NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene battled No. 19 Alaska Fairbanks through five sets Thursday night at the Johnson Sports Center, but the Nighthawks fell 3-2 in their third GNAC match of the season. With the loss, NNU moves to 0-3 in conference play, while Alaska Fairbanks improved to 2-1.
The Nighthawks and Nanooks traded points early in the opening set, with neither team able to create much separation. NNU pulled ahead 5-3 before Alaska Fairbanks responded with a 7-1 run to take an 8-5 lead. NNU continued to battle and tied the set at 9-9 and again at 17-17, but the Nanooks regained control late. Alaska Fairbanks closed out the set 25-21 to take an early 1-0 lead.
NNU responded in the second set, jumping out to a 3-1 advantage behind early kills from
Jenna Holm and
Lily Kinloch. The teams continued to trade points before the Nighthawks began to pull away. Kills from
Abby Black,
Madison Cheney and
Hailey Cheney helped NNU build a 14-10 lead, and the Nighthawks continued to apply pressure down the stretch. NNU closed the set with kills from Kinloch and Cheney to take a 25-17 win and even the match at 1-1.
The third set again started close, but Alaska Fairbanks created separation with a 7-1 run to take a 9-4 advantage. NNU worked to chip away at the deficit behind kills from Cheney, Black and Holm, but the Nanooks maintained their lead. NNU found momentum late, cutting the deficit to 22-18 and then 23-20, but Alaska Fairbanks answered to close out the set 25-21 and move ahead 2-1.
Facing a must-win fourth set, NNU came out strong. After trading points early, the Nighthawks broke away from a 4-4 tie with a strong run, getting kills from Black and
Tatum Swapp to build an 11-4 lead. NNU continued to control the set, stretching its advantage to 15-9 before Alaska Fairbanks attempted to rally. The Nanooks cut the deficit to three, but NNU settled back in and continued to build its lead. Kinloch delivered a kill to make it 24-16, and
Morgan Wilding followed with a service ace to close out the set 25-16 and force a decisive fifth.
Alaska Fairbanks took control immediately in the fifth set, opening with a 4-0 run and forcing an NNU timeout. The Nighthawks answered with a Kinloch kill, but the Nanooks continued to build their advantage, taking a 7-2 lead. NNU fought back behind Holm and Black, cutting the deficit to 9-5 after a Black kill and service ace. A Holm kill and Spray service ace brought NNU within three at 10-7, but Alaska Fairbanks regained control and reached match point at 14-8. The Nanooks closed out the match with a 15-9 fifth-set victory.
The Nighthawks will remain at home this weekend as they continue GNAC play against Alaska Anchorage, who are receiving votes in the national rankings. First serve is set for 1 p.m. at the Johnson Sports Center.
