Volleyballs set to battle UAA for state supremacy

September 27, 2012

University Relations

Jamie Foland
474-6807

Fairbanks, Alaska – The Alaska volleyball team completes its three-match road trip this Saturday as it travels down to Anchorage to take on Great Northwest Athletic Conference rival Alaska Anchorage in a battle for the 49th state.

First serve is set for 7 p.m. from the Wells Fargo Sports Complex on UAA's campus and three ways to keep up with the Nanooks are through live stats, live audio and a live in-match blog on alaskananooks.com.

The Nanooks enter this week's matchup with a 2-8 overall record and is yet to win in GNAC play with a 0-4 mark. Last week, Alaska fell in both matches as it dropped a 3-1 decision at Saint Martin's Thursday before losing 3-0 at Western Oregon two nights later.

Alaska was led by freshman outside hitter Sam Harthun. She produced a team-high 26 kills, including a career-high 18 at SMU. She also hit .203 while tallying 26 digs and five blocks. Freshman setter Katlyn Mataya totaled 63 assists, including a match-high 42 dimes against the Saints and senior outside hitter Reilly Stevens added 14 kills and 13 digs for the week.

For the year, Harthun is the leading attacker with 2.89 kills per set and ranks second on the team with 2.19 digs per set. Mataya ranks fifth in the GNAC and 56th nationally with 9.65 assists and also contributes 1.92 digs per frame, ranking third for the Nanooks.

Match #11: Alaska at Alaska Anchorage – Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. (AKDT)
Important Links: LIVE STATS   LIVE VIDEO   LIVE BLOG
The Seawolves went 1-1 on the road last week, falling in straight sets at Western Oregon, before dropping Saint Martin's in straight sets a couple days later. UAA enters the in-state clash with an 8-4 overall record and 3-1 mark in league action and has won 14 straight at home, which is one shy from tying the program record.

UAA is led offensively by Katelynn Zanders and Julia Mackey as the duo average 3.59 (46th NCAA) and 3.14 kills per set, respectively. Kimya Jafroudi has produced 11.02 assists per set (15th NCAA) and tallied 23 service aces (56th NCAA). Other key contributors include: Sarah Johnson (2.83 kps, .280 attack perc.), Maureen Sabado (1.25 bps, .324 attack perc.) and Siobhan Johansen (4.28 dps).

Anchorage leads the all-time series 58-34 and has won 33 of 45 at home. Last season, the Seawolves went 2-0 against the Nanooks, notching a pair of 3-0 victories.