Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho — The night got tougher as it went along, but it still didn't derail the Crusaders, who steamrolled to a sweep.

Northwest Nazarene's volleyball team set the tone in the opening set, scoring 11 straight points during one run, as the Crusaders rolled to a 25-5, 25-20, 29-27 win over visiting Montana State Billings in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at the Johnson Sports Center on Thursday night.

"One of our goals coming into tonight was for us to score points and limit our unforced errors, and we did a great job of that tonight," NNU head coach Doug English said. 

"Then we had to deal with a little adversity with Natalie (Knauf) going down in set one," the Crusader coach added. "Our whole group, and especially Cami (Heninger) and Jess (Brennis), did a great job in helping to plug the hole where Nat was."

Kills by Kendra Bodine — two of her match-high 19 — book-ended a 6-0 run that put the Crusaders (9-2 overall, 2-2 GNAC) well in control in the opening set, on top 9-2.
 

But a decisive 11-0 run, highlight by a pair of Megan Nelson service aces, sent NNU on its way to a dominating first-set victory.

Things got a bit tougher in the second set as the Yellowjackets (1-11, 0-3) held leads of 3-1 early and 10-9, but a Jess Brennis kill sparked a 5-0 Crusader surge that put them right back in control.

In the third and final set, back-to-back Bodine kills highlighted another 6-0 NNU run that put the Crusaders on top 18-11, but the Yellowjackets proved pesky and fought back, even taking a 23-21 lead late.

But a Madi Farrell kill followed by a Farrell and Mari Thomas block tied the set, setting off a see-saw finish that saw a kill each from Bodine and Thomas finally end the match.

"We are always excited to win a conference match as there are no easy nights in the GNAC," English said after the victory.

Thomas finished with nine kills and eight digs for NNU, while Bodine added 10 digs, and Farrell had eight kills and three blocks.

Setter Hailey Cook dished out 36 assists and libero Shayli Siegfreid added 18 digs for the Crusaders, who get a week off before hosting their next match as Seattle Pacific visits the Johnson Sports Center next Thursday at 7 p.m.