NAMPA, Idaho — Northwest Nazarene volleyball heads back on the road this week for a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchups, visiting Montana State Billings on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. before traveling to Seattle Pacific on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. Pacific. The Nighthawks enter the week at 13-7 overall and 7-6 in GNAC play after earning back-to-back home victories over Western Oregon and Saint Martin's last week.
NNU has won three straight matches and will look to carry that momentum into a road trip against the Yellowjackets and Falcons as conference play continues.
Nighthawks' Season So Far
The Nighthawks have been led offensively by senior outside hitter Abby Black, who has recorded 291 kills this season. Hailey Cheney has added 151 kills, while Maddy Hellem has contributed 126. Black also provides a presence in the back row, with 230 digs.
Morgan Wilding leads NNU's offense with 412 assists, while Addison Lynn has also helped direct the attack. At the service line, Whitleigh Walsh has recorded 23 aces.
Defensively, libero Kayci Spray leads the Nighthawks with 314 digs, while Cheney has recorded 78 total blocks and Jenna Holm has added 72. As a team, NNU is hitting .202 while averaging 11.66 kills, 15.43 digs and 2.21 blocks per set.
The Nighthawks enter the week following a strong finish to their homestand. NNU defeated Western Oregon in four sets on Oct. 22 before sweeping Saint Martin's on Oct. 24. Against the Wolves, Black led the way with 18 kills as the Nighthawks hit .257 and recorded 10 total blocks. NNU followed with a three-set win over the Saints, winning three tightly contested sets, including a pair of 26-24 finishes, to close out the weekend.
Montana State Billings Yellowjackets
Montana State Billings enters Thursday's matchup at 4-18 overall and 0-12 in GNAC play. The Yellowjackets are coming off of a split weekend, sweeping Rocky Mountain College on Oct. 21 before dropping a 3-0 decision to Seattle Pacific on Oct. 24.
Allie Dorman leads the Yellowjackets offensively with 236 kills, averaging 3.03 per set. Emma Fairbairn has added 180 kills at 2.31 per set, while Izzy Ping has contributed 107 kills. Avery Starr directs the offense with 474 assists, averaging 6.32 per set.
Defensively, Stuff leads MSU Billings with 217 digs, while Dorman has added 183. Whitney leads the team at the net with 56 total blocks, and Addyson Quandt has contributed 39. As a team, the Yellowjackets average 10.09 kills, 13.81 digs and 1.47 blocks per set while hitting .139.
All-Time vs. Montana State Billings
NNU holds a 29-7 advantage in the all-time series against Montana State Billings and has won nine of the last 10 meetings. The Nighthawks earned a 3-0 victory over the Yellowjackets in their first meeting of the season on Oct. 3 in Nampa.
Seattle Pacific Falcons
Seattle Pacific enters the week at 15-5 overall and 10-2 in GNAC play. The Falcons have won five consecutive matches, most recently sweeping Montana State Billings on Oct. 24. Before welcoming NNU to Royal Brougham Pavilion, SPU is scheduled to host No. 17 Central Washington on Thursday.
Amaya Evans leads the Falcons with 219 kills, averaging 2.88 per set, while Megan Omlid has recorded 206 kills at 3.07 per set. Audra Rose has added 160 kills and leads the team's blocking effort with 76 total blocks. Peyton Ensign directs the offense with 538 assists, averaging 7.08 per set.
Defensively, Christina Lopez leads Seattle Pacific with 320 digs and has recorded 26 service aces. Omlid has added 187 digs, while Brooke Williams has contributed 69 total blocks. As a team, the Falcons are hitting .235 and averaging 12.99 kills, 14.97 digs and 2.13 blocks per set.
Seattle Pacific has been particularly effective during its recent winning streak. In its latest outing, the Falcons hit .400 while holding Montana State Billings to a .125 hitting percentage in a three-set road sweep. Evans led SPU with 11 kills, while Omlid added nine and Ensign finished with 30 assists.
All-Time vs. Seattle Pacific
NNU holds a 21-29 record against Seattle Pacific in the all-time series. The Falcons won the teams' first meeting this season, taking a five-set decision in Nampa on Oct. 1. The Nighthawks won the opening set and rallied to take the fourth, but Seattle Pacific secured the match with a 15-10 victory in the deciding set.
The Nighthawks will look to continue their recent momentum as they close out the week in Seattle on Saturday, with first serve scheduled for 1 p.m. Pacific at Royal Brougham Pavilion.
