Volleyball | 10/1/2009 9:57:27 PM

Box Score [Box score]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Western Oregon volleyball team fell in straight sets, 25-20, 25-21 and 25-20, at Alaska Anchorage Thursday, Oct. 1.

The Great Northwest Athletic Conference loss drops the Wolves to 2-3 in league play and to 5-11 on the season. The win broke the tie between UAA and WOU for fifth place in league as the Seawolves improved to 3-2 in conference and to 11-7 this year.

Sylvia Herrold and Danielle Reese had eight kills apiece to lead Western Oregon but they were outdone by Anchorage's Jackie Matthisen who pounded out 20 kills. Amy Herron had 23 assists for the Wolves while conference-leader Calli Scott dished out 35 for the Seawolves. Laura Sakala recorded 3.5 blocks (one solo) to lead WOU but the GNAC kill percentage leader (.381) was held to just three kills on seven attempts with two errors.

As a team, Western Oregon struggled to put the ball away as it registered a .190 hitting percentage (31-15-84) to Alaska Anchorage's .299 mark (46-17-97).

UAA took big leads in the first and third sets forcing WOU to dig itself out of a hole on each occasion, but in the second set the Wolves had a chance to bring the match even at one set apiece. The Wolves jumped out in front to an early 12-6 lead but the Seawolves spurted ahead 17-15 before the two teams exchanged points and found the set tied at 19-19. Anchorage then posted three straight kills and five in its last six points for the set win.

The Western Oregon volleyball team now journeys cross-state to Alaska Fairbanks to take on the Nanooks Saturday, Oct. 1 at 3:00 p.m. (ast).