EUGENE, Ore.  – The Northwest Christian University volleyball team came home with a pair of losses from a trip south to face Oregon Tech on Friday and Southern Oregon University on Saturday. The losses drop NCU to seventh place in the CCC, one game behind the Owls.

On Friday night the Beacons were defeated in four sets by Oregon Tech, 25-17, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23. The Beacons were led by Janel Fetters (pictured), posting a team-high with 13 kills and five blocks. Maren Mansfield added nine kills and ten digs while Cori Wallace collected 26 assists and 13 digs. Danielle Nance added four blocks and four service aces to a six-kill night and Dana Clark led the Beacons with 17 digs.

Head Coach Mike Gaffaney said, “We lost tonight because of a lack of execution in some spots, but not a lack of heart. We really fought back to win the third set and almost did the same in the fourth and really showed our character tonight.”

On Saturday the story was similar as the Beacons dropped a hard-fought three-set match to No. 16 Southern Oregon University, 26-24, 25-19, 25-22. Fetters was at it again on the block with two solo efforts, adding eight kills. Mansfield hit .263 to lead the team with nine kills. Clark dug up eight balls to lead the Beacons, along with a match-high three service aces. Wallace against totaled 26 assists, adding four digs.

“I was very proud of the way we played on Saturday night,” said Gaffaney. “We competed well in every set against a great team. We never gave up this entire weekend and it's encouraging to see the way we are rallying around each other despite the loss.”

NCU (11-13, 5-10 CCC) will be back in action next weekend when they travel to Salem to face Corban University on Friday night.