FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team lost a pair of matches Friday to the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks on day two of the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic.
 
The Rock fell to Anchorage to open the day in four sets (23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-14) followed by a three-set (25-17, 25-18, 25-21) defeat at the hands of host Alaska Fairbanks in the nightcap. 
 
Despite the two setbacks, Slippery Rock will still take a winning record of 4-3 into the finale of their Alaska trip on Saturday. Following the wins, Anchorage improved to 5-4 and Fairbanks exited the day at 7-2.
 
Erica Selfridge highlighted The Rock's efforts Friday. Over two matches the senior outside hitter totaled 23 kills on a .200 attack percentage to go with 22 digs, two blocks and one ace.
 
Reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week Lauren VonderHaar continued her torrid start to the year with nine more blocks Friday, pushing her team-leading season rejection total to 35 (10 solo / 25 assisted).
 
ANCHORAGE 3 - SLIPPERY ROCK 1
Set Scores: 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-14
 
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• Selfridge went for a 12-kill, 13-dig double-double to lead SRU in what was just its second loss of the season.
 
• Setter Jaeden Yost joined Selfridge with a 19-assist, 12-dig double-double of her own. Brooke Farrah passed out 13 assists for her third career double-digit assist match performance.
 
• In addition to matching VonderHaar and Aslyn Pry for team-high honors in blocks with three, Kaitlyn Danszczak also delivered eight kills.
 
• Chelsie Wheeler added six kills while the trio of Pry, Callie Chevalier and Gwen McCarthy chipped in three apiece.
 
• For the 42nd time in her career, Kate Lachendro-Biery finished a match with at least 20 digs by turning in 22 against Anchorage.
 
• The Seawolves held advantages over The Rock in kills (55-43), attack percentage (.227-.086), aces (7-5) and blocks (8-6).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After earning a 25-23 opening-set win, Slippery Rock was unable to replicate its early success as Anchorage used sizable runs in each of the following three sets to capture the neutral site win.
 
SRU held a 13-11 lead in the second set only for the Seawolves to take the next nine points on the way to an eventual 25-17 win. Slippery Rock led by as many as six points during the third set before Anchorage managed to bring the score even at 18-18 and later close out the game on a 7-2 spurt for the 25-20 edge.
 
The Seawolves won six consecutive points to open the fourth set and while Slippery Rock battled back to trim its deficit to as little as two points on two separate occasions it couldn't overtake an Anchorage unit that pulled away for a 25-14 match-deciding win.
 
FAIRBANKS 3 - SLIPPERY ROCK 0
Set Scores: 25-17, 25-18, 25-21
 
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• Selfridge just missed out on her second double-double of the day with an 11-kill, nine-dig showing. Chevalier (six kills) and Farrah (11 assists / three aces) were also bright spots offensively for The Rock. 
 
• VonderHaar continued to be a force inside with a match-high six blocks. She has now begun her junior season with at least five blocks in four of the first seven matches of 2024. 
 
• Fairbanks sealed the three-set victory by holding team advantages over SRU in kills (51-28) and attack percentage (.324-.138). Both teams finished with eight total blocks while Slippery Rock claimed a 7-3 edge in aces. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
A slow start plagued The Rock in the first set and allowed Fairbanks to jump out to a 6-1 lead. The Nanooks maintained their advantage for the duration of the set, stretching their lead out to as many as eight points before taking a 25-17 win. 
 
Slippery Rock was unable to ever fully recover from Fairbanks taking nine of the first 12 points of the second set, leading to a 25-18 victory for the hosts. 
 
The Rock and Nanooks went back and forth for the near entirety of the third set with Fairbanks edging out to a narrow 18-17 advantage. However, Fairbanks was able to finish off the set, and the match, with a 7-4 run to capture the 25-21 decision. 
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock closes out its time at the Denali State Bank Ice Block Classic 6:30 p.m. Saturday against Felician University.





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