Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Crusaders hot start to the season continued in sunny California on Friday as the Northwest Nazarene volleyball team won two more matches at the GNAC/Pac West Crossover Tournament hosted by UC San Diego.

First the Crusaders (6-0 overall) dispatched the host school, 25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 25-15.

NNU then swept BYU-Hawaii 25-15, 25-14, 25-19 to wrap up the day.

"We played well today and put together two good matches," NNU head coach Doug English said.

For the second straight day, the Crusaders rallied late in the opening set of a match as a Natalie Knauf kill sparked a 6-0 run that erased a 20-18 deficit and gave NNU a set point.

After a kill for the Tritons staved off that first set point, Kendra Bodine finished off the opening win with a kill.

A Mari Thomas service ace followed by a kill each from Bodine and Madi Farrell finished off the second set for NNU, giving the visitors a two-set lead.

After the Tritons rallied for the third-set victory, NNU jumped up 9-1 on a Farrell solo block in the fourth set and cruised to the match-clinching win.

Farrell and Bodine led the offense, racking up 15 kills each in the opener, with Farrell adding six blocks and Bodine helping out with 10 digs.

Thomas also turned in a strong, balanced effort, recording nine kills and added 14 digs, while Shayli Siegfreid had 22 digs and setter Hailey Cook dished out 45 assists against the host Tritons (3-3).

In their second match of the day, the Crusaders jumped up early as a pair of Siegfreid service aces highlighted an opening 9-2 charge, and NNU never looked back.

And after a slow start to the second set — down 3-0 — NNU charged to the lead, going up 13-5 on a Cook ace, and on top 17-8 on a Farrell kill, rolling to a two-set-to-none lead.

Down 9-4 in the final set, back-to-back Knauf kills capped an 8-0 run that sent the Crusaders on their way to the sweep.

Farrell led the way with 12 kills against the Seasiders (2-6) and added five blocks, while Bodine had 10 kills in the Crusaders second match of the day.

Siegfreid again led the defense, this time with 21 digs, and Cook dished out 28 assists in the sweep.

"Our middles, Natalie and Madi, both had good days and helped carry our offense," English said, as Knauf added 12 kills and five blocks on the day.

"We are excited to play one more tomorrow."

The Crusaders wrap up play in the tournament on Saturday when they face Point Loma at 12:30 p.m. (PT).