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...read more

After 13 straight losses, Northwest Nazarene's baseball team had reason to celebrate like it had just won a championship Friday when the Crusaders beat St. Martin's 13-3.

Of course, the Saints reaction was a little less impressive as they jeered NNU jubilation.

Yes, it might seem strange to get excited about one win, but then, you really do have to put things in perspective.

No doubt the...read more

NAMPA — A win over the second-to-last place team in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference might not seem big, but it sure was for the Crusaders on Thursday night.

One, it keeps Northwest Nazarene climbing the West Region standings — they're sixth now with one game left to play against West Region front-runner Seattle Pacific.

That's a great place to be as the top six are assured...read more

NAMPA — Sometimes in sports, the only thing to look forward to is the future. That's the case for the Northwest Nazarene men's basketball team.

An 8-game slide in the middle of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference campaign left the Crusaders no hope of a berth to nationals, despite looking poised to make a run at the postseason for the first time since joining the NCAA Division II...read more

By Mike Stetson

mstetson@idahopress.com

NAMPA - Northwest Nazarene track coach John Spatz was right when he said "just about the time you feel like you're loaded, everybody else is loaded too."

Despite a record day of Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, the NNU track team still found itself chasing other league schools in the team race Saturday at the sixth indoor championship...read more

NAMPA — So much for getting ready.

The Northwest Nazarene softball team gets thrown into the deep end of the season Friday, opening its season against Western Washington in Great Northwest Athletic Conference counters.

Fans should take the chance to enjoy what looks to be sunny, 50-degree weather and support the NNU ladies, as the first twinbill of back-to-back doubleheaders begins at 1:30...read more

Earlier this season, North Carolina stopped its game to honor Tyler Hansbrough after he set the North Carolina career scoring record.

Understandable seeing all the hype the media put into that record-setting moment. Still, it's hard to stop a game and celebrate a moment, then go back to playing.

So Saturday, when a major record happened on the Northwest Nazarene campus, it was neat to see it...read more

OK, I guess Central Washington coach Greg Sparling did have some mixed emotions Thursday night.

Sparling coached current Crusader assistant men's basketball coach Brandon Rinta at CWU, and felt like he was playing family as his Wildcats topped Northwest Nazarene 86-66 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Thursday night.

"They're good friends of mine," he said, "I...read more

Thursday proved a bad night for both Northwest Nazarene basketball teams, as each trailed throughout in close losses, made extra tough as the Crusaders trimmed the lead to one point a variety of times in each contest.

For the Northwest Nazarene men, the night started with only a slim hope of an NCAA Division II Nationals berth, hope snuffed out by Satin Martin's 73-68.

"We can spoil some...read more

NAMPA — Sometimes you need just a little help to get over a hurdle.

That hurdle for the Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team — second-half slip-ups.

Headed into their home game at the Johnson Sports Center on Thursday with Montana State-Billings, the Crusaders found themselves in front of the Yellowjackets in record and in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings.

But...read more

NAMPA — It always makes for a special day — Hall of Fame inductions.

Northwest Nazarene enjoyed one of those special days Saturday, adding four new members to its Athletic Hall of Fame.

A dozen previous inductees gathered to be part of the ceremony, watching, and ceremonially escorting the newcomers onto the court, to their plaque, and into the Hall of Fame, during halftime of the NNU...read more

NAMPA — It certainly wasn't a perfect homecoming for Nichole Schutte.

The Nampa High and Northwest Nazarene grad found herself back at the Johnson Sports Complex, just down the road from her high school, this week with her new team — Schutte is an assistant coach for the Western Oregon women's basketball team.

Wednesday night, during the Wolves practice in Nampa, she got a chance...read more

The Northwest Nazarene ladies got the chance to play someone in different uniforms Friday night, hosting the Cascade Conference's Northwest Christian.

The game turned out to be no problem for the Crusaders who started the 2008-09 season - albeit in exhibition play - in fine fashion, hitting 9-of-10 from the field in the opening five minutes and building a 20-0 edge.

While the shooting slowed (15...read more

Amanda Boschma kill, Boschma ace, NNU leads 3-1.

Andrea Tarbet ace for St. Martin's, SMU trails 13-10. Timeout NNU.

Boschma kill, NNu leads 17-11. Timeout SMU.

Ashley Galeai kill, NNU wins set 25-17. Wins match 25-11, 25-11, 25-17.

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Kailey Trautman kill, Amanda Boschma ace, NNU leads 2-1.

Shealun Campisi kill, SMU leads 4-3.

Lindsay Forseth ace, NNU leads 12-7. Timeout SMU.

Amanda Boschma kill off block, NNU leads 17-9.

Trautman block overpass off serve, NNU leads 19-9. Timeout SMU.

Cammy Dranginis kill, NNU wins second set 25-11. Leads match 2-0.

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Amanda Boschma and Cammy Dranginis block, NNU leads 16-7

Kelly VanElderen kill for NNU, Crusaders win first set 25-11.

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Soccer: WWU forward scores all four goals in 4-2 victory against Crusaders

By Mike Stetson
mstetson@idahopress.com

NAMPA - Samir Vejo spoiled what started out looking to be a very good day for the Crusaders.
The Western Washington senior forward scored all four goals for the Vikings, who weathered a fast start by Northwest Nazarene to grab a 4-2 win in Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer...read more

Western Washington forward Samir Vejo scored four goals Saturday against the Crusaders, including a penalty kick goal and a goal off a direct kick.

The four-goal effort was the second-best scoring game of the season for Vejo, who netted six in a 10-0 win over Colorado Christian on Oct. 1.

 

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Northwest Nazarene heads to it's second straight fifth set as the Crusaders look to upset No. 5 ranked Western Washington.

Kari Rice double hit, NNU leads 1-0.

Lindsay Forseth kill, ties set 5-5.

Forseth kill, 6-5 NNU.

Eki Punimata double hit, 7-7.

Amanda Boschma off block kill at cross over, NNU leads 8-7.

Tiana Roma kill, Megan Amundson tip over block, Angie Alvord kill, WWU takes 10-8...read more

Shasta Bennett kill for WWU, Amanda Boschma hit out, WWU leads 2-0.

Cammy Dranginis kill, NNU trails 4-1.

Angie Alvord blocks back row attack by Lindsay Forseth, WWU leads 8-2. Timeout NNU.

Kailey Trautman kill, NNu trails 9-3.

Lindsay Forseth ace, NNu trails 13-7.

amanda Boschma kill, 13-8.

Boschma and Kelly VanElderen block Shanley Besett, NNu trails 13-9. Timeout WWU.

Kari Rice tip...read more

Tiana Roma net serve, NNU 1-0.

Lindsey Forseth kill overpass. Forseth and Kelly VanElderen block Emily Jepsen. Forseth kill off block, NNU leads 7-3. Timeout WWU.

Amanda Boschma kill, Boschma and Cammy Dranginis block, NNu leads 12-6.

Kailey Trautman tip off block, 14-8 NNU lead.

Lindsay Forseth kill, NNu leads 15-10.

Forseth kill, NNU leads 16-10.

Kelly VanElderen kill overpass after VanElderen...read more

NNU's Lindsay Forseth hits just out, WWU leads 8-5. Timeout NNU.

 Angie Alvord ace, 14-10 WWU.

Cammy Dranginis tip over block, 14-13 WWU.

Dranginis kill, 14-14, Timeout WWU.

Lindsay Forseth kill, NNU trails 18-16.

Amanda Boschma tip long, WWU leads 20-16. Timeout NNU.

Tiana Roma serve long, WWU leads 22-18.

Angie Alvord kill WWU leads 23-18.

Angie Alvord tip over block, WWU wins...read more

Three kills in four points for Amanda Boschma as NNU takes 10-7 lead, forcing WWU timeout.

 Lindsay Forseth kill off bump-set by Kelly VanElderen, 18-14 NNU, Boschma kill 19-14 NNU. Timeout WWU.

Eki Punimata ace, NNU 21-14.

Great dig and save Haley Heveren and Kelly Trautman leads to Boschma kill, 22-14 NNU.

Tiana Roma off block, NNU leads 23-18.

Cammy Dranginis hit long, NNU leads 24...read more

Angie Alvord solo block for WWU, match underway....read more

By Mike Stetson
mstetson@idahopress.com

NAMPA — Last season, the Crusader fans came out in record numbers to support the Northwest Nazarene volleyball team.
So many fans, NNU was one of the top teams in the nation in terms of attendance — a fact that helped power the Crusaders to a first-ever NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance.
Thursday, in the Crusaders home opener after...read more

NNU takes lead 1-0 on Cammy Dranginis kill.

Lisa Martini kill, WOU leads 5-3.

Kayla Mainer kill off the block for WOU, finishes best rally of night, WOU leads 7-3. Timeout NNU.

NNU miscommunication, no one swings at set by Eki Punimata. WOU leads 8-4 at crossover.

Kelly VanElderen kill of  off Boschma set, 8-5. NNU net serve. 9-5 WOU.

Back to back Amanda Boschma kills, NNU trails 9-7...read more

Sylvia Herrold ace, WOU leads 5-4.

Cammy Dranginis hits long, WOU leads 8-5. Timeout NNU.

Lisa Martini kill over pass, WOU leads 13-5.

Amanda Boschma back row kill, NNU trails 14-9.

Cammy Dranginis off block, NNU trails 14-10.

Dranginis kill ends great rally, NNU trails 14-11, timeout WOU.  Eki Punimata setting for NNU. Takes over for Amy Higginson at NNU timeout.

Laura Sakala and Sylvia...read more

Back to back Forseth kills, NNU leads 3-1.

Rotation violation NNU. NNU leads 6-5.

Forseth kill, block Lisa Martini, NNU leads 12-8. Service error, 12-9.

Kayla Mainer saves ball out of rafters, NNU mis-hit, 12-12. NNU timeout.

Amanda Boschma kill, ties 16-16, Stephanie Beeler mis-hit WOU, NNU leads 17-16. Kelly VanElderen ace, NNU leads 18-16, WOU timeout.

Back to back hitting errors by Stacey...read more

NNU's Lindsay forseth hits long from back row, WOU wins second set 25-20.

Stacey Bennett 8 kills in set, WOU 16 kills in set.

NNU 10 kills with four errors in 46 attacks in set.

Match tied 1-1, NNU first set 28-26, WOU second set 25-20.

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Dranginis tip deep ties set 24-24.

Lindsay Forseth tip over block ties set 26-26.

Blocking error by Western Oregon's Jorden Burrows, in net, NNU set point 27-26.

Ace by Amy Higginson, NNU wins set 1 28-26.

Stacey Bennett 8 kills in first set. Cammy Dranginis seven kills, Lindsay Forseth six kills.

Western Oregon 17 kills, 1 error in 41 attempts.

NNU 22 kills, 7 errors, 51 in 51 attempts.

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A loud and red-clad crowd welcomed the Crusaders for their first home match of the season. Riding the boisterous crowds enthusiam, NNU takes a quick 6-2 lead to force and early Western Oregon timeout.

 

Check back for more in-match updates.

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By Mike Stetson
mstetson@idahopress.com

NAMPA — Some might have thought the Northwest Nazarene men’s soccer team would flounder their first season, but coach Coe Michaelson has done something very smart.
Not only did he recruit young, and talented players, who will work to build the program up over the next few seasons, but he filled the team’s first collegiate schedule with winnable...read more

By Mike Stetson
mstetson@idahopress.com

NAMPA — Crusader senior Josh Wageman ran himself to exhaustion Saturday at West Park, collapsing after finishing 18th overall in the Roger Curran Invitational.
Not unexpected, as the Meridian High product is still learning to race as Wageman originally signed at Northwest Nazarene to play baseball.
“Then I blew out my arm and then I just kinda started...read more

NAMPA — The Northwest Nazarene track and cross country programs continue to build off success.
After a banner season that saw Ashley Puga lead the way with All-American honors in both indoor and outdoor track, and cross country, NNU is cashing in with a huge recruiting class that includes some of the best area talent.
The Crusaders, who also added a record number of GNAC indoor track titles and...read more

Nice to see Jamie Lindvall adding scoring to his women’s soccer team lineup at Northwest Nazarene.

Offense has been one big issue for the Crusaders, but over the past few seasons coach Lindvall has added serious threats up front.

More impressive, the NNU coach is finding local talent as last season Kim Bowen made her presence known quickly during her freshman season scoring a pair of goals in her first collegiate game.

Now, Lindvall has added Molly Tipton to the roster, a transfer with some Division I experience - having spent the 2006 season with the Eastern Washington team - who earned all-NWAACC honors last season while at Treasure Valley Community College, scoring nine goals for the Chukars.

The local connection - Middleton High - where Tipton graduated after netting 41 goals her senior year in soccer.

Note: Press Release by Craig Stensgaard, NNU

Crusader soccer adds pair of players

NAMPA - The Northwest Nazarene University women's soccer program announced the addition of two signees to their 2008 recruiting class today, as both Molly Tipton and Susana Contreras have signed National Letters-of-Intent to attend NNU and play for the Crusaders this fall.

Tipton is a junior transfer from Caldwell. As a senior at Middleton High School Molly scored 41 goals and tallied 19 assists, leading her team in both categories and earning All State honors in the process, an honor she also received in each of her previous three years at Middleton High. Following graduation Tipton attended Eastern Washington University where she spent the 2006-2007 year playing in the Big Sky Conference for the Eagles. For her sophomore season Molly transferred closer to home and attended Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore. As a sophomore at TVCC she led her team in goals scored and was an NWAACC first-team all-conference selection as a forward.

Contreras is an attacking minded player from Vancouver, B.C. A center mid-fielder for Thomas More Collegiate, Susana helped lead her team to a provincial runner-up finish as a junior in 2007. Her senior high school season is currently underway and Thomas More is expected to once more be a provincial contender in British Columbia. Susana plays club soccer for Norvan in the Canadian Premier Women's Division, where she plays as both a midfielder and a forward. Norvan won the Kamloops, B.C. Women's Premier Division Tournament in 2007. In addition Susana competes in the Pacific Coast Soccer League for Coquitlam Xtreme, where her team finished 3rd overall in the summer of 2007.

"Both of these athletes have an offensive mindset that will make us that much more dangerous in the attacking third this fall," NNU head coach Jamie Lindvall said. "Molly has great pace as an attacker and is a serious threat with her speed and her finishing ability. Susana is a very creative player who not only finishes well, but is a great distributor from the midfield as well. We're definitely looking forward to seeing both of these girls make an impact in our program!"

The Crusaders open the 2008 season on Aug. 22 with an exhibition game at Boise State University.

...read more

By Mike Stetson
mstetson@idahopress.com


A conference championship, school record, a trip to nationals, it’d be enough to make any athlete’s year, but to do it as a senior and it only makes for a dream season.

Northwest Nazarene’s Amy Carroll is living that dream as the recent Crusader graduate competes at the NCAA Division II national track & field championship meet today in...read more

Phillips, Kochis provided heroics as NNU seniors end career

By Mike Stetson
mstetson@idahopress.com
NAMPA — It truly couldn’t have been any better of a finish.

The Northwest Nazarene baseball team, already having set a record for wins in a season, went ahead and sent its seniors off with a pair of dramatic victories, beating Central Washington 10-8 and 6-5 in a Great Northwest Athletic...read more

Catcher ties HR mark, breaks RBI record as Crusaders notch first 30-win season

By Mike Stetson
mstetson@idahopress.com

NAMPA — Zack Aakhus added to a record season for Northwest Nazarene.

The senior catcher tied the single-season home run record and broke the RBI mark, helping lead the Crusaders to a 9-6 win and a split of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference twin bill with Central Washington...read more

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