LACEY, Wash. – The Saints volleyball team lost a thriller at home losing to Northwest Nazarene 3-2.
 
Saint Martin's (9-3, 0-3 GNAC) and NNU (9-1, 2-0 GNAC) played a match that went all the way to the fifth set with the Nighthawks narrowly edging out SMU in the final set 15-11.
 
The Nighthawks opened the set with a 6-0 run. The Saints eventually overcame the deficit to tie the match 18-18 but NNU held on and won the opening set 25-20.
 
Saint Martin's rebounded and won the second set 25-19 and tied the match 1-1.
 
In the third set, the two teams battle the entire set until NNU pulled away late and won the third set 25-20 and took the lead 2-1.
 
SMU won the fourth set in exhilarating fashion 25-19 to tie the match 2-2.
 
In the final set of the match, after some early back and forth action, NNU jumped out to a 10-6 lead. The Saints trimmed the deficit to 10-9 before the Nighthawks used a 5-2 run to win the set 15-11 and the match 3-2.
 
Tia Allen led the team in points with 22 consisting of 17 kills, four aces and a block. Abigail Halstead had the team-high 16 digs followed by Karla Soto with 14 digs. Soto also contributed 45 assists and three aces.
 
The Saints will be back on their home court this Saturday, September 17 at 5 p.m. against Central Washington.