Box Score KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University opened Cascade Conference play tonight with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-22) win over Warner Pacific in the NU Pavilion.
 
The Knights would take and early 3-1 lead in the first set, but Northwest would reel off 5 straight points to take the lead for good as a Leia Roy service ace would cap off the run. Down 21-14, Warner Pac would make a late 6-1 run of their own to make it 22-20 as the teams would trade miscues. A kill by Molly Boyle and two by Rae Ann Haistings would help close out the set for the Eagles.
 
The second set would close through the early stages with four ties, but with the set tied at 5-all, Northwest would outscore Warner Pacific 5-1 which included kills by Dakota Adams, Ashton Arbuthnot, and Haistings once again to put NU up 10-6. NU would close out the set with a kill by Olivia VanDlac and two costly WPC errors.
 
The Knights refused to go away quietly in the third and final set as they would catch fire and bust out to a 16-7 lead topped off with kills by Julia Toscano (2), Brittany Bevens, and an ace by Marchelle Bostic. After an Eagle time out, Northwest would begin the slow comeback. A kill by Rae Ann Haistings and three straight WPC miscues would make it 20-15. Two kills by Olivia VanDlac, two aces by Haistings and a kill by Dakota Adams would complete a 12-4 NU run to knot the score at 20-20. With the score 22-22, a kill by Adams combined with an error by the Knights and Sarah Stoker's kill would complete the come-from-behind set win for the match.
 
Northwest (5-5, 1-0 CCC) was led by Sarah Stoker and Rae Ann Haistings who each finished with 12 kills. Haistings added 11 digs for the double-double and freshman Leia Roy had a match high 25 digs. Sophomore Ashton Arbuthnot had a match high 34 assists. Stoker led the team with a .458 hitting percentage.
 
Julia Toscano led Warner Pacific (2-7, 0-1 CCC) with 12 kills and 7 digs while teammate Marchelle Bostic scored a double-double with 23 assists and 12 digs. Brandy Velasquez led the Knights with 21 digs.
 
"This was a good match for the Eagles," said NU head coach, Steven Bain.  "Warner Pacific came to play and put a lot of pressure on us with their digging and defense. The high point for the team though was their ability to demonstrate composure in the 3^rd set. We dug ourselves into a deep hole but the players kept fighting and eventually the game came back to them and they were able to finish the match with an outstanding comeback."
 
Northwest remains at home tomorrow to host Concordia and Warner Pacific travels to Olympia to play Evergreen in more CCC play. Both games are slated for a 7 p.m. start.