Volleyball | 9/26/2009 9:27:12 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Western Oregon volleyball team took a crucial step towards the defense of its Great Northwest Athletic Conference title with a 25-23, 18-25, 25-22 and 25-19 win over Northwest Nazarene Saturday, Sept. 26.

The victory was the second conference win for the Wolves (5-10, 2-2 GNAC) and dropped the Crusaders to 10-6 on the season and 3-2 in league.

"If we are going to have a chance to defend our title we are going to have to defend our home court," said Western Oregon head coach Brad Saindon. "This was a very important win to keep us in the running and hopefully this can start something for our team."

Laura Sakala pounded out 16 kills on 27 attempts with three errors for a match-leading .481 hitting percentage. Sylvia Herrold added 15 kills with a .382 kill percentage. Amy Herron assisted on 45 of the Wolves 54 kills and also had 18 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Danielle Reese led four Wolves in double-figure digs with 20.

Western Oregon took four of the final five points in the first set to take a 1-0 lead. The Wolves began their closing run with two Crusader errors and finished with multiple kills by Laura Sakala on assists by Amy Herron

The Crusaders jumped in front 14-6 in the second set and did not ever en route to a 25-18 win. In the set, NNU outhit WOU .175 to .070 to pull even in the match at one set apiece. Western Oregon fought back to pull to within four at 22-18 before Northwest Nazarene closed out with three straight points.

WOU took a 2-1 advantage in the match as it won the third set 25-22. The Wolves came back from a 20-17 deficit to capture eight of the final 10 points for the set win. For the first set in the match WOU recorded a higher hitting percentage with a .231 to .119 edge and had 14 kills to NNU's 12. Sakala and Sylvia Herrold each posted five kills while Lisa Martini chipped in with three.

"We are a very up and down team right now with so many young players," explained Saindon, "but you can't fake good and at times we have played very well and now we just have to learn how to maintain those stretches.

The Western Oregon will now face its perhaps its toughest road trip of the season as it goes to Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks next Thursday and Saturday.