PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona volleyball team needed every ounce of grit they had to avoid falling behind by two sets to Boise State in the opening match of the GCU Invite on Friday. Coming out on top in NAU's longest set in seven years, the 'Jacks then used their most balanced offensive showing of the season to knock off the Broncos, 21-25, 34-32, 25-18, 25-23.

The Lumberjacks, now 8-3 this season, received at least six kills from six players as they hit .335 in the match totaling a season-high 68 kills as a team in just four sets.

"We passed the ball really well and Jensen (Barton) played a really high level match," said head coach Ken Murphy. "I thought she did a great job of distributing the ball to our hitters and running the system the way we want to. She put our hitters in positions to be successful and it was one of the better matches I've ever seen her play."

Boise State struck first pulling away from NAU late in the opening set despite six kills from senior Janae Vander Ploeg. After the teams found themselves tied at every point until 8-8, three straight Bronco points had Boise State ahead 11-8. The Lumberjacks answered to bring the set to a 16-16 tie midway through the set, only for the Broncos to quickly get those three points back. After consecutive kills by junior Jensen Barton forced a Boise State timeout with NAU cutting the Bronco lead to 20-19, Boise State finished on a 6-2 spurt to close the set.

Needing to win the second set to avoid going down 2-0 in the match, the Lumberjacks showcased the rugged spirit they are known for to outlast the Broncos in the longest set since the current scoring format changed to play-to-25 at the start of the 2008 season. Featuring 12 ties, the Lumberjacks had to fight back for much of the set trailing by as much as five points at 16-11. After getting to within one on two occasions, NAU still was behind 23-19 late in the set when it unleashed its furious comeback. Vander Ploeg's ace finally brought the set even at 24-24, but the action was only getting started.

Boise State reached 25 first, but was unable to capitalize on the next point needing to win by two. NAU snagged its first set point at 26-25, but Boise State responded. In all, NAU had four more set points to Boise State's two up until 32-32. There, Vander Ploeg hammered a kill to give the Lumberjacks one more opportunity to close the set. On NAU's sixth – and final – set point, junior Lauren Jacobsen wrapped up business immediately with a kill.

"Our team really battled their way through this match," Murphy said. "Boise State was playing at a really high level and in the second set, we started putting pressure on them that allowed us to start scoring some points. It changed the momentum in the match."

Following the marathon second, the Lumberjacks used their hard-earned momentum to methodically break open an even third in the shortest set of the afternoon. With the set tied at 7-7, Vander Ploeg's kill put NAU in front for good. Boise State hung tight, down only 12-11, but a 6-1 run punctuated by back-to-back kills from Vander Ploeg gave NAU a comfortable 18-12 advantage as it coasted to a third set win.

The Broncos led for most of the early portions of the fourth set until junior Addy Lofstedt tied the score at 14-all. The teams remained tied at 16-16, before Jacobsen initiated a critical three-point Lumberjack spurt with a kill. The Lumberjacks held a late 23-20 lead, but the Broncos managed to tie the score at 23-23. Lofstedt then put down another kill setting the 'Jacks up for match point and they finished off the victory with a block by Jacobsen and redshirt freshman Brittni Dorsey.

NAU hit .412 and .457 in the final two sets respectively once it tied the match at 1-1. The 'Jacks posted their highest hitting percentage in six matches and outhit Boise State .335-.240.

Vander Ploeg led all players with 21 kills, but she was far from the only 'Jack on the attack. Jacobsen recorded 12 kills and senior Payton Bock had a season-high 11 kills. Lofstedt gave NAU four players in double-digit kills with 10. In addition to a season-high tying 53 assists, Barton notched a career-high eight kills, while Dorsey had her highest total of her debut season with six.

Four Lumberjacks recorded double-digit digs with redshirt senior Stacia Williams leading the way with 18. Freshman Jordan Anderson tallied a career-high 15, while Jacobsen (13 digs) and Vander Ploeg (11 digs) contributed to the pair's team-best sixth double-double apiece.

The 'Jacks conclude the weekend on Saturday with a pair of matches. NAU plays UC Riverside at 12 p.m. and Grand Canyon on its home court at 6 p.m. to close out its non-conference schedule.