FAIRBANKS (Oct. 17) – Senior
Katie Birtcil had 10 kills, but the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team could not capitalize on a hot start, falling 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19 to Alaska Fairbanks at the Patty Center on Thursday night.
The Seawolves (10-9, 4-5 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also got eight kills on .304 hitting and seven total blocks from senior
Leilani Elder as their four-match win streak over their oldest rivals was snapped.
The Nanooks (13-6, 5-4) were led by the tandem of Karli Neilson and Rilee White, whose combined 28 kills, seven aces and four block accounted for nearly half their team's points. With the win, UAF claims fourth place in the GNAC standings at the midpoint of the league season.
Taking an all-time series lead of 80-38 into the match, UAA got off to another good start with .364 hitting to take the opening set. After losing a 14-10 edge, the Seawolves retook a two-point advantage when Birtcil and
Bella Burney blocked UAF's Elena Guc to make it 23-21, and claimed the frame with subsequent kills by
Larssen Anderson and Birtcil.
UAA nearly dug out of a 19-11 hole in the second, closing a 10-2 surge on consecutive aces by junior libero
Madison Galloway, but the Nanooks rallied for the final four points to tie the match.
Despite outhitting the hosts .282 to .262 and outblocking them 4-0 in the third, the Seawolves found themselves playing catchup the whole time. An Elder kill drew them within 24-22 late, before UAF setter Cynphany Henderson closed it with a kill.
UAA had its chance to send it the distance when back-to-back
Kadyn Osborne kills made it 14-11 in the fourth, but the Nanooks would rally again. UAF retook the lead on three consecutive aces by White as it closed with a 9-1 surge.
Junior outside hitter
Tia Allen had nine kills, nine digs and four total blocks for UAA, while
Bethany Tuchardt had six kills on .333 hitting. Galloway led the Seawolves with 10 digs, and the setting combo of Osborne and
Hannah Trotter produced 37 assists and 17 digs.
The Seawolves get the weekend off before returning to the road Thursday, Oct. 24 at Western Oregon (6 p.m. ADT). Find links to live video and stats at GoSeawolves.com.
