EUGENE, Ore. – The 2014 NCU volleyball season started off with a bang on Tuesday as the Beacons swept a road contest with New Hope Christian College, 25-16, 25-9, 25-15. Cassidy Winters tied an NCU record with ten service aces as the Beacons posted 17 in the match.
 
New Hope jumped out front in the first set, putting a small scare into the Beacons with an early 6-1 lead. Trailing 12-8, Chandler Gabrio put down a kill and Winters proceeded to serve the next seven points as the Beacons jumped ahead 16-12. The Beacons cruised to the first set victory from there, allowing just 5 kills to the Deacons who committed seven attack errors.
 
Set two was all NCU with the Beacons hitting .417 with 14 kills. Gabrio and Winters combined for ten kills in the set as Alyssa Door collected ten assists.
 
Winters was at it again from the service line in set three helping the Beacons jump out to a 9-1 lead as she collected six early aces. Gabrio was responsible for another three points with a kill and two aces and the Beacons were ahead 14-2. NHCC rallied to within seven points but couldn't overcome the Beacon attack.
 
In 2013, Cassidy Winters posted nine service aces and went to the service line just 71 times. The sophomore already has ten just three sets into the 2014 season. Behind a string of four consecutive aces in the third set, she finished tied for the NCU single-match record, which she now co-owns with Tessa Greatwood (2009).
 
The Beacons (1-0) finished the match with a .260 kill percentage adding 17 service aces. NCU also out-blocked New Hope, 5-1. Gabrio led the way, hitting .529 with 11 kills, four aces, and three blocks. Winters and Chelsea McGowan each posted seven kills while Alyssa Dorr totaled 24 assists and eight digs. Freshman Libero Haley Damian began her career with a team-high nine digs.
 
First-Year Head Coach Kelly Rosin opened her NCU career with a victory. She said, "Our coaching staff has really noticed how hard the girls have been working in our three-a-days over the last week and a half and we were definitely ready to come out and compete today as a team. We came out strong with high energy and great communication on the court which has been our point of emphasis throughout training camp."
 
New Hope (0-1) was led by Karina Akaka-Folau, hitting .294 with seven kills. Kenzie Nortune posted 12 assists while Alicia Hatzel had a match-high ten digs.
 
The Beacons travel for the Pacific "Super Scrimmage" festival on Wednesday and will return home for a scrimmage against Chemeketa on August 26 at 5:00 pm. NCU will then host Pacific in their official home opener on September 3 at 7:00 pm.