NAMPA, Idaho - Winning a season-best sixth straight match, the Northwest Nazarene University volleyball team celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Night by wearing pink uniforms and defeating Montana State University Billings 25-14, 25-23, 25-21 on Thursday night in Nampa.

 

Led by Amanda Boschma's match-high 14 kills, the Crusaders hit .347 as Boschma and Cammy Dranginis (11 kills) combined for 25 kills with just two errors.  Boschma hit for a .650 clip, while Dranginis was at .435.

 

NNU, now 8-4 in GNAC play and 15-7 overall, is ranked 9th in the latest NCAA West Regional Poll, released this morning by the NCAA. 

 

"Momentum is a beautiful thing and it's nice to play a few at home," commented NNU head coach Jared Sliger on his teams schedule this season that saw the Crusaders play their first 10 matches on the road and 13 of the first 15 away from home.

 

Devon Crotteau led MSUB (2-10 GNAC, 5-21) with a 13 kill, 11 dig double-double, Jill Trabing finished with 10 digs and Hillary Morrison handed out a match-best 30 assists for the Yellowjackets.

 

"We are down two game balls...as Amanda flattened a couple of them tonight," Sliger added regarding Boschma's recent power-surge.  "Her first swing of the night was the lone error, then she ran off 14 without a mistake."

 

Eki Punimata and Amy Higginson combined to lead the NNU offense with Punimata finishing with 24 assists and Higginson with 12.  Kailey Trautmann led the NNU defense with 12 digs and Lindsay Forseth finished with 11 digs and five kills.  Trautmann also added seven kills and two assists.

 

Sponsoring the 'Bag Breast Cancer' campaign, Crusader fans were given pink bags over the past two weeks to collect money for the fight against breast cancer.  On Thursday the fans were encouraged to return with the bags and empty the contents into a large pink bag at the scorer's table that will now be donated for cancer research. 

 

The Crusaders will have a rare day off on Saturday and then return to host both Central Washington and Seattle Pacific University next weekend at the Johnson Sports Center.

 

Short Box Score (Match)
MSU Billings vs Northwest Nazarene (Oct 30, 2008 at Nampa,Id)

 

  Northwest Nazarene def. MSU Billings 25-14,25-23,25-21

 

  MSU Billings (2-10 GNAC, 5-21) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  Crotteau,Devon 13-0-0; Boe,Jennifer 7-0-0; Welborn,Ashley 6-0-0;
  Porter,Melissa 5-0-1; Lechner,Jessica 5-0-1; Morrison,Hillary 2-0-0;
  Totals 38-0-2.0. (Assists) - Morrison,Hillary 30. (Dig leaders) -
  Crotteau,Devon 11; Trabing,Jill 10

 

  Northwest Nazarene (8-4 GNAC, 15-7) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  Boschma,Amanda 14-0-2; Dranginis,Cammy 11-1-0; Trautmann,Kailey 7-0-0;
  Forseth,Lindsay 5-1-3; Punimata,Eki 4-0-0; Schaub,Erika 2-0-0;
  Higginson,Amy 2-0-0; VanElderen,Kelly 1-0-3; Totals 46-2-6.0.
  (Assists) - Punimata,Eki 24; Higginson,Amy 12. (Dig leaders) -
  Trautmann,Kailey 12; Forseth,Lindsay 11

 

  Site: Nampa,Id (Johnson Sports Ctr.)
  Date: Oct 30, 2008   Attend: 379   Time: 1.25hrs
  Referees: Gerrod Shumway, Gary Dean