Box Score

LACEY, Wash. – Fresh off the news of their first NCAA Top 25 ranking in program history, the Crusader volleyball team went to work Monday night and performed like one of the nation's best teams.

Elayna Rice had a pair of kills and Madi Farrell added another, sparking a fast start by No. 23 Northwest Nazarene, which rolled to a 25-18, 25-18, 25-23 win over host St. Martin's in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

"We played some of the best defense we have played all year," said NNU head volleyball coach Doug English, whose team now returns home to host Alaska Anchorage on Thursday night at 7.

"As a group we need to keep working on passing so we can be ready to play a tough Anchorage team on Thursday."

Monday against the Saints, a solo block by Rice put NNU (10-1 overall, 3-0 GNAC) on top 6-1 in the opening set, a set that was never close as the Crusaders grabbed a quick lead in Monday's match, the third in five days for NNU.

The Saints (2-12, 0-4) rallied a bit in the second set, grabbing a 17-13 lead on a Krya Davdison service ace before Andrea Terpstra sandwiched a pair of kills around a solo block, sparking an 11-0 Crusader run that sent NNU to a commanding lead in the match.

NNU then closed out the sweep with a late surge in the third set, once again erasing a 17-13 deficit.

Tied 22-22, a Rice kill put the Crusaders on top for good before a Bodine and Andy Terpstra tandem block and a Jenna Caywood kill finished off the win.

Rice turned in a double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs to lead NNU, which also got 11 kills from Bodine, 27 assists from Michelle Terpstra and 21 digs from Taylor Roberts, who led the strong Crusader defensive effort.

"Taylor really tuned in on defense," English said.