NAMPA, Idaho - The Northwest Nazarene volleyball team got back on the winning track on Saturday night, sweeping past Saint Martin's University 25-11, 25-11, and 25-17 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match at the Johnson Sports Center in Nampa.

 

Hitting for an efficient .410 attack percentage, the Crusaders were led by Cammy Dranginis with 13 kills and Lindsay Forseth with nine.  Dranginis, the GNAC leader in blocking, added five blocks and Haley Heveren had 12 digs to lead a defense that held St.Martin's to an .043 hitting percentage and 22 total kills.

 

"Our intensity was good tonight," commented NNU coach Jared Sliger.  "We started strong and finished, not losing focus, and that is important for us right now."

 

The win moves the Crusaders to 9-7 overall and 3-4 in GNAC play, while the Saints fall to 3-12 overall and 1-6 in league action.

 

Shealun Campisi led SMU with seven kills and Andrea Tarbet had nine digs.

 

NNU will hit the road again next weekend, visiting both Western Washington University on Thursday and Seattle Pacific University on Saturday night.  Upon their return the following weekend, the Crusaders will open a five-match home stand.

Saint Martin's vs Northwest Nazarene (Oct 11, 2008 at Nampa,Idaho)

  Northwest Nazarene def. Saint Martin's 25-11,25-11,25-17

  Saint Martin's (1-6 GNAC, 3-12) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  Campisi,Shealun 7-0-1; Tarbet,Andrea 5-1-2; Ibarra,Malia 4-0-0;
  Ostlund,Nicole 4-1-2; Dever,Theresia 1-1-0; Druzianich,Kirstyn 1-0-1;
  Smith,Angela 0-0-1; Totals 22-3-4.0. (Assists) - Roberts,Amber 20.
  (Dig leaders) - Tarbet,Andrea 9; Ibarra,Malia 6

  Northwest Nazarene (3-4 GNAC, 9-7) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  Dranginis,Cammy 13-0-5; Forseth,Lindsay 9-1-0; Boschma,Amanda 7-3-2;
  Trautmann,Kailey 5-2-2; Punimata,Eki 3-0-0; VanElderen,Kelly 3-0-1;
  Abbott,Haley 2-0-0; Galeai,Ashley 1-0-0; Higginson,Amy 1-0-0;
  Smith,Kelsey 0-1-0; Schaub,Erika 0-1-0; Totals 44-8-6.0. (Assists) -
  Punimata,Eki 17. (Dig leaders) - Hevern,Haley 12; Boschma,Amanda 8

  Site: Nampa,Idaho (Johnson Sports Ctr.)
  Date: Oct 11, 2008   Attend: 389   Time: 1.25 hrs
  Referees: Robbie Reno, Garrod Shumway