Volleyball | 11/12/2011 9:33:00 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Danielle Reese had 18 kills and Samantha Wright added 14 to help power Western Oregon to a 25-21, 25-21, 19-25 and 25-23 win over Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, Nov. 12.

This was the fifth straight win for the Wolves who finished the regular season at 14-8 and 13-5 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. It also dashed the No. 8 regionally ranked Seawolves' (18-8, 14-4 GNAC) hopes of a conference championship. Instead Seattle Pacific captured its second straight GNAC championship with a conference mark of 15-3.

Samantha Ward registered one of her best matches of the season with those 14 kills and just one error for a .361 hitting percentage. Reese added her 18 kills on 43 swings as she posted a .233 hitting percentage. Reese also added 14 digs for the double-double. Megan Triggs led the Wolves with 15 digs and LesLyne Satele posted 44 assists.

The win also kept the Wolves' slim playoff hopes alive, and they played that way throughout match. WOU closed out the first set by scoring eight of the final 12 points. The Wolves carried that momentum into the second set as they never trailed en route to a 25-21 win and a two sets to nothing lead going into the break. After a bump in the road in the third set, Western Oregon jumped out to an 8-1 lead by scoring eight straight points behind the serve of Becky Blees, and held onto the lead for the set and match win.

Western Oregon had a strong serve throughout the match with eight service aces. UAA won the battle at the net with 11 blocks to the Wolves' six.

WOU will now hold its breath in hopes of an invitation to the NCAA West Regional which will be announced Sunday (Nov. 13) at 7:00 p.m. PST.