FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Playing their first home match of the season, the Northern Arizona volleyball team got off to a slow start but settled down to win their opening matinee match of the Lumberjack Classic Friday morning in the Rolle Activity Center. The Lumberjacks took down Grand Canyon in three sets, 25-18, 25-18, 25-18, and ran their season-opening win streak to seven heading into their afternoon contest versus UC Riverside at approximately 5:30 p.m.

"I think we were a little too hyped up at the beginning," said head coach Ken Murphy. "We weren't executing our defense the way we're accustomed to, but once we relaxed we got into a nice defensive rhythm and created some momentum for ourselves."

In the battle between the in-state rivals, the Antelopes struck with the first blow jumping out to a 13-9 advantage. But the Lumberjacks responded with five of the next six points to tie it at 14-all and after the teams traded the next four points, NAU busted the first set open. With junior Jordan Leiter at the service line, the 'Jacks rattled of the next five points and finished the set by taking nine of the last 11 points in all following the 16-16 tie. A pair of aces from sophomore Lauren Jacobsen capped the first set win and gave NAU the momentum it needed to start the second set hot.

Senior Sydney Kemper was the story of the second set as she compiled six kills, with half coming during NAU's 5-0 opening spurt. The Lumberjacks never trailed in the set as they gradually built on their five-point lead and led by as many 10 late in the set. Just as Kemper started the set hot, she rifled down the final two points for NAU, providing the home team with a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set was the closest of the match, featuring 11 ties and six lead changes. The set was knotted up midway through at 14-14, but senior Taylor Stephens' solo block jump started NAU's decisive run. Following Stephens' block, the Lumberjacks picked up five of the next six points, finishing with junior Payton Bock and sophomore Jensen Barton stuffing the Antelopes at the net. NAU seized control from that moment and a final block by Kemper and Stephens wrapped up the three-set sweep.

NAU (7-0) shut down Grand Canyon, who had entered the match 5-1, to the tune of a .091 hitting percentage. The Lumberjacks continued their season-opening run of plus-.200 marks by hitting .236 for the match. With Barton (26 assists) and Leiter (13 assists) in her NAU debut, splitting time at setter, the Lumberjacks ran a balanced attack to stop the Antelopes their tracks.

"We feel like our team can win with either one, or both, of them setting for us," Murphy said. "We have a lot of confidence in them. Offensively, there are things we can still improve on, but our setters did a good job and our hitters executed pretty well. It's good to know that we have enough depth that we can keep having success with lineup changes."

Kemper's 12 kills led the Lumberjacks, who spread the wealth across the board offensively. Stephens and junior Janae Vander Ploeg each chipped in seven kills as five 'Jacks tallied at least five kills. Bock and Kemper paced NAU with four blocks each and redshirt junior Stacia Williams recorded a team-best 10 digs. The team also tied its season-high with eight service aces, with Jacobsen and Vander Ploeg each posting three apiece.

The Lumberjacks will try to make it two-for-two on Friday against UC Riverside in the day's fourth and final match. UC Riverside dropped a five-set decision to Albany in the tournament opener. The Lumberjack Classic continues at the Rolle Activity Center at 3:30 p.m. with Grand Canyon taking on Albany.