Sept. 7, 2002

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

Senior middle blocker Louise Free hit .368 on 19 kills to lead Northwest Nazarene past UC Davis, 30-27, 26-30, 30-24, 30-17, in the sixth match of the Viking Invitational women's volleyball tournament at Western Washington Saturday.

The Aggies, now 1-2 in the tournament, fall to 4-3 on the season. The Crusaders improve to 3-3 overall.

UC Davis junior Kelly Gaudino led all hitters with 20 kills, while teammate Kim Vincent added 15 kills and 13 digs. That pair also teamed up for nine of the Aggies' 16 aces in the match. However, NNU posted aggregate hitting averages of .349 and .359 in the final two games, respectively.

UC Davis outhit Northern, .279 to .119, in the second game, recording 19 team kills against just seven errors. But the Aggie offense was reduced to an .049 clip by Game 4, allowing NNU to take a relatively easy 30-17 win in the final frame.

Sophomore libero Mary McClelland led the Aggie floor defense with 17 digs while senior middle Elizabeth Brown had a team-best four blocks at the net.

For NNU, outside hitter Lindsay Miller hit 17-4-36 for a .361 average. Mandy Swanson and Ka'ala Hanson each posted 16 digs to lead the Crusaders.

The Aggies face seventh-ranked Brigham Young-Hawaii to conclude their action at the Viking Invite.

WESTERN WASHINGTON VIKING INVITATIONAL
(UC Davis matches only)

NNU (kills-aces-blocks) - Louise Free 19-1-5, Lindsay Miller 17-1-1, Laryssa Mereszczak 10-0-3, Katie Oelrich 7-0-4, Mindy Swanson 7-3-2, Carie James 4-0-2, Ka'ala Hanson 0-5-0. TOTALS - 64-10-10.0. Assists - Mindy Swanson 44. Dig leaders - Ka'ala Hanson 16, Mindy Swanson 16.

UC DAVIS (kills-aces-blocks) - Kelly Gaudino 20-4-1, Kim Vincent 15-5-0, Cassandra Prell 8-2-2, Ellen Fitzpatrick 6-1-3, Marritt Cafarchia 4-1-2, Elizabeth Brown 2-3-4, Kate Wilton 0-0-0, Amber Korner 1-0-0, Jill McPheeters 1-0-0.Mary McClelland 0-0-0, Mary Gaber 0-0-0, Marritt Cafarchia 45. Dig leaders - Mary McClelland 17, Kim Vincent 13.