FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Despite a match-leading 17 kills from Rebecca Mitchell and 30 assists from Nicolette Nesbitt, Saint Martin's fell in four sets to Alaska Fairbanks (25-12, 12-25, 25-19, 25-21) on Friday.

In the first set, the Nanooks (8-5, 2-2 GNAC) jumped out to the early 7-2 advantage before kills from Rachel Gondrezick and Mitchell brought the Saints (6-6, 1-3) to within three points. Alaska Fairbanks used a 13-4 run to secure the 25-12 set one victory.

The Saints responded quickly and in force with a 6-1 run, highlighted by kills from Gondrezick, and Megan Vernoy along with a service ace by Mitchell to gain a 9-5 lead. Later in the set, SMU once again went on a 6-1 run this time fueled by blocks from Emily Gooding, Kamille Langford and Mitchell, along with a kill from Ililani Kamaka. SMU closed out the 25-12 set victory with a 7-2 run, ending on a kill from Vernoy.

UAF began the third set by claiming eight of the first 10 points before the Saints rattled off five straight points including two kills from Mitchell and an ace from Nesbitt. Alaska Fairbanks extended their lead to five before the Saints tied the match at 14-14 on a Langford kill. Fairbanks finished the set on a 7-2 run to put the Saints down 2-1.

In the final set, Alaska Fairbanks gained the early lead, 8-3, to establish control of the set. The Nanooks stretched their lead to 14-7 before the Saints slowly chipped away at the lead; however, the deficit proved to be too much as the Saints fell 25-21.

"Tonight we started slow again and that is something that has to change," said head coach Jon Killingbeck. "While we are proud of the steps we made as the game progressed, we can not afford to start slow anymore. Give credit to Fairbanks, they did a great job but we have to work on coming out ready to play like it's set five in the first set."

For the fifth straight match, Rebecca Mitchell led the Saints in kills with 17 to go along with her team leading 13 digs. Gondrezick posted 13 kills while Vernoy finished the match with nine kills. Nesbitt once again led the match with 30 assists, and managed one service ace. Gooding recorded two blocks while Hannah Neumann and Country Misner each had 10 digs.

The Saints, as a unit, finished with 61 points on 53 kills, 52 assists, 53 digs with four blocks and aces.

SMU will remain on the road next week with matches against Seattle Pacific on September 26 before heading to Montana State Billings on September 30.