Volleyball | 11/1/2008 5:12:34 PM
Box Score ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The No. 24 Western Oregon University volleyball took down Alaska Anchorage 23-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22 and 15-12, Saturday, Nov. 1, to become the first team in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference this season to win both its matches on the dreaded Alaska road trip.
Win the win the Wolves maintained its one-match lead in the GNAC as it improved to 11-1 in conference and 18-2 on the season. The loss evened the Seawolves' record at 13-13 on the season and 5-8 in the GNAC.
Stacey Bennett led Western Oregon with 20 kills and also added 25 digs for her sixth consecutive double-double and eighth of the season. Kayla Mainer also recorded a double-double as she had 16 kills to go along with her 25 digs. Laura Sakala was the team-leader in hitting percentage at .290 as she posted 10 kills and only one error in 31 attempts. Setter Amy Herron also had a double-double on the evening as she had a team-best 31 assists to go along with 10 digs. Danielle English led the Wolves in digs with 29.
Western Oregon was able to win a number of critical statistical categories en route to the victory. It outblocked Alaska Anchorage 13-8, as Lisa Martini led WOU with six assisted blocks Stephanie Beeler also added five of her own and Bennett and Sakala chipped in with four apiece but. The Wolves were also able to take advantage of the Seawolves' 11 extra hitting errors (32-21) as it also won the hitting percentage battle (.189-.163).
"This was huge win for this team after a difficult road trip," said Brad Saindon. "My hat is off to Alaska Anchorage, they gave us all we could handle, but our team has incredible resolve and was able to put it together when we needed it most for another important conference win."
Many of the five sets could have gone either way as all but the third set had the two teams tied with less than six points remaining for a possible set win. The first set was tied 23-23 before the Seawolves got a kill from Rhea Cardwell and a block on Bennett's attack attempt for the 25-23 set win.
In the second set, Western Oregon found itself trailing 22-20 but it then took five of the next six points for the 25-23 set win. The Wolves were aided to the victory as three of its five final points came on attacking errors by the Seawolves.
After falling 25-20 in the third set, Western Oregon responded valiantly as their backs were against the wall. After UAA went on a 5-0 run to take a 15-13 lead, WOU answered back and took 12 of the next 19 points for the 25-22 set victory.
In the fifth and deciding set, the Wolves found themselves down 8-3 but they then captured 12 of the next 16 points to remain unbeaten in the fifth set this season. During its 12-4 run, Western Oregon received four kills from Mainer and four hitting errors from Alaska Anchorage. Martini, who also had two kills during the run, ended the match with two consecutive service aces as the Wolves went on to the 15-12 set win and the 3-2 match victory.
The No. 24 Western Oregon women's volleyball team will now return home to face No. 12 Western Washington (18-2, 10-2 GNAC) Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7:00 p.m., at the Physical Education Building in a match that could possibly decide the GNAC championship and a berth to the NCAA Division II tournament.
