FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Down two sets on the road, the Northwest Nazarene volleyball team refused to let its afternoon end there. The Nighthawks mounted an impressive comeback against Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, winning three straight sets to earn a five-set victory and improve to 11-7 overall and 5-6 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
Alaska Fairbanks set the tone early, edging NNU 25-22 in the opening set before taking the second 25-19. With their backs against the wall, the Nighthawks needed to find another gear, and they answered with a third set that tested both teams.
NNU jumped out to an early 9-2 lead behind a service ace from
Abby Black, a kill from
Maddy Hellem and a strong serving stretch from
Lexi Douthit, who added an ace of her own. The Nanooks worked their way back, turning the set into a back-and-forth battle that stretched well beyond 25 points. Neither team gave in as the score continued to climb, but the Nighthawks stayed in the fight and finally came away with a dramatic 33-31 win to keep their comeback hopes alive.
With momentum shifting, NNU carried that determination into the fourth set. The Nighthawks and Nanooks traded points throughout another close frame, with NNU finding timely offense to pull ahead late. After battling through the opening two-set deficit, the Nighthawks secured a 25-23 win to even the match at two sets apiece and force a deciding fifth set.
NNU wasted little time taking control in the final frame.
Abby Black opened the scoring with a kill, and Douthit sparked an early run with a service ace. Douthit helped the Nighthawks build a 7-2 advantage, while
Hailey Cheney and Hellem contributed key plays at the net. Alaska Fairbanks attempted to close the gap, but NNU continued to apply pressure. Black delivered another kill, and
Morgan Wilding added a service ace as the Nighthawks pushed their lead to 14-5.
The Nanooks answered with three consecutive points, but the Nighthawks remained composed.
Jenna Holm finished the match with a kill off an assist from Wilding, sealing the 15-8 fifth-set win and completing the comeback. After dropping the first two sets, NNU won the final three to leave Fairbanks with a hard-earned conference victory.
The Nighthawks return to Nampa next week for a home matchup against Western Oregon on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m.
