ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The University of Alaska Anchorage used a combination of consistency and power to sweep Montana State University Billings 3-0 in volleyball Saturday night at Alaska Airlines Center in front of a crowd of 1186. The Yellowjackets found few answers to the Seawolves relentless attack and UAA made 55 total kills compared to 26 for MSUB.
 
With a victory Saturday night, the Seawolves won the season series between the two teams 2-0 with shutouts in both matches.
 
It was a night in which everything seemed to be clicking for the Alaska Anchorage team. Eve Stevens led the Seawolves with 15 kills and a .440 hitting percentage and Tara Melton finished with 12 kills and a .647 hitting percentage on the night. Several other players chipped in on the effort and helped Alaska Anchorage outhit MSUB .366 to .136, including .469 in the second set.
 
"Sometimes you have to give credit to your opponent," commented MSUB head coach Casey Williams. "Anchorage played lights out tonight. It is tough to beat a team that hits over .400 in two of three sets."
 
Despite the loss, Eavan Taylor hit .364 for the Yellowjackets with five kills and one block. Maddi Vigil and Izela Alvarez led the team defensively with 12 and 10 digs respectively. Riley Moore had a team high six kills and a .286 hitting percentage.
 
Alaska Anchorage (16-4, 9-3 GNAC) tied Central Washington for second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with the win over Montana State Billings (9-12, 3-9 GNAC) Saturday night. The Yellowjackets remained in ninth place ahead of Western Oregon and Saint Martin's after taking their second loss of the weekend in Alaska.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: After MSUB held an early advantage, the Seawolves made a 4-0 run to take a 12-10 lead in the first set. The 'Jackets struck back with a 4-0 run of their own to go ahead 17-15. MSUB extended its' lead to three 19-16 after a Maddi Vigil service ace. The teams traded the lead two more times before Alaska Anchorage earned a set point 24-22 after a kill by Eve Stevens. Stephens fired another kill to take the opening frame 25-22.
 
Stevens made six kills in the first set and Alaska Anchorage hit .225. For MSUB, Riley Moore led the way with four kills and the Yellowjackets hit .250, a statistic that was drastically turned in the Seawolves favor as the match continued.
 
The Seawolves came out swinging in the second set and Stevens continued to find ways to get past the block of Montana State Billings. UAA dominated with 17 kills compared to seven for MSUB and outhit the Yellowjackets .469 to .028, which resulted in a 25-13 rout.
 
MSUB struggled to find rhythm in the third set and had a negative hitting percentage through the first 17 points. The Yellowjackets improved their quality of play shortly after and tied the set 16-16 with contributions from Eavan Taylor and Bayli Monck. Alaska Anchorage won the next four points to take a commanding 20-16 lead.
 
In the longest point of the match, the Seawolves turned defense into offense quickly and Vanessa Boyer finished with a kill to get UAA within three points of victory. Ellen Floyd made a kill to give the Seawolves match point. Then Floyd closed again with her fourth kill to give the Seawolves the third and final set 25-20. UAA outhit MSUB in the final set .425 to .129.
 
The Yellowjackets have nine regular season matches still to play as they begin to make their way toward the stretch run. MSUB will begin a five-match homestand on Thursday and just two road contests remain on the schedule.
 
ALL-TIME: The Yellowjackets are 10-45 in the all-time series against the Seawolves. MSUB is 2-8 over its' last ten matchups against UAA.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets return home on Thursday October 18 to face Saint Martin's University (3-15, 1-11 GNAC) at 7 p.m. The Saints picked up their first GNAC win this week with a 3-2 victory over Western Oregon. Alaska Anchorage has aspirations for the NCAA Division II tournament and will host No. 6 Western Washington next, on Thursday October 18.
 
THE BUZZ: Izela Alvarez was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for Montana State University Billings. Alvarez posted a pair of service aces and ten kills Saturday night in Anchorage.