Box Score




NAMPA, Idaho — Forget about a letdown, the Crusaders cruised!

Riding high after handing formally unbeaten and seventh-ranked Alaska Anchorage its first loss of the year two nights earlier, the Northwest Nazarene volleyball team completed a sweep of "The Last Frontier" teams, rolling past Alaska, 25-8, 25-16, 25-21, on Saturday night at the Johnson Sports Center in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

"We were excited to play, we were excited to get another win," said NNU's Kendra Bodine as the Crusaders extended their current win streak to four straight matches.

"It was really nice to play this well," NNU head volleyball coach Doug English added. "One of our goals since we went to the GNAC/Pac West Crossover Tournament (Sept. 10-12) was try to play consistent volleyball every day, whether it's in practice or in matches. So for us to be able to come out and play really well in sets one and two, and not have a letdown, that was nice to see."

The Crusaders (9-7 overall, 6-2 GNAC) came out on fire as a Taylor VanValey kill made it 4-1 quickly, a Linnea Phillips service ace stretched the lead to 11-2, and NNU just kept going and going, finishing off a quick first set with a VanValey and Jenna Caywood tandem block.

NNU kept up that pace in the second set as a Hailey Cook and Madi Farrell tandem block put the Nanooks (2-13, 2-6) in a 6-2 hole, a difference that grew to 12-5 on a Caywood kill.

A Cami Heninger kill stretched the Crusader lead to 19-8 as NNU stormed out to a two set to none lead.
 

The final set was a bit closer, but tied 4-4 early a solo block by Caywood sparked a 9-2 NNU surge, a run capped by a Farrell kill as the Crusaders left little doubt the night would end in a sweep.

Bodine led the way offensively for NNU with 10 kills, the lone player in the match to hit double digits in that category.

"It's been a lot fun," Bodine said of leading NNU's balanced offensive attack in the win. "Hailey's been doing a really good job mixing up the offense and just getting everybody balls and getting them to where they're suppose to be.

"It's been fun, a lot of fun this year."

Cook added 26 assists in the win and Linnea Phillips led the defense with 13 digs for NNU, which now hits the road yet again for a four-match, two-week trip that begins at St. Martin's next Thursday night at 6:15 p.m. (Mountain time).