OXFORD, Ohio – After a slow start to their early Saturday morning match, the Northern Arizona volleyball team went toe-to-toe with Western Kentucky before succumbing to a 25-16, 25-22, 25-21 sweep. NAU will close the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Invitational this afternoon at 2 p.m. versus Miami – a match that will be broadcasted online on
ESPN 3.
"Western Kentucky is really good and what I was super proud of was how we were able to match their intensity," said head coach
Ken Murphy. "Our defense responded and created so many opportunities. We learned a lot about ourselves today and how close we are to not only competing with teams of their caliber, but winning those matches. It's small things on our side and that gives us confidence moving forward."
Western Kentucky was the second team among those receiving votes, or the equivalent of No. 27 in the country, in the AVCA Preseason National Poll.
The Lumberjacks posted a hitting percentage of only .196 for the match and while the Lady Toppers hit .302, the 'Jacks found ways to slow them down as the match progressed. After Western Kentucky hit a blistering .531 in the first set, its set percentages dropped to .270 and .170 in the second and third sets.
NAU actually had its best offensive set to open the match, attacking a .281 clip, but a slow start doomed NAU. The 'Jacks were forced to call a timeout down 8-2, but got back into it at 9-5 courtesy of three of redshirt junior
Kaylie Jorgenson's five first-set kills. A 7-0 Western Kentucky run from there proved to be too much to overcome though despite a stretch in which NAU scored five of six points late.
The Abbys – sophomores
Abby Akin and
Abby Stomp – provided the 'Jacks with an early lift to start the second stanza. Akin's kill and an ace by Stomp notched the first two points in NAU's favor and NAU still managed to hold a lead as late as 20-19 following a kill from freshman
Heaven Harris. Three straight points by the Lady Toppers shifted the lead into their favor one final time as they closed on a 6-2 run.
An ever-so-small 3-0 spurt by Western Kentucky snapped an 11-11 third-set tie for good, but NAU got one final run in to make Western Kentucky sweat. Trailing 20-15, the Lumberjacks scored four of the next five points, capped by Akin's second ace of the match and seventh in two matches, to climb back within 21-19. The Lady Toppers immediately responded with three straight points of their own to keep the 'Jacks at bay.
Jorgenson recorded team-highs of 11 kills and 10 digs for her second double-double in as many matches. Stomp posted 28 assists, while Akin had two of NAU's four team aces.
Led by redshirt sophomore
Victoria Ewalefo, who was inserted into the starting lineup, NAU held a 6.0-3.0 advantage in blocks. Ewalefo tied for match-high honors with three blocks, which equaled her career-high.
NAU and Miami will square off in the final match of the tournament at 2 p.m. this afternoon. The match can be seen online at this
link.
