FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Northwest Nazarene volleyball bounced back from an opening set loss to defeat Alaska Fairbanks 3-1 on Thursday.
NNU improves to 8-8 on the season and 4-4 in GNAC action.
UAF came out strong, riding the support of a large home crowd to a 19-9 first set lead. NNU would make things a little interesting down the stretch of the frame, but ultimately fell 25-18.
Set two was about as close as could be for the whole duration, with neither team taking a lead of more than four throughout. The Nanooks held that four-point lead at 17-13, but the Nighthawks then scored four in a row to even up the score. NNU would hold off UAF at the end, with a
Sarah Lyons kill taking the set 25-22.
Set three was a close affair as well, with the two teams fighting to a 15-15 tie. NNU went on a short 4-0 run to take an advantage that would remain for the rest of the frame as the Nighthawks took it 25-20.
NNU would trail at 19-17 late in the fourth set, but another four-point run for the Nighthawks put NNU on top. The Nighthawks would score four of the final six points to take the set 25-22 and win the match.
Londyn Giles led the way offensively with 12 kills and a .409 attack percentage while adding 12 digs.
Maren Dent also had a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs.
Abby Black played in three of the four sets and hit well with six kills, a .308 attack percentage, and three blocks.
Caroline McMahon added 12 more digs to her abundant career total, now crossing into 10
th all-time in GNAC history with 1783 over the course of her time in Nampa. She is also now the leader in sets played in NNU's Division II history with 425 (currently 8
th in the program's all-time record book).
NNU will now make the trip down to Anchorage for a primetime 7:00 p.m. match against Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.
