ANCHORAGE (Sept. 4) – Emma Beck smashed 14 kills on .520 hitting and fellow freshman Johana Malikova dished 41 assists Thursday to power the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team to a 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-17 win over Biola in the Seawolf Invitational at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (5-0) remained perfect thanks also to double-doubles from outside hitters Lee Ivakina (13 kills/13 digs) and Tia Allen (12 kills/18 digs) as they outhit the visitors from Los Angeles .253 to .101.

The Eagles (0-1) were led by 14 kills from outside hitter Madison Moore and 20 digs from libero Bri Bellfi in their season opener.

"We were able to maintain a high level of play throughout the match, even after dropping a tight first set," said UAA head coach Stacie Meisner. "We stayed disciplined and executed our system very well over the last three sets and got nice contributions again from everyone in the lineup."

UAA had a chance to take early command when Ivakina gave the hosts a 23-22 lead with a kill late in the opening set, but Biola responded with consecutive kills from Juliana Van Ommering. Following a timeout, Ivakina hit wide to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead.

The second set seemed headed in the same direction with an 11-11 score midway through. UAA took command at that point, however, running off nine straight points behind the serve of sophomore middle blocker Martina Riba, including a pair of kills from Beck.

Tied 13-13 in the third, the Seawolves used another surge to pull ahead for good, capping a 5-0 run on an ace by Elena Hansen. Ivakina had five kills on .308 hitting in the frame, while Allen notched four kills and no errors on 10 swings.

UAA never trailed in the final set as Beck and Allen tallied five kills apiece, outhitting the Pacific West Conference club .243 to -.032.

A rightside hitter from Kenai, Beck committed just one attack error on 25 swings to record UAA's best attack percentage this year. The 2023 Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year added three block assists.

Riba finished with six kills, a career-high four aces and three block assists, while junior middle blocker Bella Burney had six kills and four total blocks.

A transfer from Limestone, Hansen had a pair of aces, a season-high eight digs, and recorded her first kill as a Seawolf.

Malikova – a true freshman from the Czech Republic – collected her most assists as a Seawolf, along with two kills and two total blocks.

UAA returns to the Alaska Airlines Center on Friday to face Cal State San Marcos (0-1) at 7:30 p.m. Find tickets, live links and more at GoSeawolves.com.