SEASIDE, Calif. – Northwest Nazarene volleyball came up clutch again in the early season, bouncing back from a 2-1 set deficit to defeat tournament host Cal State Monterey Bay in five sets and finish the Otter Invitational 4-0.
The 4-0 start is the Nighthawks' best start to a season since 2017, when they won the first 16 games of the year.
NNU is also the first GNAC team to four wins this season and one of two remaining undefeated squads in the conference, with Western Oregon currently at 3-0.
The opening set was close between the Nighthawks and Otters, with NNU holding on to a one-point advantage late at 21-20. NNU finished the frame with four-straight points, though, including kills from
Hailey Cheney and
Londyn Giles along with a
Caroline McMahon ace.
Monterey Bay responded in the next two sets, however, taking two 25-21 and three 25-20.
The fourth set was all Nighthawks, though, jumping out to a 9-2 early lead and cruising to a 25-15 victory to force a deciding final fifth frame.
The momentum continued in NNU's favor as the Nighthawks scored the first four points of the set with two kills from
Maren Dent, one from
Gabi Moore, and an ace from
Helen Sullivan. The lead stretched to 9-3 on a Giles kill, and ultimately a kill from Cheney finished the job for a 15-7 set win to take the match.
Dent was strong with a career-high 21 kills, hitting .264 and adding 10 assists. Cheney also notched three career-bests with 13 kills, .385 attack percentage, and four blocks. Giles equaled Cheney's 13 kills and registered 17 digs.
Moore also dished out 43 assists and McMahon tallied 20 digs.
The Nighthawks will be back in California next weekend, heading to the Los Angeles area for four games at the Cal Poly Pomona/Azusa Pacific Tournament.
