Volleyball | 9/10/2011 10:17:00 PM

Box Score [Box score]

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Western Oregon volleyball team accomplished a feat which has not been done in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference since 2008; go 2-0 on its road trip to Alaska.

After opening the journey with a five-set victory at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, the Wolves (3-3, 2-0 GNAC) completed the rare feat with a 17-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-20 and 15-7 win over Alaska Fairbanks (0-10, 0-2 GNAC) on Saturday, Sept. 10.

The Wolves fell behind early as the Nanooks took the first two sets, but they responded to take the next three and the match.

“It is tough to get a sweep in Alaska,” explained Western Oregon head coach Brad Saindon. “We had to fight for everything and I am proud of my team.”

Krissi Kemper paced the Wolves with a .438 hitting percentage as she registered 15 kills and just one error. Danielle Reese had a team-high 16 kills and added 15 dogs for her second straight double-double. Western Oregon's defensive specialist duo of Cally Young and Megan Triggs each had 17 digs. LesLyne Satele had 45 assists.

However, despite strong performances from those student-athletes the key may have been to insert Corynn Kopra into the lineup after the second set.

“Corynn had a pulled ab so I tried not to play her but after falling behind two sets I decided to put her in,” said Saindon. “The team really responded to that and started playing better.”

The challenge of going to Alaska is not just having to play two quality opponents, it is the travel. After the game last night the Wolves had to catch a plane out of Fairbanks at 10:20 p.m., fly to Anchorage then to Seattle and onto Portland. They arrived at PDX at 5:00 a.m. to start their trip back to Monmouth.

The Wolves will hope to carry their momentum into this upcoming weekend when Simon Fraser and Western Washington come to town. WOU will host Simon Fraser on Thursday, Sept. 15, in the home opener and Western Washington on Saturday. Both matches will start at 7:00 p.m.