SPOKANE, Wash. - Trailing two sets to none, Northwest University rallied to win two straight sets, but fell 3-2 (26-28, 20-25, 25-18, 25-23, 7-15) to Montana Tech in their final match at the CCC-Frontier Challenge. Northwest U. finishes 3-3 in the three day tournament while Tech goes 4-1.

The 54 point first set was close the entire way with four lead changes and 7 ties. Northwest took a late 26-25 lead after a kill by Sarah Stoker, but the Orediggers would tie it with a Korey Krumm kill and score two more kills to take the set.

Set two would see Tech breaking out to am 18-8 lead. Leading 24-16 and with match point, Northwest would score three straight points on two Tech attack errors and a kill by Stoker, to trail 24-19, before Jordan Danz would end the Eagle rally with her kill. Tech 25, NU 20.

Montana Tech had a chance at the sweep in the third set, but NU would not allow it to happen. With the set in its 6th tie at 15-all, the Eagles would score three straight after a service ace by Ashton Arbuthnot and two straight miscues by Tech to make it 18-15. Leading 20-18, Northwest would close out the set on a 5-0 run which included an ace by Molly Boyle and two straight kills by Sarah Stoker to clinch the set for NU.

It looked as though the Orediggers from Butte, Mont., might close out the match in the 4th set, leading 20-16, but the Eagles would rally once again and score four straight points to knot the score at 20-20. Tech would regain the lead, 23-21 on an NU attack error, but another Eagle rally would bring Northwest back. Two kills by Rae Ann Haistings and one by Molly Boyle would contribute to the final 5-0 run to send the match to a 5th and deciding set.

Tech would be all business in the final set as they would take a commanding 14-4 lead before the Eagles would rally for three points on two Techster errors and a kill by Eagle senior Molly Boyle. Samantha Hutcheson would end the set and match with her kill to give Montana Tech the 3-2 win.

Northwest U.'s (3-3) Sarah Stoker, Hannah Hanson and Rae Ann Haistings would combine for 44 kills with Stoker ending up with a match high 18, Haistings with 16 and Hanson with 10. Hanson finished with a .500 hitting average while Stoker hit .368 for the match. Ashton Arbuthnot bettered her tournament and match high with 57 assists while Leia Roy led the team with 22 digs. Arbuthnot added 11 digs for another double-double.

Samantha Hutcheson led Montana Tech (4-1) with 15 kills and a .353 hitting percentage. Korey Krumm had 12 kills while Sydney Norris registered a double-double with 10 kills and 16 digs. Kimmy Kavran had a match high 27 digs for the Orediggers.

Stated NU coach Steven Bain, "To be down 2-0 and force that 5th set when we could have quit against a good Tech team, showed a lot of character and composure. Overall, it was a good experience for this team and we learned a lot. I also know the girls are excited to get back to work to make the changes that will make us better"

Northwest U. will remain on the road next weekend as they travel to Ashland, Oregon and a three game tournament at Southern Oregon University. NU will play non-conference matches against Menlo College, Lewis-Clark State and Simpson University.