Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
The Official Site of the Northwest Nazarene university

Northwest Nazarene University Athletics

Volleyball front2

Crusaders dominate early but can't finish off upset of No. 11 Seawolves

| By: Mike Stetson, Sports Information Director
Box Score

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — It seeming like a late night in Alaska might turn out to be a thrilling night, as well.

The Northwest Nazarene volleyball team was well on its way to a big upset in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Thursday night, but a few missed opportunities on set points gave host Alaska Anchorage the break it needed to build momentum, as the 11th-ranked Seawolves held on to top the Crusaders, 21-25, 32-30, 25-21, 25-15.

"This was a fun, competitive match and we just missed on a couple opportunities," NNU head coach Doug English said. "They served tough and caused trouble for our passing. That is something we can get better at."

In the opening set, a tandem block by Kendra Bodine and Natalie Knauf put NNU on top 15-11, but UAA rallied and grabbed a 20-17 lead on a Leah Swiss kill.

Unfazed, the Crusaders (17-7 overall, 10-7 GNAC) answered with an 8-1 run to close out the first-set win, a charge led by Madi Farrell, who pounded out four kills in the surge.

Off to a strong start, NNU continued to out-play their 11th-ranked hosts as a Knauf kill put the Crusaders up 16-12 in the second set.

Once again the Seawolves (26-2, 16-1) battled back, and held a 24-22 lead, but NNU again made a charge.

Less dramatic, yet still effective, the late Crusader push gave NNU a pair of set points as a Bodine kill made it 26-25, and a tandem block by Farrell and Cami Heninger put the Crusaders on top, 29-28.

But NNU just couldn't come up with the winner, missing out on the chance for a two-set-to-none lead as the Seawolves gained momentum from the marathon battle and controlled the final two sets after the break for the victory.

Farrell pounded down 20 kills to lead the way for NNU, which is back in action Saturday night playing its final road match of the regular season at Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska.

"All our focus is now on beating Fairbanks," English said.

Bodine added 14 kills and 12 digs for the Crusaders, who also got 26 digs and eight kills from Mari Thomas, 24 digs from Shayli Siegfreid, and 48 assists from Hailey Cook.
 
Print Friendly Version