kept the match close and had its chances in all three games, but Northwest Nazarene made the plays when it counted in a 3-0 sweep (31-29, 30-24, 30-27) Thursday night in GNAC volleyball action at the .
The first game went back and forth, with neither team gaining more than a four-point lead. With Northwest Nazarene up 23-19, scored eight of the next nine points, thanks in part to three kills and a service ace by Nikole Thompson (, ) and two kills by Janet Beckerman (). A kill by Libby Graff () set up game point for the Redhawks at 29-26, but the Crusaders scored five consecutive points, with Loni Evenson earning kills on two of the final three points to close out the first game.
Mistakes by allowed Northwest Nazarene to jump out to an 8-1 lead in game two, but the Redhawks fought back, eventually tying the second game at 21-21. A Beckerman kill brought within one at 25-24, but again the Crusaders closed out the game quickly, scoring the next five points to go into intermission up two games to none.
After Northwest Nazarene (17-8, 11-6 GNAC) took a 9-5 lead in game three, Seattle scored 11 of the next 12 points, with Graff earning four kills and Kelly Benson (Mission Viejo, Calif.) contributing three kills. The Crusaders came right back, going on a 14-2 run of their own to retake the lead at 24-18. Again the Redhawks fought back, coming within one point three times late in the third game, but a kill by Amanda Boschma and a block from Evenson and Cammy Dranginis closed out the match for the Crusaders.
Graff led all players with 15 kills, plus she contributed three blocks. Benson and Thompson earned 11 kills each, with Thompson also earning two aces and 19 digs, while Beckerman had seven kills and three blocks. Setter Jamie Mellies () finished with 43 assists, seven digs, and a team-high four blocks. Defensively, Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, ) led all players with 25 digs, and Shelly Anderson () contributed two aces and 13 digs.
For Northwest Nazarene, Dranginis and Evenson both finished with double-doubles, as Dranginis had 12 kills and 11 blocks while Evenson notched 12 kills and 17 digs. Setter Allison James earned 35 assists, six kills, and five total blocks, and libero Kristy Wigren added 21 digs to the winning effort.
Seattle University (10-15, 7-10 GNAC) finishes the regular season Saturday night, hosting crosstown rival Seattle Pacific at the Connolly Center beginning at 7 p.m. Senior Night ceremonies will take place before the match, as the team honors Thompson, Josie Christiansen (Coquille, Ore.) and Donnelle Nicaise (Enumclaw, Wash.) for their contributions to the program.