KIRKLAND – After a semester-long delay and a bundle of scrimmages, the Northwest volleyball team opens the season Saturday with two home games against Seattle Pacific, starting at 2:30 p.m.
Fans are not permitted to attend NU home events at this time. A free live-stream is available at NUEagles.Live
Northwest has won five of its last seven season openers.
The Eagles and Falcons scrimmaged Tuesday. After today's two games, SPU returns to the Pavilion on March 19 for a 5 p.m. match.
In the exhibition with Seattle Pacific last season, the match went to five sets, and the Eagles scored the first five points of the rubber game. SPU tied the fifth set at 10-10 before NU came up with five of the following six points.
Northwest last season ranked fourth in the nation with 2.55 blocks per game. Abi Broussard returns this season after finishing 16th last season with 1.18 blocks per game.
Broussard finished 11th last season in aces per game at 0.55 and 31st in the NAIA with 54 aces.
Three of last season's four kills leaders return this season for Northwest.
Hannah Lord led the team in 2019 with 2.71 kills per game, and Abi Broussard was second at 2.20.
Tatiana Ensz averaged 1.95 kills per game.
Courteney Carr and
Anna Saelens shared the assist duties last season, with Carr leading with 588 total and 5.88 assists per game. Saelens averaged 4.12 assists per set.
Cristina Lorenz returns as the team's leader in digs from 2019. She had 404 last season, averaging 4.16 per game.
Saturday marks the season opener for the Falcons. SPU finished 13-14 last season. Maddie Batiste averaged 3.54 kills per game. Lindsey Lambert averaged 8.62 assists.
