Portland, Ore. | The Warner Pacific University Knights (2-8, 1-5 CCC) hosted the Northwest Christian University Beacons (10-6, 2-5 CCC) in Friday night's Cascade Collegiate Conference match-up. The Knights, desperate for another win, were looking forward to this match-up all week, knowing it would be a good one. And that it was, as the Knights took the Beacons to the deciding set. This is the second 5-set match for the Knights this season.
 
The first set started out with an even exchange of kills, as the two teams traded points back and forth before the Beacons went on a 6-point tear to take the 15-17 lead. Warner Pacific fought their way back into the set, but the Beacons were able to close the set pretty quickly with a 25-13 victory.
 
The Knights were able to take the second and third set 25-22 and 25-23, with the help of a stellar serving effort by Freshman Rylee Sneath, who led the team along with Margie Brammer with three aces. Warner Pacific took an 11-point lead in set three but the Beacons found the grit to come back and force the Knights to win by two.
 
Set four and five ultimately went to NCU as the Knights couldn't find a cure to the Beacon's impressive hitting performance. "They hit really well tonight" Knights Head Coach Nels Norquist said. "Both teams played well, just their hitting was better and they got the win."
 
NCU's hitting was led by Claire Salness with a .486 hitting percentage, tallying 17 kills as the Beacons hit for .305 as a team.
 
Audree Gormanson posted a double-double in kills and digs with ten of each. Grace Buchanan led the Knights with 11 kills.
 
The Knights will be back at home Saturday night at 5pm, hosting the Warriors of Corban University.