EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University volleyball team controls its own destiny in the chase for the post-season and took one step in the right direction Friday night, defeating Corban University in the home finale, 25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 25-17. NCU collected ten blocks and held the Warriors to .070 hitting in the contest.
NCU (16-11, 8-8 CCC) was led by senior Tami Brown (pictured) who, in her final home game, led all players with 18 kills, adding a team-high four blocks and 13 digs. Maren Mansfield added ten kills and three blocks while Janel Fetters hit .333 with nine kills and three blocks.
Fetters also led all players with four service aces, including three straight in the clinching fourth set. Dana McGowan added 16 digs and Cori Wallace led the Beacons with 26 assists.
Corban (4-18, 2-14) was off the bench by Chandra Teague with 12 kills and nine digs, adding three of the Warriors seven blocks. Claire Bailey had nine kills without an error to hit a match-high .529 while Katherine Salness posted a double-double with ten digs and a match-best 32 assists. Kiersten Hilt played as a defensive specialist in the first set and then donned the Libero uniform for the final three, leading all players with 17 digs.
The Beacons will play perhaps their most important match of the season next Friday night when they travel to Kirkland, Washington to face Northwest University at 7:00 pm. The Eagles sit one game behind the Beacons with two to play and currently own the tie-breaker over NCU, having won the first meeting in the series back in September. Corban will face Evergreen State on Friday, also at 7:00 pm.