Box Score FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- Senior Sam Harthun's 15-kill performance against the No. 11-ranked Alaska Anchorage Seawolves moved her into second place on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball all-time kill list, but it would be UAA capturing victory from a determined Nanook squad on Tuesday night, as Alaska dropped a hard-fought 3-1 (26-24, 11-25, 12-25, 15-25) decision at Alaska Airlines Court.
Harthun electrified the season-best home crowd of 603, who was seeing the Nanooks in action for the first time in 16 days, as she collected 15 kills to lead her team. The performance moved the Oregon City, Oregon native into second place on the school's all-time kills list, as she passed former standout Megan Thigpen, who captured 1,213 from 2006-09.
"I love putting on a show in front of our home crowd, and it means so much to me to move into second player on the all-time kills list here in front of them," said Harthun after the match. "I adore our fans and I'm really happy that I was able to get this accomplishment in front of them."
Harthun now has 1,224 kills in her career, as she now trails all-time leader Mallory Bergstrom, who collected 1,363 kills from 2001-04, by 139. Harthun's performance also extends her double-digit kills streak to a season-best six-straight matches.
Alaska (0-10, 0-3 GNAC) took advantage of being back at Alaska Airlines Court in the opening set, as the Nanooks battled back from a late five-point deficit to capture a 26-24 come-from-behind victory in set one. The rally was sparked by a Harthun kill, as the Nanooks rolled off four-straight points to pull within one at 22-21. An ace from junior Jennifer Morris knotted the set up at 24-all, and the Nanooks took the 25-24 lead after an error by Alaska Anchorage (11-0, 3-0 GNAC). Junior Lilah Hudson capped off the opening set with a kill to give Alaska a 26-24 win. The set one win was the first victory over Alaska Anchorage since Nov. 9 of 2013, and was the team's eighth on the year.
The No. 11-ranked team in the country stood tall in the next three sets, as Alaska Anchorage took each frame by double-digits to win the match in four sets.
"Anchorage is a really good team, they are No. 11 for a reason, but I liked the way our girls started this match," said head coach Brian Scott. "I felt like we had a good game plan going into this match and our players did a great job of executing in that first set. It broke down a bit after that, and Anchorage took control, but we have to maintain those stretches where we are competing at a high level to get this thing turned around."
Alaska out-hit the Seawolves, .250-.231, in the opening set, but Alaska Anchorage limited the Nanooks hot start, as UAA limited Alaska to just a .027 for the remainder of the night. The No. 11-ranked team in the nation posted a .410-.093 advantage in hitting percentage on the night. Freshman Amberly Jeane barely missed out on her fourth double-digit kill performance of the year, as she landed nine attacks, but she did lead the Nanooks in hitting with her .211 hitting percentage.
Senior setter Miranda Grieser handed out a team-best 20 assists to extend her double-digit assists streak to 36 matches. Redshirt senior Samantha Hesterman led the team in digs with eight, as the team collected a total of 25 on the night.
The Nanooks continue their four-match Great Northwest Athletic Conference home stand on Saturday, as they host Montana State Billings at 2 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Court.
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