KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University recovered from a first set loss to win three straight and defeat Northwest Christian University, 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-13. 25-12) in Cascade Conference play tonight. The win is the Eagles third straight CCC win.

 

In set one, Northwest U. broke out to an early 4-0 only to see NCU come back and tie the game at 4-4. The came would swing back and forth with 16 ties as neither team could gain the upper hand until Northwest Christian tied the set at 23-23 and then won two consecutive points for the win.

 

Set two would see Northwest U. fall behind early, 5-3, but a Lauren Holtz kill would give the Eagles an 8-7 lead which they would never relinquish and they would win the set, 25-18 punctuated by an Anu Akamine service ace and kill to win the set.

 

The third set would see the Eagles going on a 6-2 run to take a 12-7 lead and they cruised to the win and in the final set, NU would break out to a 13-4 lead and never look back as they would win the fourth set, 25-12 and end the match.

 

Junior Lauren Holtz (Brier, Wash.) led Northwest U. (4-8, 3-0 CCC) for the second straight night with 14 kills and 15 defensive digs. Junior Kacie Simpson (Renton, Wash.)  was right behind her with 13 kills and Lauryn Ernster (Fresh., Bothell, Wash.) had a game high 31 assists for the Eagles. Sophomore Anu Akamine (Hauula, Hawaii) added 9 kills and 14 digs.

 

Cassie Bishop led Northwest Christian (2-7, 0-4 CCC) with 13 kills and 9 digs. Whitney Hoff had 12 assists and 8 digs for the Beacons while Mercedes LeClaire led NCU with 14 digs.

 

Northwest U. will travel to Ashland, Oregon next weekend to take on #21 Southern Oregon on Friday, September 18 and then on to Klamath Falls to meet Oregon Tech on Saturday, September 19. Northwest Christian will be in California to play Simpson on September 15 and then returns to CCC play as they travel to Salem, Oregon to take on Corban College on September 18.