Beacons Sweep Eagles for 11th Victory
KIRKLAND, Wash. - Northwest Christian posted their 11th win of the season with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-23) closely fought victory over Northwest University in CCC action.
The first set was close all the way with seven ties and the teams locked in a see-saw battle. Northwest U. would take a slim 15-13 lead after a service ace by Arika Zwack and two NCU errors, but the Beacons would come back to tie and take the lead after Taylor Richardson and Chelsea McGowan's kills followed by an Eagle miscue. From that point on NCU would hold the lead until two attack errors by NCU and a service ace by NU's Leia Roy would knot the game at 22-all. But NCU would rebound with Chandler Gabrio's and service ace to lead 24-22 and bad set by NU would end the set in favor of the Beacons.
Northwest Christian would build a 14-9 lead in set two, but Northwest would battle back to outscore the Beacons 9-4 to tie the set at 18-18 after a Molly Boyle kill and an attack error by NCU. Northwest would lead 20-19, but two straight errors by the Eagles would give NCU a 21-20 lead. The set would see two more ties until NCU would break the final 23-23 tie and win the set on two NU attack errors.
The final set would be no exception to the night with 9 ties throughout the set. After Christina Gleb's service ace would put Northwest up 21-20, the Beacons would come out of a time out and go on a 5-2 run capped off by Janel Fetters kill to give NCU the set and the match.
Freshman Hannah Hanson led Northwest U. (5-10, 1-4 CCC) with 8 kills and a .412 hitting percentage. Christina Gleb led the Eagles with 24 assists and Leia Roy had 17 digs to lead NU.
Northwest Christian (11-5, 4-3 CCC) was led by Chandler Gabrio's 13 kills. Gabrio hit .571 for the match. Cori Wallace had a match high 42 assists and 12 digs for a double-double while Dana McGowan had a team high 13 digs. Maren Mansfield added 10 kills for the Beacons.
Said NU head coach, Steven Bain, "Even though we lost, I was really pleased with the way our team competed tonight because these last two weeks we have been struggling to find the emotion and competitive desire that it takes to compete at a high level. I credit the players for putting their struggles behind them and have to single out the play of Christina Gleb, who was setting her first collegiate match. Chris did a terrific job of running the court and the effort and intensity that we displayed tonight is something that we can build on as we go forward."
Northwest U. remains at home to host Corban while Northwest Christian travels to Olympia to take on the Geoducks of the Evergreen State College on Saturday night. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.