PORTLAND – Northwest started the second half of its Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball schedule with a 3-0 sweep at Multnomah Friday.
 
The Eagles employed a .372 attack percentage to take the match 25-17, 25-15, 25-23.
 
"There was terrific energy in the gym tonight with each point contested at a high level," said NU Head Coach Steven Bain. "Multnomah's defense was consistently in great position, which forced our offense to play clean and keep balls in play. We challenged our ladies to match their intensity and for the most part, we were able to do that. I was especially pleased with our ability to manage the game on our side of the net, and we again demonstrated the value of having consistent focus over time. These are things that we have been working hard to improve so I am glad to see the team getting a return on their efforts."
 
Abigail Broussard had four kills, a block, and an ace as NU jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the first set. The Lions got back to within a point on two occasions, but the Eagles ended the set on a 5-1 run, including a pair of kills by Jill Botsford.
 
Broussard got two kills and a block to start the second set with a 5-1 NU lead. The Eagles used runs of five and four points.
 
Multnomah, which won the third set when the teams played in Kirkland, grabbed an 8-5 lead in the third set Friday. NU responded with an 8-0 run, fueled by four Susana Bailey kills. 
 
Down 23-17, the Lions closed to within 24-23 before Bailey ended the match with a kill.
 
Bailey led the Eagles with 13 kills, and Broussard added 12. Anna Saelens added 33 assists, and Broussard had three aces.
 
NU registered 18 block assists, led by Broussard with eight and Kalei Kepler with six. Cristina Lorenz paced the back row with 19 digs.
 
The Eagles, now 7-10 overall and 6-6 in the CCC, stays in Portland to take on Warner Pacific at 5 p.m. on Saturday.