Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. – The Northwest Nazarene volleyball team showed its resiliency Thursday night.

The Crusaders staved off eight set points against host Seattle Pacific in what proved to be a match-changing comeback in the third set of an 18-25, 25-21, 31-29, 25-23 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory over the Falcons.

"It's a big win, SPU is right behind us," NNU coach Doug English said. "Just to get that and sort of solidify third place, and against a good team, it just kind of shows the resiliency of our kids."

After dropping the opening set, NNU (14-6 overall, 10-4 GNAC) responded with a dominating effort to even the match, taking an 11-4 lead in the second set on a Jenna Caywood kill, and a 17-9 edge on a Caywood block en route to the win.

The Falcons (12-9, 8-5) attempted to regain control of the match in the third set, and were poised to do so leading 24-20, when the Crusaders made their match-changing charge.

A service error by SPU started the run, then a Caywood kill followed by an Elayna Rice kill and a solo block by Rice tied it, 24-24.

"Taylor Gould came in and served and served great and got us four points," English said of the late run. "She kind of turned the momentum of the match around.

"Everything started going after that offensively," NNU's coach added.

SPU again tried to finish the set, four times earning a set-point, and the Crusaders fended off all four before Andrea Terpstra pounded down three kills in the final five points of the set to put NNU ahead, two sets to one.

Andrea Terpstra then broke a 20-20 tie in the fourth and final set with back-to-back kills, helping NNU finish off the road win.

Andrea Terpstra finished the match with 15 kills and seven blocks while Rice had 18 kills and 15 digs in the win. Michelle Terpstra dished out 43 assist and Taylor Roberts made 23 digs for NNU, which next plays at Montana State Billings on Saturday night.