Box Score BILLINGS, Mont. – The Northwest Nazarene women's volleyball team battled back from a 2-0 deficit to force a deciding fifth set Thursday night but ultimately fell 3-2 to Montana State Billings. The Nighthawks dropped the opening two sets 27-25 and 25-23 before responding with a 25-20 win in the third and a convincing 25-16 victory in the fourth. MSUB took the fifth set 15-13 to secure the match.
NNU opened the night with a strong start in the first set, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead. The Yellowjackets worked their way back into the set, and the teams traded points through a tightly contested finish. With the score tied at 24-24, MSUB managed to pull ahead and close out the set 27-25.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with neither team able to create much separation early. MSUB began to build momentum midway through the set and eventually established a 24-20 advantage. The Nighthawks responded with three straight points, highlighted by kills from
Abby Black and
Hailey Cheney, but the Yellowjackets held on for the 25-23 win to take a 2-0 lead.
Facing a two-set deficit, NNU responded in the third. After trailing 8-4 early, the Nighthawks steadily worked their way back into the set, tying the score at 18-18. NNU took control from there, using a late run to create separation.
Lily Kinloch made an impact at the net with a pair of kills down the stretch, while
Jenna Holm and Kinloch teamed up for a key block as the Nighthawks closed out the set 25-20.
NNU carried that momentum into the fourth, putting together its most decisive stretch of the night. After the teams were tied at 8-8, the Nighthawks began to pull away, building a 19-12 advantage.
Abby Black,
Maddy Hellem and
Hailey Cheney helped lead the offensive push, while Cheney added a block as NNU cruised to a 25-16 win to even the match at two sets apiece.
The deciding fifth set featured another back-and-forth battle. NNU jumped out to a 7-4 lead and held an 8-7 advantage before MSUB took control with a run of its own. The Nighthawks continued to battle, tying the score at 12-12 behind a service ace from Cheney. However, the Yellowjackets scored three of the final four points to take the set 15-13 and secure the 3-2 victory.
With the result, Northwest Nazarene moves to 13-8 overall and 7-7 in GNAC play.
The Nighthawks will look to bounce back Saturday, Oct. 31, when they travel to Seattle to face No. 25 Seattle Pacific at Royal Brougham Pavilion. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT.
