FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – For the second straight season, it took five sets to determine the victor between the Northern Arizona volleyball team and Idaho State in the Rolle Activity Center. Unfortunately unlike last season, the result fell in the Bengals' favor Thursday night as they handed the Lumberjacks their first home loss of 2014, 25-27, 25-19, 25-18, 20-25, 17-15. NAU dropped to 16-6 overall and 7-4 in the Big Sky.

"In situations when our backs were to the wall, we fought really hard," said head coach Ken Murphy. "I think what we need to focus on is how we can fight like that the entire match so we don't put ourselves in those big holes. We were down so far, especially in that fifth set, it's a tribute to how well we can play when we're really focused. However against a really good team like Idaho State that's dangerous and it bit us tonight."

In defeat, senior Sydney Kemper posted a career-night with a career-best 25 kills to lead all players. It was also of historical significance as she became the 11th player in school history to cross 1,000 kills as she sits at 1,003 and counting with at least five regular season matches remaining. She hit .440 for the match and equaled her career-high of 19 digs for the second consecutive match for her ninth double-double. She also added four blocks and one ace.

For the first time all season, NAU went the distance in a match playing in its first five-setter. The deciding fifth set summed up much of the match as the Lumberjacks fought their way back from an 11-4 Bengal lead. A kill by Kemper sent the NAU leader to the service line where she served five straight points to bring the Lumberjacks within 11-10. Junior Janae Vander Ploeg eventually tied the score at 13-13 and the Lumberjacks fought off two match points before Idaho State wrapped it up.

Down early 9-7 to open the night, NAU was forced to battle back from the beginning. The Lumberjacks used a 5-0 run spurred by a pair of Vander Ploeg aces to climb in front only to see the Bengals retake the lead. Idaho State continued to lead until late in the set, but it was the Lumberjacks who reached set point first at 24-22 following a kill from sophomore Lauren Jacobsen. After the Bengals withstood the two set points, a kill from senior Taylor Stephens and an ISU error gave NAU the first blow in the match.

Idaho State, the Big Sky leader at 10-1 in conference play, controlled the second set by taking 11 of the first 15 points and leading the entire way after it was tied 1-1. The Lumberjacks made it interesting late though as they rattled off five straight points down at set point 24-14 before the Bengals clinched the set on their sixth opportunity.

At one set apiece coming out of the intermission, the teams battled to a 13-13 tie in the third until the set-changing 7-0 run by the Bengals put the set out of reach. By the end of the run, ISU held a 20-13 lead and despite the Lumberjacks playing even with the Bengals from that point, the seven point difference proved to be the final margin.

The fourth set mirrored the third except it was the Lumberjacks' turn to take control with the score tied at 13-all. Back-to-back kills by Vander Ploeg started a 6-1 NAU run that put the 'Jacks in front 20-14 and they never looked back. Kemper and sophomore Isabelle Gosar's block put NAU at set point at 24-19 and Gosar sent the match into a deciding fifth set with a kill two points later setting up the tense fifth set.

In addition to Kemper, Vander Ploeg (17 kills, 19 digs) and sophomore Jensen Barton (season-high 57 assists, 11 digs) also posted double-doubles. Redshirt junior Stacia Williams and junior Payton Bock led all players with 22 digs and seven blocks respectively.

The Bengals earned the season sweep of the Lumberjacks by holding advantages in hitting percentage (.246-.232) and digs (87-81). NAU held a slim advantage in blocks (12.0-11.0).

"We can get better in all phases of the game," Murphy said. "But I really don't think it's a technical thing. I feel like we need to believe in ourselves and believe that if we play our systems the way we practice them, we'll get the outcome we want. If we can fix that, I like our chances."

The Lumberjacks wrap up the week on Saturday by hosting Weber State. The match will start at 7 p.m. in the Rolle Activity Center.