The UAF Nanooks women's volleyball team fought a vicious tooth-and-nail five-game battle with archenemy UAA Seawolves Saturday, in what UAF head coach Phil Shoemaker could only describe as "a great victory" in front of a raucous, record breaking home crowd of 758.

"This was a game we needed to have, and it being against Anchorage is another reason for celebration," said Shoemaker.

The Nanooks won the first game of the series 30-24, the fourth game 31-29, and the final tiebreaker 16-14. The Seawolves did not capitulate easily, however, winning games two and three and matching UAF almost point for point throughout the match. 

"Anchorage played an outstanding match," said Shoemaker.

Shoemaker highlighted Senior Mallory Bergstrom and Sophomore Danielle Hitzman as two major offensive contributors, but said the whole team played an important role in Saturday's victory.

Hitzman issued a stellar performance as one of UAF's top offensive and defensive players, with a team-high 20 kills, three aces, 13 defensive digs, and one block.  

"Our team overall had intensity like a rollercoaster," she said.  "We had some great moments, and some not so great moments. It feels good to win." 

Hitzman also expressed her appreciation for all the people who showed up for Saturday's game.  "They really help," she said.

UAF Senior and stalwart offensive weapon Mallory Bergstrom had a productive night, with 16 kills, 10 defensive digs and three blocks.

"I'd say this just goes to show that there are some really great volleyball teams in Alaska, and the better team won," Bergstrom said.

The intensity of Bergstrom's play could be seen in her face, and makes one feel sorry for the other team, and the ball.

Captain Jenny Mitchell and Carolyn DeKay led the Seawolves with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.

Senior setter Dasa Capova led the Nanooks with 37 set assists.  Freshman

Mallory McCormick, senior Carlin Smith, and junior April Blandford all had five kills in the victory.  Blandford scored the winning point, a light hit on a Seawolves overpass, beating the Wolves in rally point 16-14 and sending the UAF crowd into a frenzy.

UAA head coach Kim Lauwers said she "expected a match like this" at the

Patty Center.  "We're two pretty evenly matched teams, we battled hard, and we came out two points shy," she said.

The win puts UAF at 5-4 in conference play and tied in fourth place at 8-8 with the Seattle Pacific Falcons.  UAA dropped to 3-6 in the conference, and is tied in seventh at 9-8 with the Western Washington Wolves.

UAF has two home games this weekend, taking on Seattle University on Friday, and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.  Both games start at seven.

Photo by Dave Lokken/ Sun Star
Mallory Bergstrom (6) hits against UAA Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004 at the Patty Center. The Nanooks defeated the Seawolves 3-2.

Photo by Dave Lokken/ Sun Star
April Blandford (16) spikes against University ofAlaska Anchorage, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004 at the Patty Center. The Nanooks defeated the Seawolves 3-2.

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