LACEY, Wash. – The Saint Martin's volleyball team (10-6, 4-3 GNAC) was sizzling on all cylinders Saturday afternoon when they downed Alaska Fairbanks (9-12, 2-5 GNAC) for the first time since 2017. The 3-0 sweep (26-24, 25-23, 28-26) was also the first sweep over Alaska since 2013. Just another record-breaking week for SMU volleyball in this tremendous fall season.

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It was thin margins between the two sides for most of the afternoon, as each set was decided by only two points. In the first set, a Jennifer Soha kill put SMU on the cusp with a set point serve at 24-22. However, two straight points for Fairbanks forced at least 26 needed to win it. First, Emily Garten fired a devastating kill, before a dual block from Sirena Peredo and Soha put the set on ice as a Saint victory.
 
The Saints were able to get a decent edge in set number two, but a gritty Alaska squad fought back to force four ties, even though the Nanooks never were able to take the lead. With the score even at 20-20 late, Peredo stabbed a kill, before Maddy Gooding and Emmy Hansen got in on the action to put SMU up three. For set point, it was Garten that finished it off, hammered another kill, one of her 12 on the night.
 
Set three could have been lost for the Saints very easily and nearly was when the hosts came out flat to the tune of a 20-10 deficit. The final stretch, however, saw Saint Martin's go on an impressive 18-6 run in which three Soha kills, and two kills from both Garten and Peredo fueled Saint Martin's to victory. Down 24-22, the Saints fought off Alaska set point multiple times thanks to a Soha kill then a Soha block. An ace from Garten then put SMU up 25-24. Garten had six aces on the night. Two points from Alaska would again put them for set point but a Peredo kill evened it back up. Peredo then grabbed another kill to put it to match point before Soha called game with an ace.

The Saints were led by Garten's 12 kills, while Soha had 11. Soha and Hansen each had three blocks, while Abbey Halstead had 20 digs and Peredo dug up 16 balls. Karla Soto facilitated the offense with 32 assists.
 
The Saints will head on the road next week for matchups with Western Washington and Simon Fraser. The game against WWU will start at 7 PM on October 12^th.