Northwest Nazarene University Athletics

Seawolves hunt down Crusaders in Alaska

11/3/2011 11:54:00 PM | By: Craig Stensgaard, NNU Sports Information Director

Boxscore

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The University of Alaska Anchorage jumped out to a quick lead in the opening set and never looked back, defeating the Northwest Nazarene University volleyball team in three sets 25-9, 25-17, 25-11 in a conference match at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves (16-7, 12-3 GNAC) entered the match ranked ninth in the NCAA D.II West Region rankings while the Crusaders (15-7, 10-5 GNAC) were seventh in this week's poll.

Robyn Burton led all players for UAA with 14 kills, Jackie Matthisen had 12 and Ariel Austin finished with 11 as the Seawolves hit a GNAC-match school record .419 against the Crusaders. Burton hit .619, Austin .556 and Matthisen .357 as the trio had 37 kills against only four errors in 67 total attacks.

NNU was led by Carly Dranginis with eight kills as the Crusaders were held to a .083 hitting percentage. Kailey Trautmann hustled for a match-high 19 digs and Kaitlyn Tuholski had 14 assists.

The Crusaders scored the opening point of the match on a Haley Abbott kill but it would be their only lead of the night as UAA responded with kills by Nikkie Viotto and Burton and not trail again. The Seawolves raced out to a 9-2 lead off back-to-back aces by Viotto and finished off the first set with an ace by McKenzie Moss, holding NNU to just nine points.

Trailing 17-18 in the second set after kills by Reisa Fessler and Dranginis pulled NNU to with one, Viotto delivered another kill and Moss would serve out the set as UAA scored six straight points, the last four on attack errors by the Crusaders, to take a 2-0 lead.

Leading 7-4 in the third set, UAA scored eight-straight points to take control of the final set and complete the three-match sweep.

The Crusaders will look to bounce back on Saturday against the Nanooks of UAF in Fairbanks.

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