Volleyball | 9/8/2011 10:49:00 PM

Box Score [Box score]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The match between two of the top teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference on Thursday, Sept. 8th, couldn't be described as anything other than a battle. Both Western Oregon and Alaska Anchorage fought for each point in the five-set match, but in the end it was the Wolves who got in the win column.

Danielle Reese recorded a career-high 23 kills and 14 digs to lead Western Oregon over Alaska Anchorage 26-24, 21-25, 18-25, 28-26 and 15-7, in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener for both teams. The junior from Gig Harbor, Wash. (Gig Harbor High School) recorded a .300 hitting percentage as she had just five errors in 60 swings.

"This was a terrific match to be a part of," said Western Oregon head coach Brad Saindon. "They had a great atmosphere and somehow we were able to keep our nose in the match and pull it off at the end.

"Dani Reese was amazing tonight," Saindon continued. "That was an All-American performance from her."

Corynn Kopra also posted a double-double with a career-high in both kills and digs. The sophomore from Gresham, Ore. (Sam Barlow High School), posted 14 kills and 22 digs for her second career double-double. The Wolves (2-3, 1-0 GNAC) also received a strong performance from Krissi Kemper, who registered a .346 hitting percentage to go along with 13 kills. The offense was flowing all night thru freshman setter, LesLyne Satele, who had a career-high 56 assists in the set. Becky Blees added four aces and Cally Young tied for the team lead with 22 digs.

The Wolves jumped out to the 1-0 lead after a 26-24 win in the first set. The Wolves looked to have pulled away by scoring seven straight points during Cally Young's serve to take a 22-15 lead. However, UAA (4-5, 0-1 GNAC) would mount a comeback and make the Wolves grind it out at the end. WOU went on top 24-17 but the Seawolves answered with seven straight points of their own to knot the set at 24-24. The Wolves would then be lifted to the win as Kopra and Reese recorded back-to-back kills to finish off the set.

The second set followed a similar flow, but it would be the Seawolves which would come out on top. Western Oregon was down 15-11, before it scored three straight points and forced a timeout from UAA. This timeout seemed to give the Seawolves a boost, as they scored the next seven straight points to take a commanding 22-14 lead. Western Oregon would take seven of the next 10 points, but it UAA was able to get the 25-21 win in the second set.

In the third set, Western Oregon opened up by scoring the first six points and eight of the first 10, but after that it was all Alaska Anchorage. UAA scored 23 of the next 33 points to go up two sets to one.

With their backs against the wall the Wolves fought and clawed to even the match at 2-2. The teams would go back and forth throughout the set with neither ever holding more than a three point advantage. WOU found themselves down 21-18, but fought back to tie the match at 22, and then again at 24, 25 and 26. The Wolves kept going to their All-GNAC performers down the stretch as Kemper had two kills and Reese scored four of the Wolves' final seven points, including an ace to finish off the set.

With the match tied up at 2-2, the Wolves would dominate the final set. The set was tied at 4-4 before Western Oregon scored 11 of the next 14 points to win the match. This was just the second loss for Alaska Anchorage at home in their last 19 matches.

"We were able to sustain pressure on them all match and in the fifth we finally broke them," Saindon explained.

"Our goal is to win the GNAC championship and this was a huge step for us," continued Saindon. "It is difficult for anyone to win two matches in Alaska and we were able to get the hardest of the two tonight. We now have to go take care of business in Fairbanks on Saturday."

Western Oregon will take on Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 8:00 p.m. (PST) as they look to take both matches in Alaska for the first time since 2008.