NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene volleyball took down a strong Alaska Fairbanks team on Thursday, sweeping the Nanooks 26-24, 25-17, 25-20.
NNU improves to 12-4 overall and 5-3 in conference action.
How It Happened
The Nanooks came out strong with a 12-8 early lead, but NNU responded with five straight points to go up one after a kill from
Olivia Wright. After two UAF points, NNU tallied five more in a row to make it a 10-2 run and take an 18-14 advantage.
Alaska would not go quietly, though, rallying back to tie things at 23 and 24 before NNU was able to grab two points in a row on a kill from Wright and ace from
Maren Dent to take the set 26-24.
NNU used the momentum to jump out to leads of 5-2 and 12-5 in set two. UAF battled back, however, cutting the deficit to two at 17-15. The Nighthawks held off the Nanooks though with six of the final seven points to win 25-17.
NNU came out strong again in set three, taking a 16-6 lead. UAF went on a 7-1 run to cut the margin to four and would eventually come within one at 21-20, but four-straight points from NNU sealed the set and the match.
Nighthawks Notes
- NNU hit .268 in the win while holding UAF to just .089 for the match
- The Nighthawks doubled up the Nanooks with an 8-4 advantage in blocks
- Olivia Wright led the team with 14 kills and a .571 attack percentage along with three blocks
- Natalie Sullivan added 12 kills and 10 digs for a double-double
- Miya Koch just missed a double-double with 10 kills and nine digs
- Caroline McMahon led the Nighthawks with 16 digs, moving into fifth on NNU's rally-scoring top ten list with 1329 digs in her career
- Anna Gable added four blocks and Mckenzie Lee notched 41 assists and three blocks
- NNU improves to 23-10 all-time against UAF
Next Up
The Nighthawks remain home for another game this Saturday, hosting 9
th-ranked Alaska Anchorage at noon.
