Box Score KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University ended their five game losing streak with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 26-15) victory over Corban University in Cascade Conference play tonight.
Northwest broke out early in the first set to a 13-6 lead as the Eagles came out of the blocks fast. But, Corban wasn't about to go away easily and slowly came back to tie the set at 14-14 and an 8-1 run capped off with kills by Miah Smith, Jenny Harman and Olivia Shropshire. The teams battled back and forth until the score was tied for the final time at 24-all and an attack error by Corban and a service ace by
Leia Roy gave the set to NU.
Northwest would get another fast start in the second set and lead 13-6 once again on kills by Sarah Stoker and
Rae Ann Haistings. Northwest would maintain the lead but the Warriors would creep back into the set and cut the NU lead to three, 19-16 on a Miah Smith kill and an Eagle miscue. NU would stretch the lead to 22-16 on a Stoker kill, a service ace by Alivia Johnson and a
Hannah Hanson kill as NU would hold Corban scoreless the remainder of the set and end the set with a
Hannah Hanson kill and an attack error by the Warriors.
The final set would start a tight match-up. Kills by Molly Boyle and
Rae Ann Haistings would give NU a slim, 10-7 lead. Northwest would then go on a 10-3 to increase their lead to 20-10 after an
Olivia VanDlac ace and two errors by Corban.
Rae Ann Haistings would end the set and the match with her 7
th kill of the night as the Eagles would post their first victory in six outings.
Freshman
Hannah Hanson (Tenino, Wash.) led Northwest U. (6-10, 2-4 CCC) with 9 kills.
Christina Gleb (Vashon Island, Wash.), playing the setter position for the second time in her college career, had a match high 30 assists, while
Olivia VanDlac (Snohomish, Wash.), moving from outside hitter to libero had a match high 16 digs.
Corban (3-14, 1-7 CCC) was led by Olivia Shropshire's match high 11 kills and added 6 digs. Teammate Haley Meili led the Warriors with 14 assists and Mikenzee Frazier had a team high 10 digs.
"The players put together another night of solid play and tonight it paid off with a well deserved win," commented Steven Bain, NU head coach. "We were connected on the court and the players did a terrific job of executing the adjustments that we needed to make, especially after a rocky first set. Once we implemented those adjustments the players were able to focus on Corban's tendencies and our serving and defense put a lot of pressure on their hitters. We also were very strong in serve-receive, which kept us in system and allowed us to side out at a high rate. I know the players were excited to get the win and are looking forward to getting back to work to prepare for next week's matches."
The Eagles will be on the road next weekend on the long trip to Klamath Falls, Ore., to play OIT on Friday and then on to Ashland to play Southern Oregon on Saturday night.
