The combination of a season-best offensive performance by Seattle University and a multitude of errors committed by Alabama State equaled a 3-0 victory for the Redhawks (25-7, 25-14, 25-15) Saturday evening at the Cougar Challenge, hosted by Washington State University at Bohler Gymnasium.
Seattle U jumped out to an early 10-3 lead thanks in part to two kills and two block assists by Karina Miastkowska (Northbrook, Ill.). The Redhawks made only one attack error in the opening set, while Alabama State struggled to keep the ball in the court, committing 12 attack errors to help Seattle U cruise to the first-set victory.
Alabama State (0-7) stayed with the Redhawks during the early part of the second set, scoring three straight points to pull to within one at 8-7. Seattle U responded with a 7-1 scoring run, thanks in part to two kills apiece by Karli Pedone (Granite Bay, Calif.) and Rachel Seals (Chino Hills, Calif.). The Redhawks closed out the second set on a 6-1 scoring run, led by two kills from freshman Andi Lowrance (Phoenix, Ariz.).
Just as in the second set, the Hornets began the third set on a positive note, as kills by Khryssnee Madison, Anniiya Robinson, and Chelsey Scott put Alabama State ahead, 5-3. Two kills and a service ace by Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) capped a 7-1 Redhawk run that gave Seattle U a 10-6 lead. Seals notched two block assists and a kill as part of an 8-1 Seattle U scoring streak, but Alabama State's Myla Marshall earned two blocks and a kill to close the gap to five at 20-15. Lowrance notched two kills and a block assist to help the Redhawks score the last five points of the match.
The Redhawks posted a season-high hitting percentage of .316, led by Jaeckel's .583 hitting percentage as she led the team with eight kills. Miastkowska finished with five kills and five total blocks, while Pedone, Lowrance, and Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) also collected five kills apiece, and Seals added four kills and three total blocks to the winning effort. Jacquie Brice (Fullerton, Calif.) dished out 25 assists, and Lani Beadle (Seattle, Wash.) led the way with 13 digs, followed by McKenzie Daniels (Edmonds, Wash.) with 10 defensive digs.
Seattle University (4-3) returns home for the next two weekends, starting with a drive to Alaska Airlines Arena for a contest against nationally-ranked Washington Thursday, Sept. 6, starting at 7 p.m. The Redhawks will then begin a four-match homestand Saturday, Sept. 8, against Long Beach State at the Connolly Center, also with a 7 p.m. start time.
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