The Nanooks got a match-high 20 kills from Mikala Henderson. Photo courtesy of NCAA
The most successful season in UAF volleyball history came to an end Friday night after falling in four sets to Point Loma in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in San Diego.
Despite winning the third set and playing with plenty of spit and vinegar, the 16th-ranked Nanooks saw their deepest playoff run in school history end, although the sting of the loss shouldn’t overshadow a squad that won a school-record 24 matches and posted the program’s first-ever postseason victory in Thursday’s first round.
Point Loma – ranked ninth in the country and playing on its home court – performed at a high level to outlast the Nanooks, who got a match-high 20 kills from Mikala Henderson.
But the Sea Lions hit .364 in the fourth set and got 16 kills on the night from All-American Abigal Nua to seal the deal and advance to the West Region title match against No. 8 Fresno Pacific, who beat Central Washington in five sets in the other semifinal Friday.
In the first set, UAF’s Haylee Lyons (nine kills) blasted one off the block to give the Nanooks their first lead at 12-11 and later she added another kill for a 14-14 tie. The Alaskans kept it going and used a 6-1 run keyed by two kills from Henderson and an ace from Peri Hoshock to surge ahead 20-17.
Led by Kyra Miles, however, Point Loma responded with an 8-2 run to win the first set. Miles finished the first set with eight of her team’s 16 kills. The freshman was most effective in the middle off quick sets from All-American Sophia Baugh.
Coach Brian Scott led UAF to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and first-round win. Photo courtesy of NCAA
In the second set, Jill Leslie (eight kills, .364) got hot and Point Loma’s defense at net slowed down the UAF attack. Two kills apiece by Henderson and Elena Guc pulled the Nanooks as close as 23-19, but Point Loma held on for the win to take a two-sets-to-none lead.
Earlier in the set, Nua left the match after crashing into the bench in pursuit of an errant pass. She wore a brace on her right leg and limped around while medical staff checked on her. Nau returned in the third set, but it didn’t matter. UAF wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
Henderson slammed six kills in the third set, including three in a row to put the Nanooks ahead 21-15. Elizabeth Jackson’s block made it 24-17 and Guc’s kill capped the 25-20 victory that extended the best-of-five match. Coach Brian Scott also won a challenge in the set.
In the decisive fourth set, the match started tight as the score was 4-4 and 9-9 before Point Loma used an 8-1 run to take control, using that momentum to help the Sea Lions close it out.
UAF 22 20 25 18
Point Loma 25 25 20 25
Attack percentage – UAF .217 (M. Henderson .341, Hoshock .250, Lyons .231), Point Loma .220 (Leslie .364, Miles .286, Rogers .280). Kills – UAF 57 (M. Henderson 20, Guc 11, Lyons 9), Point Loma 56 (Nua 16, Miles 12, Rogers 9). Assists – UAF 53 (C. Henderson 26, Smith 22), Point Loma 53 (Baugh 44). Digs – 66 (Onaga 13, Lyons 12, M. Henderson 11, Flynn 11), Point Loma 69 (Reynolds 18, Baugh 12, Wilson 12). Solo blocks – UAF 1 (Hochock), Point Loma 1 (Miles). Aces – UAF 2 (C. Henderson, Hochock), Point Loma 7 (Two with 2). A – 323.
