Warner Pacific Sweeps Eagles
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Warner Pacific came into Kirkland tonight and swept Northwest U., 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-22), in Cascade Conference play tonight. With the win, Warner Pacific improves to 14-8 overall and 8-6 in the CCC.
Set one was close until the eighth and final tie, 12-12, when Warner Pacific would out score NU 5-1 to take a 17-13 lead which they would never relinquish. Two kills by Rylie Engelson would end the set in favor of the Knights, 25-18.
Om set two, Northwest U. took an early 11-6 lead after a kill by Arika Zwack and a service ace by Ashton Arbuthnot. But WPC would then out score the Eagles 11 to 5 to pull ahead 17-16 after a Mikaela Lisoski kill. The Knights would maintain the lead the rest of set as Devan Belshe would put the capper on the set with her kill.
In the final set, it would be Warner Pac taking an 11-9 lead after an NU service error. NU would tie it, 11-11, after Rae Ann Hastings’ kill and a Warner Pac miscue. After two more ties, WPC would take the lead for good 17-15, after four straight Northwest U. errors. NU would battle back late in the set to make it 24-22, but Devan Belshe would end the set and the match with her kill.
Northwest U. (12-10, 6-7 CCC) was led by Olivia VanDlac and Breanna Covey’s 8 kills each as the Eagles hit .077 as a team. Ashton Arbuthnot had a match high 29 assists and Heather Shulke had a team high 20 digs for the Eagles. Arika Zwack added 14 digs.
Devan Belshe had a match high 13 kills while adding 12 digs for Warner Pacific (14-9, 8-6 CCC). Rylie Engelson had a team high 18 assists while teammate Marchelle Bostic added 15 assists. Samantha Bryan had a match high 21 digs for the Knights.
Said NU coach, Steven Bain following the match, "For sure this was a disappointing loss and it can become a bad loss if we fail to respond properly. Fortunately, we have a group that is still working hard to improve so I am hopeful we can bounce back. I can’t talk about the match though without giving a lot of credit to Warner Pacific and their ability to have composure in tight situations and make plays. It is something we are striving to do as well and tonight we received a lesson in how to do it."
Northwest remains home to host Concordia on Saturday night while Warner Pacific will take on Evergreen in Olympia. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. starts.