KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University made quick work of the Evergreen State College in a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-9, 25-1) in Cascade Conference play tonight.

 

In set one, Northwest jumped out to a 13-4 lead aided by 11 Eagle kills. Evergreen made it 17-11 on a kill by Jazzmin Garcia and an attack miscue by NU, but the Eagles would out score ESC 8-2 to win the set 25-12.

 

Set two was all Northwest as the Eagles took an 8-0 lead on three kills, three service aces and two Evergreen attach errors.  A kill by Sarah Stoker and Lauren Holtz would build Northwest’s lead to 20-4 as the Eagles would cruise to a 25-9 set victory.

 

In the final set, Evergreen State would not easy as they battled the entire set. Northwest led by two points, 9-7, and would increase their lead to 11-7 on a NU service ace and ESC attack error. Northwest would maintain a slim, two to three point lead  and then begin to pull away with the score 13-11. The Eagles would out score Evergreen State 5-2 to increase their lead to 18-12 capped by two straight kills by Stoker and Kacie Simpson. NU would close out the set and the match by out scoring ESC 7-3 for their 13^th victory of the season and improve their CCC conference record to 8-4.

 

Northwest (13-6, 8-4 CCC), playing without leading hitter Anu Akamine tonight, was led by senior Lauren Holtz’s (Brier, Wash.) 11 kills. Freshman Sarah Stoker (Olympia, Wash.) stepped in and had 10 kills and 5 digs for the Eagles. Setter Lauryn Ernster (Soph., Bothell, Wash.) had a match high 34 digs and added 10 digs while libero Heather Shulke (Soph., Castle Rock, Wash.) had a team and match high 14 digs and 5 service aces. Molly Boyle (Fresh., Ridgefield, Wash.) had 9 kills in two sets and hit a match high .818 and Breanna Covey (Soph., Arlington, Wash.) also had 9 kills to add to the Eagles balanced scoring.

 

The Evergreen State College (4-12, 3-9 CCC) was led by Jazzmin Garcia’s 8 kills and 4 digs. Erin Mitchell added 14 assists and 11 digs for the Geoducks and Chantal Petkus contributed 13 digs.

 

“The match was a nice sweep for us,” stated Eagle Head Coach, Jessie Dietrich. “Everyone was able to contribute which is great to see. We struggled with our serve receptions a little but made up for it with a strong offense tonight.” Dietrich continued, “Molly (Boyle) had a great match getting nine kills in two games and hitting .818.”

 

Northwest will now have the remainder of the weekend off and will prepare for their road trip to Oregon and Idaho as they will take on Eastern Oregon and the College of Idaho on October 22 and 23.