Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

GOLDEN, Colo. – The Crusaders proved they can compete with the nation's best, splitting matches with two of the top teams in the NCAA Division II ranks at the Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Oredigger Volleyball Classic on Friday.

The Northwest Nazarene volleyball team started its day with a 26-24, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24 win over Augustana (S.D.) in the season opener for both schools. The Vikings were the sixth team in "other's receiving votes" in the preseason Top 25 poll, unofficially making them the 31^st-ranked team in the country.

Freshmen Kendra Bodine led the way in her collegiate debut, pounding down 15 kills for the Crusaders (1-1), while senior Kaitlyn Tuholski added 14 kills and 19 digs and junior Elayna Rice had 12 kills and 12 digs in the win.

Riding the momentum of a win in their season opener, the Crusaders battled host and No. 18-ranked Colorado School of Mines tough late into the third set before a run of three straight kills by the Orediggers' Mattie Behr led to a decisive third-set win and a 25-19, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17 victory by the hosts.

"We definitely played two very good teams and had chances to win the match versus Mines," said NNU head coach Doug English. "Michelle (Terpstra) set a good offense, we just couldn't get a kill when we needed one."

Rice led the way for the Crusaders in the evening match with 17 kills while freshmen Madi Farrell had 10 kills for NNU, which is back in action today against No. 20 ranked Wayne State (Neb.) and Minnesota State-Mankota in the tournament.

In the opener, the Crusaders fended off a set point against the Vikings, then got a kill each from freshmen Farrell and Bodine, who are making an immediate impact for NNU.

After Augustana evened the match, NNU took control early in the third set, jumping out to a 12-5 lead on a Bodine kill and cruising to the win.

The Crusaders remained in control much of the fourth set, taking a 21-17 lead on another Bodine kill before the Vikings rallied, tying it 24-24 before back-to-back miscues by Augustana finished off NNU's first victory of the season.

Terpstra dished out 48 assists and made 12 digs in the win, and libero Taylor Roberts added 29 digs for NNU.

In their second match of the day against the host school, the Crusaders shook off a first-set loss and a 19-16 deficit in the second set as tandem block by Bodine and Farrell gave NNU a 22-20 edge, and a Rice kill evened the match at a set apiece.

NNU maintained a slim advantage much of the third set, grabbing a 19-16 lead on a Taylor VanValey kill, and holding a 23-22 edge following a Rice kill before Behr belted down three straight balls to win the set for the Orediggers and spark them to the four-set victory.

Terpstra finished with 39 assists in the second match for NNU, while Roberts added 23 digs, Tuholski contributed 21 digs, Linnea Phillips made 19 digs and Farrell added nine blocks with her 10 kills.