and snuck over for the go-ahead kill. Giles then hit wide on the next point to give UAA a two sets-to-one lead.

The Seawolves were never seriously challenged in the fourth, grabbing a 9-1 lead on a rousing block by Blue and Isabel Evans, and going up 12-2 when big defensive plays by Galloway and Tatupu eventually led to another Blue kill on a marathon point.

Blue finished with team-best .333 hitting and went 24 of 24 on serve receptions, while Evans led the Seawolves with four block assists.

A libero from Pensacola, Fla., Galloway topped her previous bests of 20 digs and six assists by one apiece, with her 21 digs tying for the second-most by a Seawolf this year.

Junior setters Makana Eleneki and Kadyn Osborne combined for 39 assists and 15 digs, and junior defensive specialist Reilly Plumhoff added 12 digs.

The Seawolves begin the second half of the GNAC slate next week when they host Simon Fraser on Thursday (7 p.m.) and Western Washington on Saturday (2 p.m.) at the Alaska Airlines Center. Saturday's match will be a 'Pink Day' theme for cancer awareness and as a fund raiser for local charity Let Every Woman Know.

NCAA Div. II Regular-Season Single-Match Attendance Records
4,003 – Peru State at Nebraska Kearney, Sept. 6, 2023
3,888 – Central Washington at Alaska Anchorage, Nov. 6, 2022
3,520 – Omaha at Nebraska Kearney, Oct. 15, 1996
3,280 – Northwest Nazarene at Alaska Anchorage, Oct. 14, 2023
3,109 – MSU Denver at Nebraska Kearney, Nov. 8, 2002