ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The No. 20 Point Loma and No. 14 Alaska Anchorage volleyball teams squared off today in a matchup of top 25 teams at the GNAC/PacWest Crossover Challenge, and the Seawolves won the battle of aquatic animals in four sets 25-20, 25-13, 22-25 and 25-15 (Sept. 11).
 
The victory allowed UAA (6-0) to remain perfect on the season, while PLNU (4-2) suffered its second loss.
 
Alaska Anchorage's defensive prowess proved to be the deciding factor in the match. The Seawolves held PLNU to a season-low hitting percentage of .155, while they posted a .317 hitting percentage, the best mark for anyone against Point Loma since Sept. 13, 2013 (CSU Dominguez Hills). UAA also held an 11-3 advantage in blocks.
 
Heather Leavitt extended her streak of double-doubles to six matches as she posted a team-leading 13 kills and 11 digs for the Sea Lions.
 
Leah Swiss paced the Seawolves with 15 kills and Morgan Hooe added a match-best 43 assists.
 
UAA jumped on PLNU early to take a 2-0 lead thanks to a .294 and .393 hitting percentage in the first and second sets, respectively. The Seawolves made just four hitting errors in the two sets. Point Loma battled back and took the third set 25-22 but were unable to push the match to the decisive fifth set after their early deficit.
 
This was the first time PLNU volleyball had ever been in a top 25 matchup since becoming an active NCAA member prior to the 2014 season.
 
Point Loma will be back in action first thing Saturday morning to face No. 19 Western Washington in another top 25 matchup. The match will start at 9:30 a.m. PLNU will then face Northwest Nazarene at 5:00 p.m. to close out their 2015 GNAC/PacWest Crossover Challenge.