BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Northern Arizona volleyball team got back in the win column Friday afternoon, putting together a 25-16, 25-19, 26-24 victory over Bowling Green to open up their weekend at the Indiana Invitational. Improving to 6-2 this season, NAU totaled a season-high 11 service aces in the three-set win.

The Lumberjacks poured it on the Falcons at the service line right from the start, totaling seven aces in a brisk opening win. Freshman Jordan Anderson aced the match's first point and following NAU's fifth ace courtesy of senior Janae Vander Ploeg, Bowling Green was forced to call a timeout down 12-6. NAU never trailed and Bowling Green failed to record more than two consecutive points at any moment in the set, as the Lumberjacks picked up the victory not only due to their serving prowess but also with an effective attack hitting .381.

Junior Lauren Jacobsen continued the Lumberjacks' service game early in the second set with a pair of aces, which coupled with two kills from Vander Ploeg gave NAU a 5-2 lead it never relinquished. Although the 'Jacks were able to extend their lead to as much as seven, the Falcons fought back within 21-19 late in the set. A kill by Vander Ploeg and two straight aces by senior Payton Bock put the Lumberjacks at set point though, and Vander Ploeg finished it off with her sixth kill of the set.

Bowling Green struck fast in the third set racing to a 9-1 lead with full intentions of avoiding a sweep. NAU stormed back utilizing its block, recording five of its 10 blocks for the match, during a stretch that brought the 'Jacks even at 12-12. After the Falcons surged ahead once again, NAU responded with four straight points to take their first lead of the set at 19-17. Bowling Green would reach set-point first though at 24-23, but NAU held off with a Falcon error. Bock and Vander Ploeg blocked Bowling Green on the next play to give NAU match point, with Bock ripping her final kill of the match to seal up the sweep.

Vander Ploeg led the Lumberjacks with nine kills with Jacobsen tallying eight. Junior Addy Lofstedt hit a team-high .444 as NAU hit .277 while keeping Bowling Green at bay with a .152 percentage. Junior Jensen Barton dished out 18 assists with senior Jordan Leiter handling setting duties during the third set comeback, finishing with seven assists herself.

Defensively, Anderson was the lone player on either team with double-digit digs, finishing with a match-high 10. Bock paced the 'Jacks with five blocks.

Jacobsen recorded four of NAU's 11 aces with Bock equaling her career-high with three. Anderson and Vander Ploeg each posted two aces apiece.

NAU continues play in Bloomington, Ind. bright and early Saturday morning against Virginia Tech at 7 a.m. Flagstaff time. The Lumberjacks then wrap up tournament play with host Indiana at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.