NAMPA, Idaho — Northwest Nazarene defended its home court Thursday night, earning a 3-1 victory over Western Oregon (25-15, 25-18, 23-25, 25-18) to secure another GNAC win. The Nighthawks controlled the opening two sets before Western Oregon responded in the third, but NNU regrouped in the fourth to close out the match. With the win, NNU improves to 12-7 overall and 6-6 in conference play.
NNU set the tone early in the opening set, building an early advantage behind kills from
Madison Cheney and
Maddy Hellem.
Hailey Cheney added multiple kills as the Nighthawks began to find their rhythm offensively, while a service ace from
Morgan Wilding and a block from
Jenna Holm and Wilding helped NNU maintain control. Western Oregon tried to stay within reach, but the Nighthawks continued to pull away behind their attack.
Abby Black delivered back-to-back service aces late in the set before an attack error by the Wolves' Katelyn Markley sealed the 25-15 win.
The Nighthawks carried that momentum into the second set, trading points with Western Oregon early before beginning to create separation.
Hailey Cheney connected on a kill from Wilding, and a block from Hellem and Cheney helped NNU establish a 7-4 lead. Black and Holm added kills to keep the Nighthawks in front through a competitive middle stretch. As Western Oregon attempted to close the gap, NNU found another gear late in the set. Hellem delivered multiple kills, Cheney added a service ace, and Black contributed a key kill off an assist from Holm. NNU continued to apply pressure at the net, with Black and Cheney teaming up for a block before Hellem and Cheney combined for another to close out the 25-18 victory and give the Nighthawks a 2-0 match lead.
Western Oregon responded in the third set, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead and forcing NNU to work its way back into the contest. The Nighthawks answered with kills from Black and
Madison Cheney, along with a service ace from Black, to close the gap. The teams traded points throughout the set, with
Hailey Cheney connecting on kills from Wilding and NNU's defense creating opportunities at the net. Neither team was able to pull away, and the score remained close through the middle stages. A service ace from
Whitleigh Walsh helped NNU tie the set at 18, setting up a tense finish. Black and Holm delivered key kills late to keep the Nighthawks even at 23, but Western Oregon answered with consecutive kills to take the set 25-23 and cut NNU's match lead to 2-1.
NNU responded emphatically in the fourth set, overcoming an early deficit to put the match away. Western Oregon opened with a 2-0 lead, but the Nighthawks began chipping away behind a kill from
Madison Cheney and a block from Holm and Cheney. Hellem recorded consecutive kills off assists from Wilding to help keep NNU within reach as the teams worked through the opening stretch. The set remained tight through the middle, with the teams trading points before NNU pulled even at 10. Black connected on a kill from Wilding, and a service ace from
Hailey Cheney helped the Nighthawks regain the lead. After Western Oregon tied the score at 16, NNU seized control with kills from Hellem and Cheney, followed by a service ace from
Lexi Douthit to extend the advantage. Black then delivered back-to-back kills from Wilding to push NNU ahead 23-18. An attack error by Western Oregon brought the Nighthawks to set point, and another attack error sealed the 25-18 victory.
The Nighthawks remain at home for their next conference matchup, hosting Saint Martin's on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. in Nampa.
