ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Chico State volleyball team fell in straight sets to Alaska Anchorage on Saturday at Alaska Airlines Center, with final scores of 25-20, 25-19, 25-21.
This marked the final match of UAA's Seawolf Classic. The Wildcats (1-3) recorded a total of 39 kills, matched by Seawolves (5-2), which also had a higher hitting percentage of .340 compared to the Wildcats' .136.
Kassandra Nall led Chico State with 11 kills on 24 attempts, resulting in a hitting percentage of .292. Claire Nordeen contributed significantly with 25 assists and collected 13 digs, moving into the program's all-time top 10 with 1,562 career assists, surpassing Melanie Ardans (1989). Maria Wahl added to the defense with 11 digs and also served two aces. Sinam Minasian was effective at the service line, recording two aces while adding five assists and nine digs.
The match began with Alaska Anchorage taking an early lead, capitalizing on two attack errors by Nall to go up 2-0. Chico State responded with a kill from Nall, but Bella Burney's attack soon extended the Seawolves' lead. Despite the Wildcats narrowing the gap to 8-8 with a block from Wyievee Binda, the Seawolves surged ahead with key kills from Kyana Gabriel and Lee Ivakina. Jillian Davis, who reached a career milestone of 150 total points, and Whitney Fairfield contributed with timely kills, yet the Seawolves maintained their edge. In the closing stages, Alaska Anchorage's Hannah Trotter and Burney delivered crucial points, with the set concluding at 25-20 on an attack error by Nall.
In the second set, the Seawolves built an early lead against the Wildcats, capitalizing on service errors and strong plays from Kyana Gabriel and Trinity Byrne. Nall delivered multiple kills to keep the visitors in contention, but Alaska Anchorage maintained pressure with service aces from Mary Nahinu and Anna McWhorter. The Wildcats rallied late with a service ace from Wahl and a kill by Binda, narrowing the gap to 19-22. However, Alaska Anchorage secured the set 25-19, with Byrne closing the set with a decisive kill.
In the third set, Alaska Anchorage secured a narrow win over Chico State with a 25-21 score. Trotter's service ace kicked off the set, giving Anchorage an early lead. Davis and Wahl each contributed crucial kills, narrowing the gap. Notably, Sophia Heller reached a career milestone of 150 kills, contributing 1 kill in the current game. However, Anchorage's Byrne and Burney capitalized on attack errors from the Wildcats, maintaining their edge. Despite a late rally by the Wildcats, including a service ace by Minasian, Anchorage closed the set with a block by Martina Riba and Emma Beck, clinching the match.
Chico State will have the upcoming weekend off and will open CCAA play at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.
