Final day of competition in the first annual Challenge.
Eagles Down Saints in Five Set Battle
SPOKANE, Wash. – Northwest University came from behind in the fifth set to get by Carroll College (Mont.) 3-2 (25-19, 17-25, 25-10, 21-25, 16-14) on the final day of the Cascade-Frontier Challenge.
Down 11-7 in the final set, NU mounted a comeback led by Breanna Covey’s two kills which tied the set at 11-11. Carroll would take the lead again at 13-11,but the Eagles would come back to tie it at 13-all on a kill by Sarah Stoker and an attack error by Carroll. Lauryn Ernster’s service ace would put NU up 14-13, but the Fighting Saints would tie it once again on Calli Prestwood’s kill. Northwest would then score the final points of the set and match as Breanna Covey would get a kill and a Carroll miscue would the match.
The teams traded sets in the first four contests with NU taking the first set 25-19. The first set would be tied the first 17 points, but Northwest would take the lead for good as kills by Breanna Covey and Molly Boyle, along with two Carroll errors would make it 11-8 Eagles. NU would lead the remainder of the way as Sarah Stoker’s kill would end the set.
Carroll would rebound quickly in the second set and break out to a 13-5 lead punctuated by a Sarah Roshak kill. NU would not recover as the Saints would winning going away to tie the match.
The third set would belong to the Eagles as they would turn the tables on Carroll and lead the entire way. NU would take a big lead, 20-9 after four straight errors by the Saints and a kill by Becky Heiner. A service ace by Heather Shulke, a kill by Alivia Johnson and an attack error by Carroll would give the set to the Eagles.
In the fourth set, Carroll would score four straight points to take a 10-6 lead. Northwest would slowly whittle away at the lead and a kill by Olivia VanDlac would close the gap to four, 23-19. After Molly Boyle’s kill would make it 24-20 and Breanna Covey’s kill closed the gap to 24-21, Carroll would get the set win on a NU miscue.
Breanna Covey led Northwest U. (2-2) with 16 kills and 14 digs. Olivia VanDlac added 11 kills and 17 digs while teammate Becky Heiner added 10 kills for the Eagles. Freshman Ashton Arbuthnot had a team high 26 assists and 14 digs and Heather Shulke had a match high 33 digs.
Carroll’s Kathleen Mulligan had 14 kills to lead the Saints (5-3) and Natalie Stewart had 23 assists and 10 digs. Emily Burk added 21 assists and 8 digs while Catie Hanser had a team high 20 digs.
“It was a good win against a quality opponent,” said Steve Bain, Northwest U. head coach, “and I was pleased with our effort. It was also good for the players to see a return on the hard work and preparation they have invested in the process.”
Northwest U. closes out the Challenge with their final match against the University of Great Falls at 4 p.m. while Carroll takes on Eastern Oregon at 6 p.m.