KIRKLAND, Wash. -  Down 2-1, Cascade College came from behind to defeat Northwest University 3-2 (18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 12-15) in an exciting Cascade Conference match tonight in the Northwest Pavilion.

In the third set, Northwest over came an early 2-0 deficit to take a 15-9 lead and held a 19-13 lead before Cascade began their come back. The Thunderbirds went on a 9 to 1 run to take a 21-20 lead on three straight NU errors. A service error by Meagan Stanley would put NU back into the lead, 23-21, but Cascade would finish the set with a 4-0 run capped by Natalie Forgan’s kill to tie the match at 2-2.

In the fifth and deciding set, Cascade would take a 7-3 lead on a Carissa Boulton kill, but two attack errors by Cascade and a kill by NU’s Madeleine Krahn would bring the Eagles back to within 1 at 10-9. Another T-Bird error would tie the score at 11. Kelsey Nickell’s service ace would put Cascade up for good at 13-11 as the T-Birds would win 15-12 and earn their eighth victory of the year and third win in the CCC.

Natalie Forgan led the way for Cascade (8-18, 3-16 CCC) with 17 kills and 21 defensive digs on the night. Meagan Stanley would add 14 kills and 14 digs for the T-Birds and Carla Crowder contributed 41 assists  and 15 digs for the contest.

Northwest U. (9-17, 6-13 CCC) was led by Lauren Holtz’s (Soph., Brier, Wash.) game high 19 kills and 10 digs. Setter Libby Hellwig (Sr., Exeter, Calif.) also had a game high 43 assists and 12 digs while her teammate, senior Andrea Cotton added 22 digs for the Eagles. Senior Madeleine Krahn (Hockinson, Wash.) added 9 kills.

Northwest U. continues play at home as they host Warner Pacific on Saturday evening and Cascade travels to Olympia to play the Evergreen State College. Both games are slated for 7 p.m.