Saint Martin’s splits results in conference openers

After last year’s 10-8 winning record in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), the Saint Martin’s University volleyball team is off to better their showing as they split their first two games this season at the Marcus Pavilion in Lacey last week.

The Saints opened their season at home on Thursday, Sept. 19, as they passed a tricky test against Northwest Nazarene University in a five-setter classic, winning 3-2. The Saints battled back from being one set down en route to the victory.

But they could not follow it up with another win on Saturday, as they were blanked 0-3 by Central Washington University, last year’s #2 team in the GNAC and NCAA West Region representative.

As of this writing, the Saints share the same rank as four schools in the GNAC, which also won one and lost one in their opening week. They are just below current league leaders Simon Fraser, Central Washington, and Seattle Pacific, which were all undefeated last week.

The Saints next had a long trek near the North Pole as they challenged Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, Sep. 26 and Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Sept. 28, as league play continues this season.

Saint Martin’s 3, Northwest Nazarene 2: Saints open season with second consecutive win over Nighthawks

Last year, Saint Martin’s University won against Northwest Nazarene for the first time in four years, ending a streak of seven defeats over the pesky Nighthawks. Not only did they win, but the Saints blanked the Nighthawks 3-0.

For their opening match this year the Lacey ladies proved that last year was no fluke. This time, though, they went through a major challenge, surviving being one set down to beat the Nighthawks again, this time in a thrilling 3-2 win (25-13, 19-25, 16-25, 25-16, 15-13) to start the season with high morale.

It was a team effort for the Saints to survive an enthralling start the season. Outside hitters Emily Hansen and Emily Garten proved to be the crucial duo on the wings again, with Hansen hitting 13 kills, three blocks, and 14 digs, while Garten had 11 kills, two blocks, and 14 digs. Jennifer Soha was also vital as she flirted with the attacking double-double with nine kills and nine blocks. Tiffany Lam contributed to the playmaking with 22 assists.

The Saints were off to a hot start, extending the lead to 15-5 early on before securing a 25-13 opener. The Nighthawks then found momentum in the following set, as Maren Machado and Lily Kinloch’s efforts resulted in a 25-19 Nazarene win, forcing a 1-1 tie. The ladies from Nampa, ID, carried on with the momentum in the third set, as the Saints produced more errors, finding themselves in a 1-2 hole.

Finding themselves one set away from a loss, the Saints were recharged in the fourth set, with Hansen and Garten raking in the points in a hot 13-2 start. They sustained the pace until the end of the fourth set, winning 25-16 and forcing a decider set.

The do-or-die set could have been a disaster for the Saints, who soon trailed 7-12. With only three points away from a frustrating loss, the Saints pulled off an incredible 7-0 run. St. Martin’s forced errors while Soha and Kingsley Mason added more points to overturn the tides, before Garten hit the winning spike, which sent all of Marcus Pavilion into a frenzy.

Saint Martin’s 0, Central Washington 3: league favorites overpower Saints

After that frantic season-opening match against NNU, the Saints were flattened by preseason poll leaders Central Washington 0-3 (18-25, 18-25, 23-25) last Saturday. The Wildcats have not lost a set in the league this season, as they also blanked Western Oregon in their season opener.

The post-match stats showed a closer fight than what the scoreline suggests, as the Saints remained competitive with the Wildcats in kills (35 vs. 43), blocks (five to three), and hit percentage (0.153 versus 0.296).

The Saints started well, taking a 9-5 opening lead in the first set courtesy of great playmaking by setter Aundrea Oxentine, setting up points for Emmy Hansen and Zoey Crimin. Yet a 5-0 run from the visitors ruined the momentum for the Saints, who couldn’t recover, leading to an opening set loss, 18-25. The Wildcats continued to lead the scoreboard, as their early 12-7 lead in the second set led to another 18-25 result.

The Saints did not go down without a fight. Soha and Hansen led the attack for an opening 5-1 lead before it was trimmed to 10-8 and later to 17-16. As the Ellensburg Ladies tried to take over the lead, the Saints forced ties at 19-19 and 21-21 with kills from Madison Thomas and Hansen. But Saint Martin’s fell just short as Ellie Marble and Marianna Payne completed business for Central Washington.