Box Score
Anchorage, AK -- Academy of Art University was dealt its first loss of the season by University of Alaska Anchorage in the championship match of the Extended Stay Deluxe Invitational. The Seawolves won in four sets (25-16, 21-25, 25-23, 25-14) while the Knights struggled offensively with a .165 hitting percentage for the match. Sophomore outside hitter Dan Yang still had 14 kills overall and sophomore middle blocker Amy Bush added nine kills with a .444 hitting percentage.
“UAA stepped up their game and we needed to step up ours," Head Coach Marcus Young said. "We need to take ownership of every match and we didn't do it. The players have to be on their game to beat a tough team like Alaska Anchorage and some of our players weren't on their game.”
With nine attack errors in the opening set, the Urban Knights (3-1) were able to stay close, but the Seawolves (3-1) opened up an 8-0 lead late and went on to take the set 25-16. AAU then responded by bouncing back with its best set of the match and out killed UAA 16-13 including seven by junior right side Jelena Jakovljevic.
The teams battled through six ties in an extremely close third set in which a kill by Jakovljevic gave the Knights a 17-13 advantage. However, Academy of Art was unable to shut the door and Alaska Anchorage surged back to take the set after both squads were deadlocked at 20. The fourth set was all Seawolves as their early four-point lead ballooned to seven and they took the final set 25-14.
For AAU defensively, Yang backed up her 14 kills with nine digs. It was sophomore libero Nicolette Hagan who led the team with 14 digs. Jakovljevic contributed eight kills and eight digs while freshman setter Melissa Cheng posted 35 assists.
“I thought Amy and Melissa played well,” Coach Young said. “Amy had an outstanding hitting game and we probably should have gotten her the ball more. We had some great hitting from our middle blockers. We've just got to fight for every point out there and we can't give away points to good teams with our errors.”
On UAA's side, four players finished with double-digit kills led by Jackie Matthisen who had 14 to go with her 12 digs. Setter Calli Scott notched 43 assists and led the team with seven block assists. Courtney Lundburg had 12 kills and six block assists.
When the Extended Stay Deluxe Invitational All-Tournament Team was announced following the match, Yang, Cheng, and Jakovljevic all found themselves with the honor of being selected.
“Overall I'm happy with our performance in the tournament going 3-1,” Coach Young said. “I thought Melissa had a good tournament shown by her making the All-Tournament team. I think Melissa is only going to get better throughout the season as she gets more experience in the college game. The first match against UAA, Phooey was unstoppable and the match against KWC, Jelena was lighting them up so they were definitely our leading hitters for the tournament. It was well deserved for those three players who made the All-Tournament Team.”
Academy of Art University next travels to Ellensburg, WA for the Central Washington Invitational which begins on Sept. 3 with a matchup against Seattle Pacific University at 11:00 AM. The Urban Knights will also play Central Washington, Western Washington, and Walla Walla in the competition.
