KIRKLAND, WA - The Lions of Multnomah University gave Northwest University a scare, taking the Eagles to five sets tonight in the Kristi Brodin Pavilion. The Eagles were able to escape with a 3-2 win, 25-21, 25-20, 23-25, 26-28, 17-15.

The Lions went on a 6-0 run in the first set to take a 10-5 lead. The Eagles found their way back in with a 5-0 run of their own, led with two kills from Kaitlyn Mickle. A few Lions errors tied the set at 18-18. The Eagles strung four more kills together, leading to a 25-21 set win.

NU jumped to a 5-2 lead in the second set which the Lions closed off quickly. The Lions stayed within two points until an Eagle 18-15 lead. Leading 21-20, kills from Azaria Johnson at the beginning and end of a 4-0 run, clinched the second set for the Eagles, 25-20. 

The Lions found themselves ahead 8-2 at the start of the third set due to six Eagle errors. The Lions protected their lead well until a couple of Eagles kills and service aces tied the set at 23-23. Two errors followed, handing the set to the Lions, 23-25.

Multnomah momentum carried over to the fourth set as they advanced to a 4-1 lead. Trailing 4-7, kills from Karste Wright and Kylie Lunday set the Eagles up for a 7-1 run. Three additional points in favor of the Eagles put NU ahead 14-9. The Eagles led 21-16 before the Lions caught ablaze and tied the set 21-21.Teams exchanged points until a service ace and two Lions kills took the set in extra points, 28-26.

With the match tied at 2-2, both teams went in firing in the fifth and final set. Four kills in a row from the Lions gave MU a 11-7 lead. A couple of kills from Mickle, a service ace from Kelsey Moore, and a Lion error tied the set at 12-12. Leads were exchanged once again, each team fighting for every point. A kill from Kalli Budge kept the Eagles alive at 15-15, followed by a service ace from Savannah Hale to take the lead. Kylie Lunday secured the match win for Northwest with a kill at 17-15. 

Head Coach Steve Bain says, "The Eagles were fortunate to come away with a win tonight because Multnomah outplayed us in the serve and pass phase and were much cleaner then we were offensively until the fifth set. If nothing else, this match is a reminder that we aren't a finished product. That, and if we are going to extend our season we will need to  do the things we say we believe in more frequently and with greater commitment."

Mickle totaled 22 kills while Lunday totaled 12 kills on two errors, as well as three blocks. 

Morgan Harter collected 31 assists. Allie Flynn recorded a double-double with 24 assists and 12 digs.

Kelsey Moore led with 20 digs and three aces.

The Eagles celebrate their seven seniors tomorrow night during their final Saturday home match of the season. NU host Warner Pacific at 5 p.m., before heading to playoffs.