Box Score
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Senior outside hitter
Simone Chavous (Aurora, Colo.) returned to the floor after a five-match hiatus to lead the Alaska Nanooks offensively, but it wasn't enough to help the blue and gold overtake the visiting Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, as the hosts were swept 3-0 by their archrival Saturday night at the Patty Center in front of 510 rowdy fans.
Chavous tied sophomore
Keri Knight (Arvada, Colo.) with seven kills apiece, while junior
Casey Tidwell (Redlands, Calif.) got six of her own to go with three blocks. However, Alaska's attack was no match for UAA's middle hitter Robyn Burton who was unstoppable at the net putting up a match-high .647 attack percentage behind 11 kills and no errors in 17 swings to go with five block assists.
Alaska started the match with energy and poise, while UAA came out flat. Three hitting errors by UAA's Jackie Matthisen helped the Nanooks open up a 5-1 lead, which they stretched to 10-2 behind a handful of kills that spurred from senior
Karlee Skalla, Knight and freshman
Jaxon Hill.
The Nanooks continued to build their lead and hold the visitors at bay before a decisive timeout by UAA at 19-10, changed the course of the match for good. The Nanooks could not regain their momentum as the Seawolves started to click and got three service aces to make it 20-15 and went on a 12-5 run. Alaska had set-point twice, but Matthisen got a kill and an attack by Knight was blocked to give it to the visitors 27-25.
Entering the second set, the momentum swing continued in UAA's favor as Alaska found themselves in a big hole at 11-3 and was unable to find their way back, falling 25-21,
After the intermission, the blue and gold came out refocused. They kept it tight early on going point for point with the Seawolves until 8-8, when UAA broke away with a 14-3 run to make it 11-22. Tidwell and Chavous got kills down the stretch, but it was of little consolation as UAA took the set 25-13 to complete the sweep.
Junior
Allison Oddy (Chilliwack, British Columbia) led the match in the backcourt with 17 digs and even checked in offensively with a kill and an assist. Rookie setter
Becky Martin dished out 25 assists in the loss.
The Nanooks hit the road next week with stops at Western Washington (9/22) and Simon Fraser (9/24).
