Jaunet's career night sparks Seawolves to 3-2 win over Sea Lions

ANCHORAGE (Aug. 26) – Senior outside hitter Lisa Jaunet blasted a career-high 25 kills to lead the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team’s rally from a 2-0 deficit Friday, earning a 23-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-9, 15-8 victory over Point Loma in the Seawolf Invitational at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (6-0) also got 14 kills and 13 assists from senior rightside hitter Eve Stephens as they outhit the visitors from San Diego .429 to .176 over the final three sets.

The Sea Lions (2-1) were led by 22 kills and 10 digs from freshman outside hitter Abigail Nua and 48 assists from setter Lauren Phillips.

“We did a tremendous job of keeping our focus and playing with confidence despite being down two sets,” said UAA head coach Chris Green, whose team had swept its first five contests. “Lisa is really coming into her own as one of the top outside hitters in the (NCAA Div. II) West Region, and she showed why tonight. But it was our improved defense in the latter sets that really made the difference and gave us a chance to win.”

Senior setter Ellen Floyd finished with 50 assists and match-highs of 15 digs and four blocks on a night when she surpassed all-time Seawolf great Morgan Hooe (3,920 assists from 2013-16) for the UAA career record, now with 3,934 assists. The Pensacola, Fla., native also had six kills on match-high .500 hitting.

After playing from behind throughout the first two sets, UAA went back-and-forth with the visitors in the third. Tied 17-17, Stephens recorded the next four points for UAA with a kill, two aces and another kill to take control. UAA finished the frame with an 8-2 run, capped by a kill from sophomore middle blocker Isabel Evans.

The Seawolves jumped to leads of 10-0 and 13-1 in the fourth set, outhitting the Sea Lions .500 to .100 in that frame.

Tied 5-5 in the fifth, Jaunet put UAA ahead for good with a kill that started a 4-0 run. Stephens registered back-to-back kills for a 9-5 lead and Grace Hicks answered with a kill for Point Loma, but the visitors could get no closer. After a kill by Hicks made it 12-8, UAA took the last three points on a Hicks attack error, an ace by Reilly Plumhoff and a block of Nua by Floyd and Leilani Elder.

Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Blue registered 13 kills in the victory, while Elder and Evans notched five apiece.

Senior libero Talia Leauanae had 14 digs, seven assists and four aces, and freshman Madison Galloway added 12 digs and a career-high four assists.

The Seawolves finish their home-opening weekend Saturday with a 7 p.m. first serve against Pittsburg State (1-1) at the Alaska Airlines Center.

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