PORTLAND, Ore. - After two tough 5 game losses to open 2008, Cascade defeated Northwest Christian at home in straight sets to earn their first win of the season. The scores were 25-22, 25-23, 25-19. Meagan Stanley continued her hot start on the year for the Thunderbirds, swinging for 11 kills on 23 attempts.

NCU (2-3) again was the faster starting team in set 2, surging to a 16-12 lead behind the hitting of Brooke Stribling. Cascade (1-2) methodically climbed back in the game, taking a 22-21 lead on a Natalie Forgan kill. Forgan put home another kill to give Cascade a 24-23 lead, and an NCU error handed set 2 to the hosts.

The third set was more of the same, with Cascade starting slow and spotting the Beacons a 5-1 lead. The T-Birds surged back behind the serving of Kelsey Nickell, using a 5-0 burst to get back on track. Cascade took the lead for good at 13-12 on a Stanley kill, and held off a spirited NCU team for the three set conference victory.

Stribling led NCU with a match high 13 kills, and Whitney Hoff had 18 assists. Natalie Forgan contributed 8 kills for Cascade, and Katherine Messerschmidt added 6 kills with no errors in her first action of the season.

Cascade heads to Linfield for a non-conference matchup tomorrow night, while Northwest Christian continues CCC play at Warner Pacific.