NAMPA — Yes, there's a month left in the season, but it's already time to start thinking about the playoffs for the Northwest Nazarene volleyball team.

Or is it?

The Crusaders — 13-8, 6-3 GNAC — checked in at No. 9 in the first West Regional poll released this week, which is a mix of good and bad news. Good, they're in the top 10 and can see a postseason berth. Bad, they're the first team left out right now as the top eight get invites to nationals.

So you'd expect the team to be thinking: How do we climb into the top eight?

But, after Thursday's sweep of Alaska Fairbanks at the Johnson Sports Center, NNU libero Haley Hevern said that the team's focus isn't set any further than Saturday's home match against Alaska Anchorage.

"I think, like right now, we want to think in the moment now and what's going on now," she said. "Just hope that from now on if we can do the best we can do then hopefully regionals will work out itself.

"But for right now all we can do is win the rest of our games from here on out."

The next one looks pretty big, too, as the Seawolves swept Seattle Pacific on Thursday, keeping UAA a game ahead of NNU for second place in the GNAC.

Equally as big, UAA is seventh in the regional poll — so a win means the Crusaders could close ground not only in the league race, but in the postseason chase.

Finding more weapons

To keep winning, a big key for NNU will be finding a few more offensive threats at the net.

Lindsay Grant and Cammy Dranginis continue to carry the load, both turning in All-American efforts this season, but coach Jared Sliger knows his team needs to find more offense.

It was one big reason he switched from a 6-2 — using both Eki Punimata and Amy Higginson at setter when in the back row — to a 5-1, with just a fulltime setter on the floor.

So Thursday, Sliger auditioned a few more hitters in the lopsided win over UAF, and saw some good things from freshmen Becky Flores and Carly Dranginis.

Both have played all season — Flores as a starter and Dranginis off the bench in all 21 matches — but the duo combined for 10 of the team's 36 kills Thursday.

When asked if he's found a few more offensive threats, Sliger responded: "No, I'm working on it. I think her last name rhymes with Dranginis."