Northwest Wins Third Straight Match
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University defeated a determined Northwest Christian team, 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-21, 25-18), to win their third straight match tonight in conference play.
All four sets were tightly contested with numerous ties and lead changes throughout. The first set would see NCU breaking out to and early 11-6 lead, but NU’s Sarah Stoker’s kill would tie the set at 15-all. After four ties, Northwest U. would pull ahead 22-20 on a Anu Akamine kill. A miscue by the Eagles would allow the Beacons to make it 22-21, but Northwest U. would out score NCU 3-1 to win the set.
In the second set, Northwest would take an early 9-6 lead, but Northwest Christian would overtake the Eagles to take a 11-10 lead and would hold the lead the remainder of the set as Emily O’Neal capped off the win with her kill.
Northwest U. would take a commanding 14-8 lead in the third set and would maintain the lead until NCU would come back to tie the set at 21-21 on three straight kills by Danielle Nance (2) and Emily O’Neal. NU would win the set after a Beacon miscue and kills by Breanna Covey and Lauryn Ernster.
In the fourth and final set Northwest would lead 12-4 and maintain the lead the entire set. NCU would pull to within three, 20-17, but Anu Akamine would put the capper on the match with her kill after an attack error by NCU and a kill by the Eagle’s Sarah Stoker.
Northwest U. (5-5, 3-2 CCC) was led by Breanna Covey’s 16 kills and a .333 hitting average. Lauryn Ernster had a match high 38 assists and 7 digs while teammate Heather Shulke had a match high 22 digs. Sophomore Sarah Stoker added 13 kills with an average of .393.
Danielle Nance and Emily O’Neal led Northwest Christian (7-6, 2-4 CCC) with 11 and 10 kills respectively. Cori Wallace led the Beacons with 34 assists and 11 digs and teammate Dana Clark contributed a team high 17 Digs.
Northwest U. head coach, Jessie Dietrich said, “It was nice to get two conference wins this weekend, but we definitely have a lot to work on this week in practice. Northwest Christian was a good, scrappy team and they exploited some of our weaknesses. It was great to be the team which ended on top tonight.”
Northwest U. will now travel to Ashland, Oregon next weekend to take on Southern Oregon and Klamath Falls to play Oregon Tech on Sept. 23 and 24.