UAA Athletics

No. 14 Seawolves open volleyball season with win

The UAA volleyball team said aloha to the new season by defeating BYU-Hawaii in a Thursday night match in Laie, Hawaii.

The Seawolves, ranked 14th in the nation, rebounded from a first-game loss to beat the Seasiders 22-25, 25-7, 25-18, 25-17.

The match marked the final time UAA took the court against the Seasiders in Laie. BYU-Hawaii is eliminating athletics next school year, saying it will use the money saved by cutting sports to expand enrollment.

UAA middle blocker Erin Braun started her senior season in style by providing 11 kills, seven blocks and five service aces. She posted a .269 attack percentage to help UAA compile a .162 team attack percentage to BYU's .057.

Braun was particularly effective in the second game. UAA rebounded from the narrow first-game loss to overwhelm BYU-Hawaii in the second game, racing to an 11-2 lead. Braun served four straight aces and had two solo blocks to spark the Seawolves in that game.

"We did a nice job of cleaning up our effort after a sloppy first set, so it's encouraging to see that kind of composure — especially in a hostile road environment — this early in the season and with this many new faces," coach Chris Green said in a press release from UAA. "Our seniors really did a nice job of setting the pace and turning our mindset from hesitant to aggressive."

Morgan Hooe opened her final season with UAA by putting up 40 assists. The Seawolves racked up 50 kills against BYU's 35.

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Other top contributors for the Seawolves included sophomore Leah Swiss, who totaled 12 kills and 10 digs for her seventh career double-double.

Chrisalyn Johnson, a sophomore who was a backup last season to now-departed All-America outside hitter Katelynn Zanders, blasted 12 kills to match her total output from last season.

Kyla Amper-Militante (18 digs) and Taylor Noga (11 digs) sparked UAA's defense, and newcomer Diana Fa'amausil provided seven kills and five block assists.

Leilani Adolpho led BYU-Hawaii, an NCAA Division II school that belongs to the Pacific West Conference, with 11 kills and 22 digs.

The Seawolves play two more matches in Hawaii — Friday at 9 p.m. ADT against Chaminade and Saturday at 8 p.m. against Hawaii Pacific — before returning home to prepare for their home-opening match next Thursday.

Beth Bragg

Beth Bragg wrote about sports and other topics for the ADN for more than 35 years, much of it as sports editor. She retired in October 2021. She's contributing coverage of Alaskans involved in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

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