FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Seattle Pacific University women's volleyball team earned its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory of the season by upsetting 16
th-ranked Alaska Fairbanks in five sets on the road on Saturday afternoon.
FROM THE COACH
"Super fun competition today," head coach
Jason Rhine said. "The environment was great, and Fairbanks always brings a really high level of intensity on defense, which makes for long rallies and exciting points. I thought our team did a great job staying aggressive from the service line, which created some issues for UAF. Some big performances from Christina on defense and Audra on the attack and block. Brooke came up with a big service run, including a couple of digs to start the fifth set. And really a team effort where several different players came in and contributed, and everybody was ready to compete at a high level."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons opened the match with a 7-2 run over the Nanooks.
- SPU trailed UAF 15-13 when they turned to another 7-1 run to go up 20-16.
- The Falcons kept their distance from the Nanooks and won the first set 25-22.
- The Falcons opened the second set with a 9-2 run over the Nanooks.
UAF responded by going on a 23-12 run to take the second set 25-21.
- Rose continued to play well with three kills in the second set.
- Rose was matched by Maiya Lester with three kills in the second set.
- The Falcons handled the Nanooks 25-18 in the third set, fueled by an 8-3 run in the middle stages of the set.
- SPU had a .394 hitting percentage in the third set, their best of any set played during the match.
- Evans had five kills in the third set, while Charlotte Hastings added four kills of her own.
- The Nanooks used a 4-0 run to end the fourth set and take it 25-21.
- The Falcons opened the final set with a quick 4-0 run.
- UAF fought off three match point attempts from the Falcons before a kill from Evans gave the Falcons a 15-13 set victory and a 3-2 match win.
FROM THE BOX SCORE
- The Falcons had 45 kills and a .132 hitting percentage for the match.
- SPU took advantage of 32 attack errors from the Nanooks.
- The Falcons were sensational from behind the service line with 14 aces over five sets.
- Evans had a game-high 15 kills on a .333 hitting percentage.
- Rose had nine kills while hitting .273, adding four total blocks defensively.
- Payton Ensign had 23 assists and 11 digs for a double-double.
- Christina Lopez led the Falcons with 20 digs, while Megan Omlid had 17.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Saturday's match snapped a four-match skid against the Nanooks, with the Falcons' last victory over UAF coming on Oct. 28, 2023, in Seattle.
- The last time the Falcons beat a ranked opponent was Oct. 19, 2023, when SPU went on the road and beat No. 18 Central Washington in five sets.
- Evans 15 kills matched a career best from Nov. 15, 2025, against Western Oregon.
- Ensign recorded a double-double for the third time this season.
UP NEXT
The Falcons make their 2026 home debut next week inside Royal Brougham Pavilion. The Falcons host Western Oregon on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7:00 p.m. before welcoming Saint Martin's on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2:00 p.m.
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