University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

McGrath Post-Match Interview

LAIE, Hawaii - From one night to the next, the Alaska volleyball team took some big steps in Friday night's 3-0 loss to fifth-ranked Brigham Young University-Hawai'i at the Cannon Activities Center.
 
After turning in a negative hitting percentage and committing 27 errors a night ago at Hawai'i-Hilo, the Nanooks (0-2) had a solid attacking clip of .225 (37-14-102) with only 14 errors against one of the premier teams in the country but it was the Seasiders (2-0) who won the match by set scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-16.
 
BYU-H hit .340 (44-10-100) and added eight service aces to claim the match win. Shih Ting Chen led all players with a match-high 14 kills to go with nine digs while Noel Pauga added 10 terminations. Ying Chun Chen had a match-best 36 assists, three aces and nine digs and Ho'onani Apo led the match with 11 digs.
 
For the Nanooks, sophomore outside hitter Sam Harthun (Oregon City, Ore./Art) had team-highs 13 kills, three aces and three blocks and junior middle blocker Morgan McGrath (Queen Creek, Ariz./Business Administration) contributed six kills to go with three blocks. Senior Keri Knight (Arvada, Colo./Business Administration) had more success tonight with five terminations, while freshman middle blocker Lilah Hudson (Seattle, Wash./Wildlife Biology and Conservation) and fellow rookie setter Katelyn Camp (Newton, Iowa/General Studies) both had four kills. Camp also had 28 assists to lead Alaska.
 
In the first, BYU-Hawai'i led 9-8 but kills by Ying Chun Chen and Pauga sparked a 5-0 run, which was capped off by a pair of service aces, giving the hosts a 14-8 lead. The set went back and forth the rest of the way and Alaska never drew closer than five the rest of the set. In the frame both teams had spectacular numbers, as the Seasiders hit .600 (13-1-20) while the Nanooks turned in a solid .464 (16-3-28) percentage.
 
The second set was by far the highlight of the night with long rallies and exciting finishes to many of the points. Early on, BYU-H reeled off four in a row to grab an 11-6 advantage. After Alaska drew to within two at 14-12, the Seasiders came back with four of five to lead to 18-13. Trailing 20-15, the Nanooks answered back with four straight with a pair of kills, coupled with two BYU-H errors. Leading 22-21, BYU-Hawaii was able to fend off the 'Nooks due in part to three Alaska errors to end the set.
 
The Nanooks got out to a 9-7 lead in the third but BYU quickly knotted it up with two in a row with a pair of kills. Tied at 12, the Seasiders got a kill from Shih Ting Chen to spark a 3-0 mini run. Leading 17-14, a Harthun service error gave way for back-to-back BYU-H aces that started a 6-1 run. Comfortably ahead 23-16, the Seasiders closed it out with a kill and Alaska error to win the match in straight sets.
 
Alaska hits the court twice on Saturday in Honolulu beginning at 1 p.m. (Hawaiian) and 3 p.m. (Alaskan) at Chaminade. Later on in the day, the Nanooks face Hawai'i Pacific at 6 p.m. local time and 8 p.m. back in Alaska.
 
Both matches will be available on Stretch Internet with a live audio stream. In addition, live stats will be available for the Chaminade match.