Photo Courtesy of Johnny Knittel
NAMPA, ID – The Cougars made their first trip to Idaho as they battled Northwest Nazarene in a pair of contest.
The Nighthawks were able to sweep the two matches in their home gym. Later this season the team are scheduled to play a pair of matched at the CCU Event Center.
Match One – Northwest Nazarene 3, Colorado Christian 0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-15)
The opening points of the contest put the Cougars out in front as they eventually held a 13-9 edge. However, the home team proceeded to score 14 of the first games next 17 points en route to the early match lead.
In the second stanza the Nighthawks jumped out to a 14-8 edge but Colorado Christian continued to chip away before tying the contest at 22-22. Unfortunately, Northwest Nazarene scored three of the next four points to take a commanding match lead. During the last set the Nighthawks went ahead 14-3 and never looked back in the sweep.
The Cougars looked to its first-year players as the combination of Kylar Raymond, Alli Douglass and Leielle Salinger tallied 19 of the teams 36 total kills.
Maddie Burns registered her first double-double of the season with a 26-assist, 11-dig performance. Christa Tucker added a team high 12 digs from her libero slot.
Match Two – Northwest Nazarene 3, Colorado Christian 1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-20, 25-20)
A tightly contested opening frame saw numerous lead changes throughout until the Cougars fought off a set point before claiming the early match lead.
However, the Nighthawks responded in the second set as they hit .483 as a team to knot the match at a set each. It looked like Northwest Nazarene would hold a solid lead throughout the critical third set but, a pesky Colorado Christian squad rallied to pull within 18-17. But the home team nudged ahead as they closed on a 7-3 scoring spurt.
Colorado Christian started the fourth set in solid fashion as they held the early lead. The home team responded by taking an 8-5 deficit and making it 12-10 lead. The Cougars tied it at 14-14 but could never regain the lead in the contest.
Douglass had a team high 16 kills with a .333 hitting percentage to pace the Cougars offense. Jasa Scheierman added a 13-kill effort.
Megan Piton had a team high 13 digs in her first match at the libero position.
UP NEXT: The Cougars return to Denver to host Adams State and South Dakota Mines on Monday, March 1.
