EUGENE, ORE. - The Northwest University volleyball team fell to Bushnell University 3-1 on Saturday afternoon. 
 

It's been a tough start in conference play for the Eagles as they suffered back-to-back sweeps against two of the top four teams in the NAIA. Meanwhile the Beacons have won two in a row against conference rivals Warner Pacific and The Evergreen State College, who got the sweep on Friday. 
 

The Eagles started hot, jumping ahead 8-2 on a 6-0 run. After the eagles expanded their already massive lead to 16-5, the Beacons steadied themselves to a 5-0 run that shrank the Eagles lead to four. Later, down 21-18, the Beacons surged with a 6–2 finishing run, stealing the opener in a comeback 25-23 win. 
 

The second set featured wild swings with the Eagles and Beacons trading blows. The Beacons however, managed to pull ahead to a 10-6 lead with a 4-0 run. Later on, the Eagles countered with a 5-0 burst and a 4-2 run to even the score at 19. But down the stretch, the Beacons went on a 4-0 run to put the set out of reach for the Eagles. The Beacons closed it 25–21. 
 

Facing elimination, the Eagles flipped momentum and took complete charge of the third set. The Eagles ripped open a 7-0 run off the back of Masa Spela Jarc smashing five aces in a row. Speal Jarc's serving put the Eagles in control. Later, the Eagles powered through a monstrous 10-0 run that launched them into a 21-12 lead. The Beacons attempted to come back, but the Eagles closed it 25-19 to extend the match. 
 

The Beacons dominated the early phases of the fourth set with a 4-0 run and a 3-0 run to go up 7-2. Later into the set, The Beacons managed an 8-2 run that pushed them into the lead 20-12 with the Eagles on the brink. With two more final blows the Beacons sealed the set 25-15 and the match in four. 
 

Kaitlyn Mickle led the team with 11 kills in the afternoon.
 

"Bushnell was better in key moments than we were and that was the story of the match," said Head Coach Steven Bain. "We don't have time to lament the loss though as we will need a great week of preparation as the CCC schedule is tough every time you take the court."
 

The Eagles return home next weekend to face Walla Walla on Friday and Lewis-Clark College on Saturday.