NU senior Anu Akamine with a dig.
Northwest Sweeps Warner Pacific
KIRKLAND, Wash. - The Northwest University Eagles were challenged in the second set by Warner Pacific, but earned the sweep, 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-11) to notch their eighth win of the season and improve their conference record to 6-3.
The Eagles jumped out early in the first set, 12-6, on two kills by Sarah Stoker and two errors by Warner Pacific. Northwest would go on a 4-0 run to increase their lead to 21-8 led by three service aces by Olivia VanDlac and a kill by Arika Zwack. Two more Knight miscues would end the set.
In the second set, Warner Pacific would step up and battle the Eagles throughout. A kill by WPC's Kaylin Elms would pull the Knights to within two, 13-11, but NU would get kills by Molly Boyle (2) and Anu Akamine to make it 16-11. Warner Pacific would not go away easily and would fight back to make it 19-17 on another Elms' kill and an error by NU. Northwest would then outscore WPC 4-1 to make the score, 23-18 as they would close the set out with a kill by VanDlac and an attack error by the Knights.
In the final deciding set, it would be a combination of NU hitting and miscues by WPC as Northwest would build a big lead, 21-8, before Warner Pacific would end the scoring drought on a NU service error. An ace by Anu Akamine and two more Knight mistakes would end the set and the match, giving Northwest their second win of the weekend.
Senior Anu Akamine led Northwest (8-6, 6-3 CCC) with 10 kills and 10 digs. Heather Shulke had the match high in digs for the second straight night with 30 while teammate Lauryn Ernster also scored her second match high with 32 assists. The Eagles hit .279 as a team for the night.
Warner Pacific (2-8, 1-8 CCC) was led by Kaylin Elms' 5 kills. Teammate Kelsey Kurtz led the Knights in assists with 14 and added 11 digs. WPC was plagued by a low hitting percentage of -.038 on the night.
"The win was a nice way to end the first round of conference play," said NU head coach, Jessie Dietrich. "We had a great offensive weekend led by our setter Lauryn Ernster. We also had a fantastic showing by our libero, Heather Shulke, who averaged over 9 digs per set this weekend. "Hopefully, we can bring a higher level of play in the second half of the conference season."
Northwest U. will begin the second half of the CCC season when they travel to Olympia next Friday, Oct. 7, to take on the Geoducks of the Evergreen State College at 7 p.m.