Box Score



NAMPA, Idaho — The Crusaders found themselves in a battle all night, but it was one they were ready for.

Even after two sets with visiting Western Oregon, the Northwest Nazarene's volleyball team found its rhythm in the final two sets of a 29-27, 23-25, 25-13, 25-15 win over the Wolves in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Thursday night at the Johnson Sports Center.

"Anytime you can get a victory in our conference it's good, especially the second time through," said NNU head volleyball coach Doug English whose team swept the season series with WOU and stretched its win streak to nine matches in-a-row. "The second time through people know each other really well and they have really good scouting reports so it's tougher matches. We're grinding them out as we go through."

The Crusaders (14-7 overall, 11-2 GNAC) did more than grind out the win in the opening set, as the Wolves forged a 17-15 lead, and had three set points.

A Taylor VanValey kill staved off one of those set points, and two WOU service errors helped NNU as well.

The Crusaders then ground out the win by simply keeping the ball alive until back-to-back miscues by WOU put win No. 1 in NNU's column.
 

Western Oregon (7-15, 4-9) didn't let the same thing happen twice, taking control of the second set, up 22-16 on an Amanda Short kill, then holding off a late charge by the Crusaders who got within 24-22 on a Kendra Bodine kill, but couldn't complete the comeback.

All even at a set apiece at the break, the Crusaders came out on fire in the third set, snapping a 6-6 tie with a VanValey and Madi Farrell tandem block.

NNU went up 13-8 on a Bodine kill, then stretched the advantage to 20-11 on a Hailey Cook service ace followed by a Jenna Caywood kill en route to the win.

"Our setter (Hailey Cook) is doing a really good job of mixing up the offense and she's getting sets to me at the right time and not setting me when it's the wrong time," said Bodine, who led NNU with 15 kills and 10 digs in the win.

"And our passers have too, Linnea (Phillips) and Elayna (Rice) have been getting digs for us so I'm able to get kills."

Good passing and great decisions by Cook continued to fuel an NNU attack that also got 15 kills from Farrell, nine kills from Caywood and eight kills from VanValey, powering a balanced attack that pulled away in the fourth set.

Kills from Cook, Caywood, and a trio of kills from Bodine, allowed NNU to stretch a 10-9 lead into a 16-11 margin, a difference that continued to grow as Farrell had three kills and Bodine two more down the stretch to finish off the match.

A win that keeps NNU rolling as the Crusaders prepare to host Concordia on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Johnson Sports Center.

Fans are invited to dress in costumes, and there will be candy and NNU volleyball t-shirts as "treats" for the Crusaders fans in attendance.