MONMOUTH, Ore.--Western Oregon gave perennial volleyball power Alaska Anchorage all they could handle before finally giving up the ghost during a 3-0 victory for the visitors on Thursday night at the Western Athletic Center.
The Seawolves rallied back in the third set to clip the Wolves hopes during a 25-16, 25-23, 26-24 triumph. UAA improved to 12-6 on the season with the win and to 5-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Western Oregon slipped to 6-10 on the year and to 2-6 in GNAC play.Â
Kate Markley led the Wolves with 14 kills, equaling her second highest total of the season.
Cali-Jo Shigemasa had a career-high 24 digs to keep the Wolves defense alive. 11 digs was the previous best for the Oahu native and Portland State transfer.
Although a three-set sweep, the match was closer than that.Â
The Seawolves did take off in the first set, running away from a 12-12 tie with five straight points to cruise from there to the 25-16 first set.
But the second set was a battle, with the Wolves taking the early lead at 4-0 and 6-1. UAA would battle back to 10-10 and would then hold a slight margin all the way to 21-21 when WOU tied it. It was knotted again at 22-22, but the Seawolves won three of the final four points to take the 25-23 set.
In the third, the Wolves led the entire set until the very end. WOU held a four-point lead at 15-11, and UAA didn't even draw even until 17-17. Still, the Seawolves never led until taking a 23-22 edge late, but WOU clawed right back with a kill by
Malena Mathis and then another by
Finley Buman to create a set point at 24-23. But the visitors scored the next three points to close out the match at 26-24.
The Wolves will return to the WAC on Saturday night to take on Alaska at 7 pm. It will be Dig Pink Night, fans are encourage to wear pink to the match to honor those who have had breast cancer.Â
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