NNU vs. CSU-Stanislaus Boxscore
NNU vs. San Francisco State Boxscore

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - Cammy Dranginis and Lindsay Grant each finished with 11 kills as the Northwest Nazarene University volleyball team defeated Cal State Stanislaus 3-1 in their season-opening match at the 2009 Seawolf Spike, hosted by Sonoma State University.  The Crusaders finished opening day 1-1, falling to San Francisco State 1-3 in the day's second match.

 

The Crusaders (1-1) posted set scores of 25-6, 24-26, 25-17, 25-15 against the Warriors as they opened the season with a win for the fourth-consecutive year, all under fifth-year head coach Jared Sliger. 

 

With seniors Dranginis (Sr./Nampa, ID) and Grant (Sr./Nampa, ID) leading the offensive attack, Dranginis hit .524 and posted a match-best 5 blocks (3 solo), while Grant hustled for 13 digs to post a double-double stat line.

 

Haley Hevern (Jr./Central Point, OR) finished with a match-best 19 digs and the NNU defense held the Warriors to a .068 hitting percentage, leading the way at the net as NNU out-blocked the Warriors 7-1.  NNU finished with a .205 hitting percentage, including a .269 mark in the opening set.

 

Also in double-figures were Kailey Trautmann (So./Snohomish, WA) with 13 digs and Eki Punimata (Sr./Tacoma, WA) with 12.

 

In the 27-25, 20-25, 22-25, 21-25 loss to SFSU, the Crusaders were again led by Dranginis (17 kills) and Grant (13 kills, 17 digs), but were held to a .176 to .218 hitting margin, despite out-blocking the Gators 7 to 3. 

 

Dranginis led the way at the net with five blocks and junior libero Hevern hustled for a team-best 21 digs.  Eki Punimata and Amy Higginson shared setting duties as Punimata dished 25 assists and Higginson 17.

 

The Crusaders will be back in action on Saturday when they face Chico State at 9 a.m. and Humboldt State at 2 p.m. PT.