BELLINGHAM, Wash. (Sept. 21) – Double-double efforts from Tia Allen and Katie Birtcil-Tipton were not enough for the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team Saturday in a 22-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-9 loss to Western Washington at Carver Gymnasium.

The Seawolves (6-6, 0-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also got 24 digs from junior libero Madison Galloway, but could not capitalize on their early momentum.

The Vikings (2-6, 1-1) were led by Delaney Speer's 15 kills and 17 digs, while libero Finnley Claeys made 29 digs and served three aces.

Playing their 12th and final match away from home to start the season, the Seawolves started strong with a .250 to .163 hitting advantage in the opening set, repelling a late Viking rally thanks to two late kills from Larssen Anderson.

Trailing 15-8 in the second, it was Allen's turn to take over. The Clayton, Wash., product delivered four of her 11 kills during a 12-1 run, and UAA got a key kill from Bella Burney and an ace from Sydney Johnson to help forge a two-set lead.

UAA earned an 8-3 lead in the third as Birtcil-Tipton served two of her six aces, but a well-timed WWU timeout would stymie the visitors' momentum. The Vikings responded with eight straight points and never trailed again, using three consecutive kills from Abby May to pull away late.

The Seawolves started the fourth in a 4-1 hole and trailed 6-2 in the fifth, never gaining the lead in either frame – while the Vikings hit an impressive .471 to close the match.

Allen had 11 kills, 15 digs and was 49 of 50 in serve receptions, and fellow Washington native Bethany Tuchardt (Battle Ground) added nine kills on .261 hitting.

Birtcil-Tipton – a grad transfer from New Mexico State – recorded her second double-double as a Seawolf with 11 kills and 13 digs, while matching UAA's season high with six aces (and no service errors).

Setter Kadyn Osborne led UAA with 24 assists, and Galloway came just two shy of her career high in digs.

The Seawolves finally debut on the main court at the Alaska Airlines Center next week when they host Saint Martin's (Thur., 7 p.m., free poster giveaway) and Western Oregon (Sat., 7 p.m., 'Pink Night,' presented by Aurora Integrated Oncology Foundation). Find tickets and live links at GoSeawolves.com.