EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University volleyball team opened up the New Hope Christian College Tournament with an easy three-set victory against the hosts on Friday afternoon, 25-22, 25-14, 25-22. Senior Megan Van Marter one-upped herself again, going errorless and hitting a blistering .720.
The Beacons (9-13) had a dominant team performance on the offensive end, hitting .400 with 45 kills and just nine attack errors. In the second set alone, the Beacons went 14-for-26 with only one error.
Van Marter tied a ten-year old school record for kills in a three-set match, collecting 18 on just 25 swings. She added three service aces and two blocks. Claire Salness was no slouch herself, hitting .478 with 13 kills and two aces. Makenna Northern posted 17 assists in two sets of action and Natalie Downes collected three kills and a match-high three blocks. Kayla Olson played just two sets but still led the team with eight digs.
New Hope (9-11) was led by Chandler Heinrick who posted 11 kills and five digs. Sky Moskowitz added seven kills and seven digs while Violet Mills led all players with 29 assists. Breezy Husband posted the match-high in digs with nine.
The Beacons will close out the tournament at 10:00 am on Saturday, facing off against West Coast Baptist College out of California. Then at 8:00 pm on Saturday night the team returns to Cascade Collegiate Conference action against Walla Walla University.