BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For the second straight weekend, the Northern Arizona volleyball team persevered to defeat a team receiving votes in the AVCA National Poll. Saturday morning, the Lumberjacks' victim was Virginia Tech – who was seventh among teams just outside the top 25 – as NAU rallied from two deficits to win 23-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13.

The Lumberjacks (7-2) chopped away down 1-0 and 2-1 in the match to record their first victory against an ACC opponent since defeating Florida State in 2001. The win is NAU's third all-time against the ACC, also having defeated former conference member Maryland in 1989.

"I'm just really proud of this group and how tough they are," said head coach Ken Murphy. "This was a hard fought match on both sides and we showed a lot of character. We continued to stick to the things that we do and we believed in ourselves. I can't say how proud I am of them with the way they kept fighting."

As has been the case all season, senior Janae Vander Ploeg and junior Lauren Jacobsen was a thorn in their opponents' side as the pair combined for 37 kills during the opening match of day two at the Indiana Invitational. Vander Ploeg recorded a match-high 20 kills marking her third 20-kill match of the season. Jacobsen finished with 17 kills.

At the net, senior Payton Bock tallied eight blocks, all of them assisted, and became NAU's all-time leader in career block assists with 367. She surpassed Lisa Wylie's school record total of 363 held since 1992. Joining Bock with reaching a milestone, junior Jensen Barton became the eighth Lumberjack in school history to surpass 2,000 career assists in the victory.

Despite the opening set loss, NAU jumped on Virginia Tech right from the start with freshman Jordan Anderson picking up an ace on the first point. Jacobsen then recorded two kills, with Anderson following with another ace to force the Hokies to take a quick timeout down 6-0. After Virginia Tech battled back to 14-13, NAU pushed its lead back out to 17-13 until Virginia Tech took its first lead at 19-18. The Hokies held their biggest lead at 23-19, but the 'Jacks fought back with three straight points capped by senior Jordan Leiter's ace to bring them within one point. Although Jacobsen's fifth kill of the opening set fought off one VT clinching point, the Hokies stole the first set from the Lumberjacks' grasp on the ensuing play.

Bock helped NAU break open a tight second set tied at 6-6, combining for two blocks – one each with junior Addy Lofstedt and Barton – during a 4-1 run that put the 'Jacks at the 10-point threshold first. Although Virginia Tech closed to 13-12, forcing an NAU timeout, the 'Jacks swiftly responded with three straight points. The Hokies had one final push in them late, prompting the Lumberjacks' final stoppage at 23-19, but a Barton kill and a Virginia Tech error sealed the second set in NAU's favor.

Answering NAU's call in the second set, Virginia Tech snagged the early lead in the third set and led the rest of the way fighting off a few Lumberjack rallies. Consecutive kills by Vander Ploeg led to a Hokie timeout with NAU down just 14-13, as the 'Jacks appeared to be on the verge of climbing in front. However, Virginia Tech came out of the timeout with a pair of points, regaining control and maintaining at least a two-point edge from there. Barton dumped a kill in to make it 23-20 late before the Hokies took the final two points and the 2-1 lead in the match.

Tied every step of the way from 4-4 to 10-10, a block by Barton and redshirt freshman Brittni Dorsey put the 'Jacks in front, 11-10, in the fourth set. Vander Ploeg followed with a kill and the Hokies called the first timeout of the period. NAU extended its lead to 16-13, only for Virginia Tech to string together five straight points forcing the 'Jacks to play from behind once again. Bock's ace evened the score at 20-20 and the teams traded points until a Virginia Tech service error gave NAU set point. On its first opportunity to wrap up the set, NAU got a kill from Jacobsen pushing the teams to a decisive set.

In the race to 15, the teams were engaged in seven ties with the last coming at 8-8 before a Virginia Tech ball handling error snapped the stalemate in NAU's favor. A Hokie attack error gave the 'Jacks a two-point cushion and Bock followed with a kill to make it 11-8. After two points by the Hokies, Bock got the points back with a kill and an ace to restore the three-point lead. Vander Ploeg's final kill two points later put NAU one point away from victory at 14-11, but Virginia Tech staved off two match points. Immediately after an NAU timeout, a Virginia Tech was unable to get its serve into the court setting off the Lumberjack celebration.

"In the two sets we lost, Virginia Tech hit a high percentage and we needed to make a couple of adjustments," Murphy said. "We got better as the match went on and we learned what they were doing a little better. Once we got our defense stronger, it had a big impact on the match."

Virginia Tech held the advantages in kills, hitting percentage, digs and blocks in the match, but NAU held a critical edge in errors. Combining attack, service, block and ball handling errors, NAU committed 13 fewer miscues than Virginia Tech.

Jacobsen was the lone Lumberjack to record a double-double with 15 digs to go along with her 17 kills. Redshirt senior Stacia Williams and Leiter also reached double-digit digs with 14 and 10 respectively. Barton set a new a career-high with eight blocks, matching Bock's total, in addition to 41 assists pushing over the 2,000 threshold. Bock and Anderson both notched a team-best two aces.

The Lumberjacks will play Indiana, the host school, at 4 p.m. Arizona time this afternoon in their final match of the weekend.