ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Cammy Dranginis led the Crusader attack as the Northwest Nazarene volleyball team defeated both Chaminade University and St. Mary's University on Friday to open play at the Central Washington University Invitational Tournament in Ellensburg.

Opening against the Chaminade Silverswords (1-4), the Crusaders took the five-set match 15-25, 25-15, 22-25, 25-17, 15-9 with Dranginis leading the offense with 15 kills and 10 blocks.  Kailey Trautmann and setter Amy Higginson had eight kills each. Higginson also had 35 assists and the Crusader defense out-blocked CU 13-3.

Three other Crusaders had seven kills - Lindsay Forseth, Amanda Boschma and Alaina Barner. Haley Hevern earned 28 digs.

In the nightcap against St. Mary's, Tex. (3-3), Forseth and Dranginis provided the 1-2 punch as Forseth finished with 14 kills and Dranginis with 13 to push the Crusaders to 4-2 overall on the year.  Defeating the Rattlers 21-25, 25-12, 26-24, 25-19, the Crusaders out-hit St. Mary's .152 to .034.  Boschma also reached double-figures with 10 kills and Higginson matched her opening round effort with 35 assists for an even 70 on the day.

NNU will play just one match on Saturday, a 2:30 p.m. PST tilt against Hawaii Pacific University.

Short Box Score (Match)
        Chaminade vs Northwest Nazarene (Sep 05, 2008 at Ellensburg, WA)

  Northwest Nazarene def. Chaminade 15-25,25-15,22-25,25-17,15-9

  Chaminade (1-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kauliakamoa,Trina 13-1-1;
  Lorusso,Courtney 13-0-1; Tukia,Pisila 8-2-0; Radanovic,Vanja 7-0-2;
  Miller,Samantha 6-0-0; Alvino,Tanya 1-0-0; Totals 48-3-3.0. (Assists)
  - Alvino,Tanya 40. (Dig leaders) - Maduli,Chauntelle 31;
  Kauliakamoa,Trina 17; Lorusso,Courtney 16; Miller,Samantha 12;
  Alvino,Tanya 10

  Northwest Nazarene (3-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Dranginis,Cammy
  15-0-10; Higginson,Amy 8-0-2; Trautmann,Kailey 8-0-4; Barber,Alaina
  7-1-3; Forseth,Lindsay 7-1-1; Boschma,Amanda 7-5-2; Schaub,Erika
  3-0-1; Punimata,Eki 2-0-0; Totals 57-7-13.0. (Assists) - Higginson,Amy
  35. (Dig leaders) - Hevern,Haley 28; Boschma,Amanda 14; Bourdon,Jackie
  13; Forseth,Lindsay 9; Schaub,Erika 8

  Site: Ellensburg, WA (Nicholson Pavilion)
  Date: Sep 05, 2008   Attend: 80   Time: 1:44   
  Referees: Mike Baker, Frank Pinterics
  Central Washington University Invitational

Short Box Score (Match)
     St. Mary's (TX) vs Northwest Nazarene (Sep 05, 2008 at Ellensburg, WA)

  Northwest Nazarene def. St. Mary's (TX) 21-25,25-12,26-24,25-19

  St. Mary's (TX) (3-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - McCarver,Kori 9-0-2;
  Larios,KaSandra 6-0-0; Crowell,Stephanie 6-0-2; Moreno,Sarah 3-0-3;
  Martin,Jessica 3-0-2; Chapman,Kirsten 3-0-3; Johnston,Lauren 1-0-0;
  Solano,Stephanie 1-0-0; Teter,Valerie 1-2-0; Cui,Sondra 0-1-2; Totals
  33-3-9.0. (Assists) - Cui,Sondra 25. (Dig leaders) - Teter,Valerie 17;
  Cui,Sondra 12; McCarver,Kori 8

  Northwest Nazarene (4-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Forseth,Lindsay 14-1-2;
  Dranginis,Cammy 13-0-3; Boschma,Amanda 10-1-1; VanElderen,Kelly 6-0-1;
  Higginson,Amy 4-1-0; Abbott,Haley 3-0-2; Punimata,Eki 2-0-0;
  Barber,Alaina 2-2-1; Trautmann,Kailey 1-0-0; Schaub,Erika 1-0-0;
  Bourdon,Jackie 0-2-0; Totals 56-7-5.0. (Assists) - Higginson,Amy 35.
  (Dig leaders) - Hevern,Haley 16; Boschma,Amanda 14; Bourdon,Jackie 13;
  Forseth,Lindsay 12

  Site: Ellensburg, WA (Recreation Center)
  Date: Sep 05, 2008   Attend: 49   Time: 1:31   
  Referees: Frank Pinterics, Dick Brown
  Central Washington University Invitational