SAINT GEORGE, Utah – First-year Crusader coach Doug English can breathe a sigh of relief.

The new Northwest Nazarene volleyball coach earned career win No. 1 Saturday afternoon in Utah as his team quickly bounced back from a season-opening loss Friday evening to swept host Dixie State, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21, in nonconference action.

"It feels great," English said. "It's a huge relief getting that first victory."

Nearly 15 hours after falling in four sets to the host Red Storm, the Crusaders (1-1 overall) were a new team, sparked by an impressive team effort serving that racked up nine aces, including five by Linnea Phillips.

"Our serving and serve receive were so much better today and that was the difference in the two matches," English said.

Back-to-back service aces by Phillips followed by an Elayna Rice kill sent the Crusaders on their way in the first set, giving NNU a 14-12 edge it never let slip away.

Three straight Andrea Terpstra kills finished off the opening set, and the Crusaders kept rolling from there as another Phillips ace put them up 9-5 in the second set.

An ace by Rice made it 16-9, and though the Red Storm (1-1) closed to 20-19 down, an Andrea Terpstra kill kept NNU in the lead en route to the second-set win.

The Crusaders closed out the sweep with a comeback effort in the third set, as a kill each by Taylor VanValey and Kaitlyn Tuholski, two tandem blocks by Michelle and Andrea Terpstra, and another Phillips service ace turned a 13-10 deficit into a 16-13 NNU edge.

From there, NNU maintain its lead until a Jenna Caywood kill finished off the match.

"We had a great attitude and focus today which led to great execution," English said.

Rice led the offense with 18 kills in the win and added 14 digs for NNU, while Tuholski and Andrea Terpstra each added nine kills.

"Elayna Rice hit great today," English said.

Tuholski added 16 digs in the win, Taylor Roberts had 15 digs and Michelle Terpstra dished out 32 assists and made 12 digs for the Crusaders, who return to the court Friday to play Azusa Pacific and Humboldt State in the Route 92 Showdown in California.

Shannon Young led the Red Storm with 15 kills and 11 digs while Alex Anderson added 22 digs and Shelby Sorenson dished out 35 assists.