Box Score

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SEATTLE, Wash. — Let the celebration begin Crusader fans, you have a new champion!

The 11^th-ranked Northwest Nazarene volleyball team emphatically met its season-long goal of earning a berth to the NCAA Division II National Tournament, not by waiting and watching a selection show, but by storming to a three-set victory that clinched the program's first-ever Great Northwest Athletic Conference title.

The Crusaders handed host Seattle Pacific a 25-13, 25-16, 25-19 setback Saturday afternoon, a win that not only wrapped up the GNAC crown for NNU with one week left in the season, but the automatic berth to nationals that accompanies the league title.

"I don't even know what to say about winning the GNAC," NNU head volleyball coach Doug English said. "We have an amazing group."

A group that returned everyone from a season ago, when the Crusaders were third in the GNAC and matched program highs in NCAA wins overall (18) and wins in GNAC play (14).

But NNU didn't hear its named called while watching the National Tournament Selection Show, and vowed to make sure this year was different.

Boy, has it been.

A first-ever top 25 national ranking, a program-record 23 NCAA wins — and counting — and a team-best 16 GNAC wins — and counting.

And that first-ever league title and third in Crusader Athletic history, joining the 2014 GNAC Men's Golf Champions and the 2001 GNAC Men's Cross Country Champions.

"Winning the GNAC title means so much to this team and to this program," senior team captain and setter Michelle Terpstra said. "We're overjoyed.

"I'm really proud of what we've accomplished this season, and we have high hopes for the rest of the season."

The regular season concludes next Saturday when NNU plays at Central Washington.

Then, at 8 p.m. (MT) on Sunday, Nov. 16, the Crusaders (23-2 overall, 16-1 GNAC) learn where and who they will play in the NCAA National Tournament — having already qualified.

The only question left to be answered, will NNU host the West Regional?

A question set up by Saturday's performance in Seattle, as NNU started out strong, taking a 10-6 lead on a Taylor VanValey kill in the first set, a 14-7 advantage on a Kendra Bodine kill, and a 21-10 edge on a VanValey and Madi Farrell tandem block en route to the first-set win.

The Crusaders' momentum continued to roll in the second set as a VanValey block put NNU up 7-2 early, Elayna Rice gave the Crusaders a 19-11 lead with a kill, and a Jenna Caywood kill gave NNU a set point, up 24-14.

With the GNAC title one set away, the Crusaders overcame any jitters with a four-point surge in the middle of the third set, a charge started and finished by tandem blocks from VanValey and Andrea Terpstra.

NNU then inched closer and closer to the title until back-to-back service aces from Michelle Terpstra finished off the sweep and crowned the Crusaders champions.

"Our offense ran great today," said English, whose team pounded down 41 kills with just 11 errors in the match.
"Michelle set a great match and Kendra, Madi and Taylor VanValey were studs and killed everything that they got set."

Michelle Terpstra had 33 assists in the win, while Bodine led the offense with 10 kills.

VanValey, Farrell, Andrea Terpstra and Rice each added seven kills apiece for NNU, while VanValey had seven blocks, as well, and Rice added a team-high 13 digs.

Taylor Roberts also had 12 digs in the win for NNU.