Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Teamwork proved essential as the Crusaders continued their hot start to the season.

A trio of Northwest Nazarene players put away 10 kills each as NNU cruised past Point Loma (Calif.) 25-18, 25-13, 19-25, 25-21 on the first day of the GNAC/Pac West Crossover Tournament hosted by Cal Baptist.

"We played awesome in sets one and two," said NNU head volleyball coach Doug English.

Michelle Terpstra led the Crusaders' balanced effort as she was one of the trio with 10 kills, part of a huge match for the senior setter who recorded her first triple-double of the season and the sixth of her career as she added 34 assists and 14 digs.

"We executed really well and Michelle did a great job of distributing and getting everyone involved," English said.

That included her sister Andrea Terpstra, who had 10 kills and four blocks, and Madi Farrell, who also had 10 kills.

Kendra Bodine just missed the 10-kill mark, pounding out nine, and Kaitlyn Tuholski finished the match with eight kills and 16 digs for NNU (4-1 overall), which took control early.

A block by Bodine capped a 9-2 surge in the opening set, giving the Crusaders a comfortable 12-5 lead, and set the tone for the match.

A 7-0 run finished off by back-to-back kills from Taylor VanValey and Tuholski turned a 7-6 deficit into another commanding NNU lead, up 14-7 in the second set, as the Crusaders took a two-set-to-none advantage.

After the Sea Lions (3-2) gained some momentum with the third-set win, NNU closed out the match with a strong finish in the fourth as a tandem block by VanValey and Andy Terpstra followed by a VanValey kill made it 20-16 lead.

A pair of Bodine and one each from the Terpstra sister then finished off the victory.

While the Crusader offense was balanced and steady – NNU had 52 kills and just 12 hitting errors in the match – the defense was equally sensational, led by Taylor Roberts with 30 digs.

"Our defense was great and kept us in every point," English said.

The Crusaders next return to the court Friday morning when they play Dixie State (Utah) at 10 a.m. (MT) at the tournament hosted by Cal Baptist.