Northwest Opens Season With a Victory
AZUSA, Calif. - The 2011 edition of the NU Eagle volleyball team opened their season this afternoon with a come from behind 3-2 (25-18, 21-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-10) victory over Holy Names in the Cougar Classic at Azusa Pacific in southern California.
Led by 14 kills by Breanna Covey, 48 assists by Lauryn Ernster and 30 digs by Heather Shulke, the Eagles came back from a 2-1 deficit to win two straight sets for the win.
The Eagles led the entire way in the first set as they broke out to an early 12-6 lead capped off by a Heather Shulke service ace. HNU would close the gap to 17-12, but it would be the closest the Hawks would come as the Eagles would win set one, 25-18.
HNU would rally in the second set for the win, but the Eagles would tie the set 11-11 before the Hawks would increase their lead to 18-13. Once again, NU would make it close as a kill by Brianna Covey and a service ace by Alexa Brown would make it 19-21 before HNU would pull away for the win.
The Hawks from Oakland, Calif. would win their second straight set as they would break out to a 17-7 lead and win 25-18. The Eagles will close to within four, 22-18, before two HNU kills and a NU miscue would give the Hawks the win.
Northwest would battle back in the fourth set and would take the lead after a 4-4 tie. Two errors by HNU would give NU a 6-4 lead as they would slowly pull away and find themselves up 21-14 after three straight HNU miscues. A kill by Shulke and Covey would put NU up for good, 24-16 as Molly Boyle would close out the set with her kill--25-18, Eagles.
In the fifth and deciding set, NU would lead the entire way as they would take a 10-4 lead on Alivia Johnson's service ace. Covey would have the final two kills of the match to help earn the win for the Eagles, 15-10.
Covey led the Eagles (1-0) with her 14 kills followed by 13 kills by Molly Boyle and 10 by Sarah Stoker. Lauryn Ernster finished with 48 assists and 14 digs while Heather Shulke led the Eagles with a game high 30 digs. Senior Anu Akamine added 9 kills and 9 digs.
Holy Names was led by Katheleen Marusich's 14 kills and 15 digs and teammate Mariah Christensen had a game high 49 assists for the Hawks (0-1). Kayla Coleman added 21 digs.
"It was definitely our first match of the season," stated Eagle head coach Jessie Dietrich. "We played with excitement but showed our nervousness and tightness at times. It was an up and down match and I felt we were able to improve our defensive adjustments and attacks. It was great to start the season out with a win."
Northwest continues play on Friday with two matches as they will face two GSAC teams: The Masters at noon and Hope International at 4:30 pm.