MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Crusaders were pushed to the brink, but somehow found a way to continue their run of success.

Four points away from being swept on the road by host Western Oregon, the Northwest Nazarene volleyball team rallied to pull off a remarkable 15-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-13, 15-9 comeback win on Saturday night in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

"We quit making errors and started to execute the game plan we had in place early on," NNU coach Doug English said of the comeback, adding, "then we our ladies just played better."

The Crusaders (6-2 overall, 2- GNAC) never got on track in the first set, but bounced back and took a comfortable 19-13 lead on a Taylor VanValey kill in the second set.

Not comfortable enough it turned out, as the Wolves (4-7, 1-1) stormed back, taking a 22-21 lead on a Hannah Deede and Krissi Kemper tandem block before a kill by Kemper completed the comeback and put the Crusaders down two sets to none.

In the third set, NNU forged a 20-13 edge, trying to get back into the match, but once again WOU answered, tying the set, 21-21, on a Deede kill.

Determined to prolong the match, the Crusaders got a Kaitlyn Tuholski kill and a Linnea Phillips ace to stop the Wolves charge.

Then a tandem block by Tuholski and Andrea Terpstra, followed by another tandem block by sisters Andrea and Michelle Terpstra gave the Crusaders their first set win of the night.

The Crusaders rolled through the fourth set, evening the match, then tied 4-4 in the fifth set, kills by Tuholski and VanValey sandwiched around a team block from Tuholski and Andrea Terpstra gave the Crusaders a slight 7-4 edge.

NNU never let the lead slip away, finishing off the comeback victory.

Elayna Rice led the Crusaders with a match-high 20 kills and 13 digs while Andrea Terpstra added 13 kills and six blocks.

Tuholski added nine kills and 13 digs for NNU, which also got 48 assists and 11 digs from Michelle Terpstra and 30 digs from Taylor Roberts.

Now the Crusaders get the chance to play at home, as they put their five-match win streak on the line Thursday when they host Alaska Anchorage at the Johnson Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho.

"I can't wait to see what it's going to be what it's like at our home," English said.