NAMPA, Idaho – It turned out to be a perfect homecoming for the Crusader volleyball team.

Riding a five-match win streak, the Northwest Nazarene volleyball team finally played its first home match of the season Thursday and picked up its sixth win in-a-row by rolling past Alaska Fairbanks 25-12, 25-15, 25-21 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match.

It turned out to be a big night for NNU's middle blockers, as Andrea Terpstra had a match-high 13 kills and Elayna Rice added 10 kills to spark NNU's victory.

"When you have an Andi Terpstra and Elayna Rice up there, two tall, athletic girls,
I think athletically we match up pretty well against anybody," said NNU coach Doug English. "Especially tonight, they were pretty overpowering up there."

Andrea Terpstra and her sister Michelle teamed up for a block to snap an early 2-2 tie in the first set, sparking a 12-2 NNU run that sent the Crusaders (7-2 overall, 3-0 GNAC) on their way to an early one set to none lead in the match.

With NNU leading just 6-5 in the second set, a Rice kill sparked a 6-2 run by the Crusaders who again cruised to a big win and a two set to none lead in the match.

Things changed in the third set as a Keri Knight kill for the Nanooks (2-12, 1-2) put the home team in a 6-1 hole early.

UAF maintained the lead until a kill by Rice sparked a 7-0 late run. That run turned a 19-17 deficit into a match point, with NNU leading 24-19.

Kaitlyn Tuholski finished off the home win with a kill, a victory in coach English's Johnson Sports Center debut.

Taylor Roberts added 14 digs and Michelle Terpstra dished out 35 assists in the win for NNU, which continues its homestand Saturday when it entertains Alaska Anchorage at 7 p.m.

All paid admission for Saturday's match is $1, part of Doug's Debut Dollar nights celebration, as the Crusaders look to stretch their win streak to seven straight.