UAA volleyball ends UAF with 16-14 fifth set

The University of Alaska Anchorage volleyball team clinched a 3-2 victory over the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Friday night, winning the deciding fifth set 16-14.

The match ended a five-match losing streak for the Seawolves and secured their first season-series sweep over their in-state rival since 2023.

Earlier in October, UAA traveled to Fairbanks and won that matchup in three straight sets. The home game at the Alaska Airlines Center concluded a split season between the two GNAC opponents.

The contest featured five sets of back-and-forth play. UAF won the first set 25-19. UAA responded by taking the second 25-20 and the fourth 25-23. Fairbanks took the third set 25-21 before the Seawolves closed out the game in the fifth.

UAA head coach Morgan Hooe noted that the team faced numerous hitting errors and had to stay disciplined against a strong opponent. "It definitely wasn’t our best game," Hooe said. "A lot of hitting errors, and credit to Fairbanks, they were really making us work for it and be out of system a whole lot."

Hooe emphasized the need for small adjustments to improve offensive speed. "For us, we just had to be 1% better and focus on the small things like just getting a little better pass or getting a little bit better dig so we can move a little bit faster on offense," he added.

Senior setter Hannah Trotter led the team with 35 assists and 15 digs. She was one of three Seawolves to record a double-double in the match. Trotter described the game as a physical battle where both sides wanted to win. "Everyone had that mentality that ‘We want to win, we want to fight this battle,’ and we just came out on top," she said.

Senior Lee Ivakina recorded 20 kills and 11 digs. She accounted for six of her kills during the fifth set. Ivakina credited the home crowd for helping focus the team. "When they scream on the last point and everyone counts down, it’s great," Ivakina said.

The win keeps UAA in contention for the GNAC title and places the team on the verge of qualifying for the West Region championship tournament. Last year, UAF defeated UAA three times, including a three-set sweep in the opening round of the regional tournament.

Hooe stated that the rivalry adds an extra layer of intensity to the regular season schedule. "We want to come out and beat everyone all the time, and I think when it’s our in-state rival, it kind of heightens it a little bit more," he said.