NAMPA, Idaho – Some people say Kayla Sale is almost too consistent.

The Northwest Nazarene junior doesn't do just any one thing amazingly well on the volleyball court, but she does do a lot of things very well.

A serving specialist her first two years at NNU, Sale has morphed into a starting outside hitter for the suddenly streaking Nighthawks.

"Some players only have one thing they are good at," NNU junior Jess Brennis said. "Like Madi Farrell was an incredible hitter and blocker, but she wasn't that great of a passer because she was a middle (blocker), but Kayla is good at everything.

"I think it is really good for a team to have. If we had more of those people, it would be great."

The Nighthawks have won three consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches to reach .500 in league play. They host Central Washington at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Sale was an outside hitter at Vallivue High School in Caldwell, Idaho, but with NNU loaded at the position she switched to serving specialist. NNU coach Doug English and Sale's teammates figured she'd end up as a libero eventually.

"Every team needs somebody to do the non-glorious work," English said. "Like offensive linemen or a Dennis Rodman rebounding type thing – the stuff that doesn't get a lot of press, but is super vital to our team and brings us success.

"She does that with her passing. She is a good hitter, but I don't think that is her strength. Her digging and passing makes everyone else better. I think she is very selfless with the role she plays on our team."

The 5-foot-9 Sale is short for her position, but her outstanding jumping ability is what helps her compete as a hitter.

She had her best offensive match of the season in a five-set win against Seattle Pacific last Thursday, recording 16 kills. Defensively she has reached double digits in digs in all but three matches so far.

"I don't really care if I just play defense or even if I'm a serving specialist again," she said. "I just want to win. If that means I don't play outside then that is what it has to be."

Sale started playing volleyball in seventh grade. While she is the only person in her family to play the sport, both of her parents and a brother played sports in high school.

At NNU, she worked as an outside hitter in practice the past two seasons even though she never played it in matches. At one point, she asked English if she could just focus on defense in practice but he encouraged her to keep working on hitting.

It's now paying off in the form of a starting role and some wins for the Nighthawks after a rough 0-8 start to the season.

"The losing is extremely hard," she said. "I always thought it looked kind of easy, but now being the one out there that has to take on that role it is hard. Experience really does matter."

And now Sale and other players are getting the winning experience that so many NNU volleyball players have enjoyed in the past.