KIRKLAND – Northwest looked strong in its Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball opener Friday, sweeping Warner Pacific in three sets in front of a packed student section.
 
The Eagles swung at a .333 pace and won 25-19, 25-18, 25-17.
 
Megan Horne led NU with 14 kills and a .481 percentage, with Abigail Broussard delivering nine kills and six aces. Anna Saelens pushed up 32 assists for the night.
 
Cristina Lorenz led the defense with 19 digs, while Jill Botsford and Horne added seven apiece. Saelens was a part of three blocks, and Broussard added two.
 
"First and foremost, it has been nearly two years since we played a Cascade Conference match, so I know both teams were fired up to be back in a gym full of fans. That alone made for a terrific experience, and both teams fed off the crowd and played hard from start to finish," said NU Head Coach Steven Bain. "Warner was a good test for us, as they were able to put pressure on us with their serve and defense. They were also patient on offense, which challenged our point-scoring ability." 
 
Northwest used a 5-0 run in the first set to break open an 8-8 deadlock, with Broussard getting a kill and two aces. Azaria Johnson had a block, and Horne added two kills as the Eagles closed the set on a 3-1 run.
 
NU used an early 7-1 spree to open a 9-4 lead in the second set. Horne had three kills, and Susana Bailey added two in that streak. Horne ended the game with a kill. Northwest finished on a 7-2 run, with Saelens getting a set-ending ace.
 
The Eagles blew open the third set with a 6-0 run, including three aces and a kill by Broussard.
 
"We continue to see growth in our young team, though, and I was encouraged by our consistency on offense and a willingness to manage the long rallies and wait for opportunities to score," Bain said. "We were also solid in serve-receive and are slowly gaining the trust required to become a team with a strong passing identity. After tonight's win, the team is looking forward to tomorrow and the opportunity to face another CCC challenge."
 
Grace Buchanan had 11 kills, and Abby Alvaro-Thomas had 10 digs for the Knights.
 
The Eagles host Multnomah in a 5 p.m. contest Saturday to wrap up the first weekend of CCC action.