Senior Brooke Stribling led the Beacons with a double-double on Tuesday night.
REDDING, Calif. – The Northwest Christian University volleyball team shook off a lot of demons on Tuesday night, knocking off Simpson University on the road in five sets, 18-25, 25-21, 18-15, 25-15, 15-4. Senior Brooke Stribling led the way for the Beacons with 14 kills and 15 digs.
Just three days prior, NCU dropped a five-set match to Warner Pacific, which brought back memories of a tough 2007 season that saw the Beacons lose four five-set contests, all in Cascade Conference action. And while Tuesday’s affair was a non-conference meeting, it was still important. Head coach Mike Gaffaney said, “We were able to prove to ourselves that we can win a five-setter, and that was really important, especially early in the season. It was nice to have a decisive fifth set too because it showed that we have the ability to put a team away.”
It was an up-and-down match with the Beacons trading sets with the Red Hawks the whole way. “We seemed to play well, and then have a letdown,” said Gaffaney. “Simpson played much better than they did the last time we faced them.” NCU defeated the Red Hawks in the season opener for both teams, a three-set sweep for the Beacons.
Stribling recorded match-highs with her kill and dig totals for Northwest Christian (3-4) while hitting .250 for the match. Charlie Van Loon hit a match-best .263 with six kills to just one error. She also led the way with five blocks (3 solo) as the Beacons collected seven blocks as a team. Alex Jee had a strong night setting the ball, collecting 26 assists. Cassie Bishop nearly matched Stibling’s double-double efforts with nine kills and ten digs. She also had a pair of blocks.
Simpson (0-5) was led by Jenna Chandler with 13 kills. Stacy Viss added 11 kills, five service aces and three blocks while Erin Brink collected 39 assists.
Northwest Christian will be back in action on Friday night as they return home for the first time in six matches to play host to Concordia University in CCC action. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 pm.