Box Score BILLINGS, Mont. – Earning a spot in the West Region rankings didn't rattle the Crusader one bit.

Remaining focused, the Northwest Nazarene volleyball completed a road weekend sweep, topping host Montana State Billings 25-22, 25-20, 18-25, 25-20 on Saturday night in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

"I am happy to get two road wins," said NNU coach Doug English.

The Crusaders landed at No. 8 in the first West Region poll released Wednesday, and didn't let their position in the poll phase them as NNU hit the road and took care of business, beating Seattle Pacific on Thursday prior to Saturday's victory.

The top eight teams in the West Region poll at the end of the regular season, which is two weeks away, earn berths to the NCAA Division II national tournament.

Saturday, NNU (15-6 overall, 11-4 GNAC) took control with a late rally in the first set, erasing a 21-18 deficit, tying the set on a Michelle Terpstra kill and winning it on a Kaitlyn Tuholski service ace.

"We had to compete and execute when we were not playing our best volleyball," English said.

The Crusaders then took a two set to none lead with an 8-1 run that turned a second-set, 13-11 deficit into a 19-14 lead, as Taylor VanValey and Tuholski each had two kills in the run.

The Yellowjackets (5-18, 2-12) battled back in the third set, prolonging the match, but the Crusaders finished off the win in four as a hitting error by MSU Billings snapped a 19-19 tie, then a VanValey kill sent NNU on its way to the victory.

Andrea Terpstra led the offense with 14 kills and seven blocks, while VanValey added 12 kills and Elayna Rice had seven kills and 17 digs.

"Andrea and Taylor were huge in getting some tough kills for us," said English, adding, "Linnea Phillips (eight digs) passed and played great defense for us tonight, too."

Michelle Terpstra set things up with 37 assists and Taylor Roberts led the defense with 24 digs for the Crusaders, who now return home to host Central Washington in a battle of teams ranked in the Top 8 in the West Region.

Because of technical difficulties in Montana, stats were not available from MSU Billings as of midnight Saturday night.