University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska women's volleyball team got stronger as the match went along Thursday but could not keep the build-up going through to the end, falling in four sets, 3-1 (14-25, 18-25, 25-21, 12-25), in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match against visiting Central Washington at the Patty Center.
 
After closing their deficit from sets one and two from 11 to 7, the Nanooks (3-18, 2-8 GNAC) then won the third, 25-20, to pull within a set at 2-1. The momentum ran out in the fourth set, however, as Central Washington (10-8, 6-4 GNAC) went on a 20-6 run to turn a 3-2 Alaska lead into a 22-9 advantage.
 
Freshman setter Katelyn Camp (Newton, Iowa/General Studies) posted career highs in assists (41) and digs (14) for her first career double-double. Camp played an integral part on the Nanooks' defense, leading the team in digs for three of the matches' four sets. Camp also had two kills and a service ace.
 
The Nanooks posted a season-high in team digs with 66, led by a career-high 17 from redshirt sophomore libero Samantha Hesterman (Ormiston, Saskatchewan/Social Work). The Wildcats were held to a .265 hitting percentage after opponents had hit .308 against the Nanooks entering the match.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Sam Harthun (Oregon City, Ore./Art) had over 20 kills for the second straight match, notching 21 against the Wildcats Thursday after collecting 26 at Simon Fraser on Saturday. Harthun hit .271 in the match and now has 296 kills this season with eight matches to play. She set her career season-high of 314 kills last season as a freshman.
 
The Nanooks stayed close in the second set after succumbing to an 11-2 Central Washington run midway through the first stanza that allowed the Wildcats to win it 25-14. Alaska tied the second set at 12-12 and only trailed by three at 20-17 before the Wildcats won the second frame 25-18.
 
But Central Washington had a clean attack sheet in the fourth set with 10 kills and no errors, allowing for the eventual match-clinching set victory. Central Washington had three players with double-digit kills in the match, led by Erin Smith with 13. Smith hit .440 to lead all players. Emmy Dolan had 11 kills and Jordan Deming had 10 with only one attack error.
 
The Nanooks will celebrate the "Dig Pink" movement for breast cancer awareness at 3 p.m. Saturday against Northwest Nazarene – winners over Alaska Anchorage Thursday in four sets, 3-1. Click here to make a donation to the team's "Dig Pink" donation page. Donations will also be collected Saturday in the Patty Center lobby.