Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. — The unbeaten and newly-ranked Crusaders didn't miss a beat switching into conference play Thursday night on the road.

Northwest Nazarene, which was ranked No. 24 in the nation earlier this week in the current AVCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference play by sweeping host Western Oregon, 25-21, 25-19, 25-20.

"I though we served great tonight, which took them out of system and allowed us to score points without blocking and defense," said NNU coach Doug English, whose team improved to 8-0 on the season and 1-0 in GNAC play.

"Western Oregon is a good defensive team and made us work to score," NNU's coach added. "We played hard and won, which is most important."

The nationally-ranked Crusaders are back in action on the road Saturday afternoon playing at Concordia at 2 p.m. (PT), then return to Nampa for their home debut on Tuesday night when rival Central Washington visits the Johnson Sports Center at 7 p.m.

Against the Wolves on Thursday, NNU came within a point of leading throughout the entire match, taking a 4-1 lead on a Mari Thomas service ace, a 12-7 advantage on a Madi Farrell kill, and a 20-14 edge on a Kendra Bodine kill on rout to the early opening win.

Back out in front quickly in the second set, as a tandem block by Thomas and Farrell put NNU on top 3-0, the Crusaders cruised.

A solo block by Hailey Cook made it 8-2, and a kill by Bodine pushed NNU's lead to 22-15, as the Wolves (3-5, 0-1) never seriously threatened.

As a matter of fact, the only lead that Western Oregon managed on the night was the opening point of the third and final set, a block by Paige Orth and Maddie Mehciz.

NNU quickly answered with a 5-0 run that saw Cami Heninger serve up an ace and Bodine add in one of her match-high 12 kills.

Western Oregon tied the set, 5-5, and got within a point of NNU down 10-9, but the Crusaders kept the pressure on and finished off the sweep with a Farrell kill.

Farrell finished with seven kills and four blocks for the Crusaders, who also got five kills and 13 digs from Thomas, 11 digs from libero Shayli Siegfreid, and 27 assists, seven digs and three blocks from their setter, Cook.