University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

Box Score ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Alaska volleyball team gave its arch-rival all it could handle Saturday at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex. After falling behind 2-0, the Nanooks roared back with a win in the third set and pushed the first-place Seawolves to four set points in the fourth before Alaska Anchorage finally clinched a 3-1 (25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 28-26) win.
 
As close as Saturday's match was, every point proved crucial for both teams. Three of the match's four sets were decided by the minimum two points. The match saw a total of 39 ties and 16 lead changes. The Nanooks (4-21, 3-11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) led 19-17 in the first set before the Seawolves (18-8, 12-2 GNAC) went on a 5-0 run and then had to hold off Alaska after back-to-back kills made it 24-23.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Sam Harthun (Oregon City, Ore./Art) and senior outside hitter Keri Knight (Arvada, Colo./Business Administration) both had 15 kills to lead Alaska. Harthun also collected 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Knight's 15 kills brings her season total to 216, tying her career season best from her sophomore campaign in 2011.
 
The Nanooks tallied 60 digs on the night – their second-highest total of the season. The team also had eight total team blocks.
 
It was truly a defensive match, as both teams hit below .160. Alaska Anchorage hit .156 with 31 attack errors and nine service errors, but they gathered 65 digs and had 15 total team blocks. Alaska hit .122.
 
The Nanooks also got a combined 14 kills from their middle blockers, junior Morgan McGrath (Queen City, Ariz./Business Administration) and redshirt junior Britt Glaeser (Fairbanks, Alaska/Business Administration). McGrath tied a season-high with eight and Glaeser logged six. The duo also combined for six block assists and a solo block from Glaeser.
 
Alaska Anchorage was led by Katelynn Zanders with 18 kills and Brooke Pottle with 15.
 
The fourth set saw 21 ties and nine lead changes alone. Neither team held more than a three-point lead during the set as Alaska pushed to tie the match at 2-2. It was the Nanooks who had to overcome a 22-19 deficit with a quick 4-0 run to take a 23-22 lead thanks to three straight attack errors from Pottle.
 
The teams went back and forth for the next eight points, with the Seawolves fighting off two set points and the Nanooks fighting off one before finally falling 28-26.
 
Alaska returns home next week for its final homestand of the season. The Nanooks host Simon Fraser for Alumni Appreciation Night at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Western Washington visits at 7 p.m. Saturday for Senior Night, honoring the team's lone senior, Knight.