SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University women's volleyball team picked up its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory over Northwest Nazarene 3-1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-18, 25-23) inside Royal Brougham Pavilion on Thursday night.
FROM THE COACH
"We had a great week of practice and the team did a diligent job of executing the scouting report," head coach
Jason Rhine said. "One theme of the week was staying aggressive in transition and even in out-of-system situations, and our setters and hitters did a great job finding ways to score in those scenarios."
"Sophie [Chambers] spread the offense well, and we got great contributions from our pin hitters but also scoring at key times from our middles as well," Rhine mentioned.
"We are excited to prepare for Central and continue to play hard and get better each day," Rhine said.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons used an 8-1 run to gain an early 8-4 advantage over the Nighthawks in the first set.
- NNU answered with a 9-3 to earn a two-point lead over SPU in the middle of the first set.
- SPU had a 10-1 rebuttal to go up 22-15 in the closing moments of the first set.
- Amaya Evans led the charge with three kills during that span.
- The Nighthawks earned the first set victory with an 11-2 run.
- The Falcons opened the second set by getting out to a 14-8 lead.
- SPU held a separation from NNU to take the second set 25-17.
- Like the second set, the third set featured a 14-8 run from the Falcons in the early stages.
- Omlid and Williams led the squad with three kills each during that time.
- The Nighthawks chipped away at the Falcons' lead and cut it to four.
- From there, the Falcons went on a 7-3 run to earn a 25-18 set victory.
- Evans had two kills, while four Falcons had one kill each.
- In the final set, the Falcons needed and got an 11-6 run to close out the set 25-23 and the match 3-1.
- Lester led the Falcons with three crucial kills down the stretch.
FROM THE BOX SCORE
- Omlid led everyone with 16 kills while adding 14 digs for a double-double for the Falcons.
- Evans and Lester matched each other with 14 kills each.
- Williams was remarkably efficient, hitting .385 for the match with eight kills.
- Sophia Chambers racked up 40 assists and 12 digs for a double-double for the Falcons.
- Five Falcons recorded double-digit digs against the Nighthawks.
- Christina Lopez led the group with 17 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX
- Thursday was the Falcons' first GNAC match against an opponent that wasn't in or receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Poll.
- Omlid secured her eighth double-double of the season for the Falcons.
- Lester set a new career-high with 14 kills against the Nighthawks on Thursday.
- Evans also set a new career-high with 14 kills against the Nighthawks on Thursday.
- Chambers accrued her second-most assists in a single game this season with 40 against NNU.
UP NEXT
The Falcons are back in Royal Brougham Pavilion on Saturday to host RV Central Washington University at 2:00 p.m.
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