FAIRBANKS, Alaska (Sept. 5) – A fast start and 23 kills from
Kyana Gabriel were not enough for the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team Saturday, which saw its seven-match win streak end with a 16-25, 28-30, 25-19, 25-18, 15-9 decision against No. 9 Fresno Pacific in the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic at the Patty Center.
Gabriel added 15 digs to go with her team season high in kills, while senior outside hitter
Lee Ivakina collected 18 kills for the Seawolves (7-3).
The Firebirds (6-0) got a match-high 26 kills from outside hitter Madelyn Feramisco, helping the 2025 West Region finalists win for the 33rd time in their last 35 matches.
"It was a great start, but when Fresno was able to adjust and get into their system, they were hard to stop," said UAA head coach
Morgan Hooe. "Still, we showed we can go swing-for-swing with one of the best teams in the nation, and we'll take a lot of confidence into the league season."
After sweeping and hitting no worse than .340 in their last three matches, the Seawolves came out strong again in the first set. Gabriel had seven kills and no errors on 12 attacks in the frame, and
Bella Burney (9 kills, 6 block assists) had a pair of kills during a 5-2 run that helped UAA pull away.
UAA appeared to have the second set in hand, leading 24-21 before an FPU comeback made things more interesting. After being tied at each stage between 24-24 and 28-28, Ivakina gave the Seawolves the lead with a kill, and Gabriel sealed it with an ace.
Despite earning a 6-3 lead to start the third, UAA could not retain its momentum as FPU hit .500 in the set.
The Seawolves committed an uncharacteristic nine attack errors in the fourth as the Firebirds tied the match, and the California Collegiate Athletic Association squad finished the comeback with an early 9-0 run to control the fifth set.
Gabriel hit .333 as the newcomer earned her third double-double, while senior setter
Hannah Trotter tallied 47 assists – one shy of her career high – and equaled her career-best 20 digs.
Junior middle blocker
Martina Riba had 10 kills on .304 hitting and three total blocks, and sophomore libero
Mary Nahinu had 16 digs and a career-high nine assists.
UAA opens defense of its Great Northwest Athletic Conference title next week with matches against Seattle Pacific (Thur., 7 pm) and Montana State Billings (Sat., 7 pm) at the Alaska Airlines Center. Thursday's match will feature free admission for fans 12 & younger, courtesy of Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
