Match Boxscore

HONOLULU - The Northwest Nazarene University volleyball team opened the 2011 season with a five-set victory over Sonoma State University late on Thursday night at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Invitational hosted by Hawaii Pacific University.

 

The Crusaders (1-0) defeated the Seawolves 25-20, 15-25, 25-21, 15-25 and 15-11 behind the triple-double performance of freshman setter Michelle Terpstra.  In her first collegiate match, Terpstra finished with a team-high 25 assists, 11 kills and 10 digs.

 

Fellow rookie Kaitlyn Tuholski was right behind Terpstra, matching her with a team-high 11 kills and handing out 13 assists and eight digs.  Reisa Fessler also reached double-figures with 10 kills and Kailey Trautmann posted a match-high 27 digs.

"It was so fun to see a team functioning on a level where nobody cared who got the credit," commented NNU head coach Jared Sliger.  "The ladies played with such amazing confidence in game five.  They played like they were running downhill."

The triple-double performance by Terpstra was the first by a GNAC athlete since SPU's Angie Woodrich had 12 kills, 15 digs and 10 blocks against UC San Diego on Aug. 24, 2007.

 

Sonoma State (0-1), who was picked to finish third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll behind 3rd-ranked Cal State San Bernardino and 24th-ranked UC San Diego, was led by Allyson Sather's match-high 18 kills.  Keala Peterson added 11 kills and Hayley Ross paced all setters with 45 assists.  Taylor Krenwinkel led the SSU defense with 18 digs.

 

The Crusaders will now face Chaminade University tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. (10:30 p.m. MST) and play twice on Saturday.  NNU will battle #24 UC San Diego (2:00 p.m. HT) and Hawaii Pacific (7:30 p.m. HT) on Saturday afternoon and evening.