NAMPA, Idaho – The Northwest Nazarene volleyball team showed its age Friday night in a tough five-set loss to Dixie State in the Fairfield Inn & Suites Invitational at Johnson Sports Center.

The Nighthawks (0-2) had match point in the third set, but couldn't finish off the Trailblazers and eventually lost the final three sets to fall 22-25, 22-25, 27-25, 25-17, 15-9.

"That is where the experience comes in," NNU senior libero Shayli Siegfreid said. "Figuring out how to finish the game. In the third set it is really hard if it is your first time on the floor or first time out there to make the big plays."

NNU had set point twice but couldn't come up with the match finisher either time. Dixie State then grabbed the momentum and jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth set, though the Nighthawks eventually took a 14-13 lead. A 7-1 Dixie State run made sure to send the match to a decisive fifth set.

"I think we didn't really respond after the third set," NNU coach Doug English said. "They were fired up after getting that one and we were down 7-2 really fast. We started out the fifth set in a great place, but it is just us being young and trying to sustain and grow. (Dixie State) played great in the last set."

Kills by Cami Heninger and Tayler Markland had the Nighthawks within 8-7, but the Trailblazers closed on a 7-1 run to earn the first victory of their young season.

"I think they got the momentum after winning the third set," Siegfreid said. "It is really hard to win the fifth set after losing two in a row. Momentum had definitely shifted at that point."

The Nighthawks can take some positives away from the loss.

They played much better than they did in their opener, passing the ball well and getting attacking contributions from up and down the lineup.

Abbey Blum had a team-high 15 kills, Jess Brennis had 11 kills and three digs, Heninger had 10 kills, 16 digs and four assists, Brooke Foster had nine kills and four digs and Markland added seven kills.

"That is where we need to be as a team because we don't have one kid that is going to dominate," English said.

In the third set, the Nighthawks got big contributions from Kayla Sale and Cayla Owen. Sale had four kills and Owen had five digs.

"We ran out of subs in that third set and Kayla came out – she does that in practice every day, but that was the first time she has done it in a game," English said. "Abbey had a great match and so did Jess."

Megan Nelson finished with 27 assists and four digs while Mckenzie Lee had 22 assists and six digs.

The Nighthawks face Biola at 1 p.m. in the final match of the invitational. Dixie State faces Cal State Monterey Bay at 11 a.m. Monterey Bay remained undefeated with a four-set victory against Biola on Friday evening.