NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene volleyball could not hold on for the victory after taking the first two sets against Western Washington on Saturday, falling to the Vikings 3-2.
NNU moves to 5-5 on the season and 1-1 in GNAC action after the first conference weekend.
Set one started close, but NNU began pulling away midway through to take a 14-8 lead. The advantage would grow to eight, 21-13, on a kill from
Miya Koch, before the Nighthawks took the frame 25-18.
The second set went back and forth to start as well, with the two teams battling to a tie at 11. Once again, the Nighthawks began to pull away, going on a 10-4 run to take a 21-15 lead after a
Megan MacKinney ace and a Viking error. NNU cruised from there to win the set 25-19.
The Nighthawks and Vikings would fight to a 17-17 tied in set three, before WWU pulled away with eight of the last 12 points to take the set. WWU used that momentum to take set four as well, 25-16.
The momentum stayed on the Vikings' side to open the fifth frame, with WWU taking an 11-3 lead. The Nighthawks put forth a valiant effort to fight back, scoring five in a row and seven of the next eight to draw within two at 12-10, but WWU held on for a 15-12 set win to take the match.
Maren Dent led the NNU offense with 18 kills, followed by
Hailey Cheney at 13 and
Londyn Giles at 11. Dent and Giles both had double-doubles, tallying 16 and 11 digs, respectively, with Dent also recording four aces.
Sarah Lyons also added nine kills with no errors, hitting .529 in the match. Gabi Haws had a career-best 52 assists along with 13 digs.
Caroline McMahon also recorded a season-best 30 digs.
NNU will be back out on the road next week, visiting Seattle Pacific on Thursday and MSU Billings on Saturday.
