FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Saturday, the Rolle Activity Center was the epicenter of a colossal showdown between the top two teams in the Big Sky South Division. Both Idaho State – nine matches – and Northern Arizona – five matches – entered with win streaks, but only one team would leave with a victor.

Behind an attack clicking on all cylinders, the Lumberjack volleyball team dominated the Bengals, 25-20, 15-25, 25-17, 25-17, dealing Idaho State its first conference loss of the season – and snapping ISU's nine-match win streak in the process. At the halfway point of the conference season, the Big Sky South rivals are tied atop the division at 7-1 following Saturday, with NAU sitting at 17-4 overall.

"It was important for us to establish that we can defend them," said head coach Ken Murphy. "We served tough and blocked well, and executed pressure on them. Tonight was big because it proved to us one more time what we're capable of. We have a lot of respect for Idaho State and we've grown a lot as a team over the last year."

The Lumberjacks were looking to avenge last year's season sweep at the hands of the Bengals, including a five-set loss in the Big Sky semifinals, and they kept out of the gates swinging on their home court.

With senior Jordan Leiter at the line, NAU led the entire way in the opening set after picking up the first three points of the match. The Lumberjacks broke open the stanza midway, pushing their lead out to 19-11 following kills by senior Janae Vander Ploeg and juniors Addy Lofstedt and Lauren Jacobsen. Although the Bengals fought back to as close as three points, NAU's offense was too much pounding 15 kills in the opener, with six coming from Vander Ploeg.

As much as NAU dominated in the first set, Idaho State controlled the second set to pull even in the match, temporarily solving the Lumberjacks' puzzle. ISU limited NAU to only .033 hitting in the second period after the 'Jacks hit .333 to begin the afternoon. The Bengals used a four-point run to break a 5-5 tie and kept the Lumberjacks at bay heading into the intermission.

The 'Jacks were not held down for long as the combination of Vander Ploeg and Jacobsen was a riddle that the Bengals did not have an answer for in the third set. The crucial third set started out as a slugfest with six ties through the first 20 points, but a Vander Ploeg killed broke a 10-10 tie for good, setting the NAU train in motion. A 10-3 run, aided by four ISU attack errors, gave the Lumberjacks a commanding 20-13 lead and Vander Ploeg's eighth kill of the set put NAU within one set of the close out. Jacobsen also had six kills in the set, as the 'Jacks hit a match-best .421 in a resounding response to their second stanza defeat.

ISU claimed the initial two points of the fourth set, but once again Leiter stepped to the line and applied the pressure on the Bengals following a sideout. NAU rattled off six straight points, three coming on blocks by senior Payton Bock, and axed the Bengals from there. The prospect of another five-set match with Idaho State – four of the previous five meetings between the two teams went the distance – was the last thing on NAU's mind as it put up a wall at the net. Bock had her hands in five of the Lumberjacks' six blocks in the final period, forcing the Bengals into a .031 percentage. The 'Jacks hit .357 themselves to conclude an emotion-filled afternoon in style.

"This was a huge win for our team," Vander Ploeg said. "Idaho State is such a good team and there's a reason they were undefeated. It was awesome that our team was able to come out and fight, and even after the second set we came out in the third set even stronger. I'm so proud of this team."

The Lumberjacks held the edge over the Bengals in every category except service aces, with Idaho State winning that battle, 4-2, between the conference's top two teams in aces per set. NAU outhit ISU, .295-.161, and claimed advantages in kills (53-51), assists (51-46), digs (61-51) and blocks (12.0-7.0).

Junior Jensen Barton ran the NAU attack to the tune of 50 assists, feeding Vander Ploeg, Jacobsen and Bock to 47 combined kills. Vander Ploeg led the way with 24 against just one error to hit .469, while Jacobsen had 15 kills on .312 hitting and Bock chipping in eight kills on a .389 clip.

Redshirt senior Stacia Williams led all players with 15 digs, and was joined in double-figure digs by Barton, Jacobsen and Vander Ploeg who each tallied double-doubles in the victory. At the net, Bock tied her career and season-highs with 10 blocks.

The win gives NAU the early head-to-head edge against Idaho State, with the two teams set to face off in Pocatello, Idaho in less than two weeks on Oct. 29. But heading into the second half of conference play next week, the Lumberjacks carry a lot of momentum after extending their season-best win streak to six matches.

"When our team plays together, has high energy and we're positive, I think we're unstoppable," said Vander Ploeg, who moved into sole possession of second on NAU's career kills chart. "I like how our team can come together and fight with effort. We never give up and it showed tonight."

NAU next hosts North Dakota on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. and Northern Colorado – the defending Big Sky tournament champions – on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 12 noon. Both matches will be in the Rolle Activity Center.