ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Hitting a season-best .254 as a team, the Northwest Nazarene University volleyball team defeated Hawai'i Pacific University 25-18, 25-17, 25-22 on Saturday afternoon at the Central Washington University Invitational in Ellensburg.

Cammy Dranginis led the efficient attack, posting 16 kills with no errors (.516) on 31 total attacks, giving her 44 kills over the three-match weekend for the Crusaders.

Lindsay Forseth added nine kills, Haley Hevern led the defense with 18 digs and Amy Higginson had 31 assists in the three-set match.

“Anytime you can go undefeated on the weekend is good,” commented NNU head coach Jared Sliger.  “I feel like we are making progress in finding our line-up and I am proud of Haley (Hevern) for really taking control of our defense.”

Aimee Tresierra led Hawaii Pacific with 12 kills, Phoebe Hettel had nine and Kelly Keating led the Sea Warriors with 31 assists.

The Crusaders, now 5-2 overall, will continue its season-opening 10-match road journey next weekend when they travel to Concordia University in Portland, Oregon.  NNU will not play their home opener on September 25th.

Short Box Score (Match)
Hawai'i Pacific vs Northwest Nazarene (Sep 06, 2008 at Ellensburg, WA)

  Northwest Nazarene def. Hawai'i Pacific 25-18,25-17,25-22

  Hawai'i Pacific (1-6) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Tresierra,Aimee 12-1-0;
  Hettel,Phoebe 9-0-1; Gruszecka,Julia 8-0-1; Balanay,Kelly 4-0-2;
  Ardron,Elise 2-0-1; Yoshimura,Tricia 1-0-0; Keating,Kelly 1-0-1;
  Jones,Shawntell 1-0-0; Totals 38-1-3.0. (Assists) - Keating,Kelly 31.
  (Dig leaders) - Keating,Kelly 15; Gruszecka,Julia 13; Yoshimura,Tricia
  11; Tresierra,Aimee 11

  Northwest Nazarene (5-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Dranginis,Cammy 16-0-3;
  Forseth,Lindsay 9-3-0; Higginson,Amy 6-0-2; Abbott,Haley 5-0-0;
  Boschma,Amanda 4-0-2; Barber,Alaina 3-0-1; Punimata,Eki 1-0-0;
  VanElderen,Kelly 1-0-0; Trautmann,Kailey 1-0-0; Totals 46-3-4.0.
  (Assists) - Higginson,Amy 31. (Dig leaders) - Hevern,Haley 18;
  Bourdon,Jackie 14; Boschma,Amanda 10

  Site: Ellensburg, WA (Nicholson Pavilion)
  Date: Sep 06, 2008   Attend: 42   Time: 1:13   
  Referees: Frank Pinterics, Eric Carlson