SEATTLE (Sept. 28) -- Monica Herrera (Jr., Lima, Peru/Mercy) slammed 14 kills and Carri Colvin (Sr., Vancouver, Wa./Prairie) recorded 21 digs as the Seattle Pacific University volleyball team fell to Alaska Fairbanks, 21-30, 30-28, 30-27, 30-25, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at Brougham Pavilion.

For the second straight night, the Falcons (2-3, 3-9) got off to a hot start, hitting .150 as a team and holding the Nanooks (4-2, 7-4) to a flat .000 hitting percentage. Herrera slammed six of her team-high 14 kills in the first game. After a strong start, however, the Falcons began to all apart as the Nanooks zeroed in on their strongest attackers.

Four service errors in the second game and four team blocks for Fairbanks spelled victory in a game two for the Nanooks. The Falcons led for a brief stint midway through the game and remained within striking distance before the Nanooks rattled off three straight points to seal the victory.

The third game mirrored the second as the Falcons stayed competitive even as their attacking percentage continued to slide. The two teams forced a tie at 27 apiece before Fairbanks again won three straight points to take the game.

The deciding game four was filled with runs by both teams. First, Fairbanks went on an 8-1 run after a timeout to tie the match at 13 all. Then, SPU responded with a 5-0 run of their own to take another commanding lead. Fairbanks shot right back with a 7-2 stretch to retake a narrow lead. Finally, the Nanooks notched the match with a 5-0 run following a 22-22 tie.

Katy Higgins (Jr., Kirkland, Wa./Redmond) tied a career high and led the Falcons with three service aces, although the team faulted on eight serve attempts. Andra Taylor (Jr., Camas, Wa./Mt. Hood CC) led the Falcons at the net with five blocks. SPU returns to the road next week with matches at Northwest Nazarene and Seattle University.

Alaska-Fairbanks def. SPU 21-30, 30-28, 30-27, 30- 25

Kills -- SPU 48 (Monica Herrera 22), UAF 56

Digs -- SPU 72 (Katy Higgins 17), UAF 79

Blocks -- 12 (Kathleen Monda 6), UAF 16

Assists -- 44 (Higgins 38), UAF 54

Attack Percentage -- SPU ..080, UAF .063