MATCH NOTES (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Northern Arizona volleyball team is back on the road this weekend as Big Sky play enters its second week, first playing at Idaho State on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Lumberjacks will then play at Weber State on Saturday at 6 p.m. with both times local to Flagstaff.

"The challenges keep coming for us," said head coach Ken Murphy. "Idaho State has been in the top four the last handful of years and they are always a tough team to play on their home court. Weber State is a little down, but we know every opponent is dangerous especially on the road. More than anything, we need to be in match situations when there is a lot on the line and we have to focus on our ourselves whether that is in our gym or somewhere else. Every time we have that opportunity, we have an opportunity to get better and that's how we're looking at this weekend."

NAU split its first two matches of the conference schedule last week, bouncing back from a five-set home loss to Northern Colorado to sweep Southern Utah on the road. With their victory over Southern Utah, NAU snapped its first three-match losing streak since 2013. The Lumberjacks were boosted by the return of sophomore Sydney Lema last week after she missed the previous six matches due to an injury. Lema totaled 19 kills and a team-high 39 digs. Her 4.88 digs per set through two matches ranks third in conference only stats. Redshirt junior Kaylie Jorgenson moved up to fifth in the conference in overall stats with a team-leading 3.42 kills per set. Jorgenson hit a season-best .325 with 16 kills in the victory at Southern Utah and added to her season double-double total with two last week. Sophomore Abby Akin had an exceptional all-around weekend last week averaging 2.25 kills per set on .548 hitting and recording 13 blocks at an average 1.62 per set.

This week's matches can be streamed online at pluto.tv or the Pluto TV app. Thursday's match will be shown on Channel 243 with Saturday's match available on Pluto TV Channel 235.

The Block is Hot: In the first week of conference play, the Lumberjacks' block was on fire as they registered 26.0 blocks versus Northern Colorado and Southern Utah. Their 3.25 blocks per set topped the league during the weekend. Akin led the charge, having a hand in 13 of the team's total blocks in the two matches. Redshirt sophomore Victoria Ewalefo and freshman Heaven Harris also aided the efforts with 11 and nine respectively. NAU doubled its previous season-high with 16.0 blocks against Northern Colorado on Sept. 21. Two nights later, the Lumberjacks registered 10.0 blocks in just three sets in a quick sweep of Southern Utah. The 'Jacks had not totaled more than 8.0 blocks in a match prior to the weekend.

Every Match They're Shufflin': In 13 matches, NAU has used nine different starting lineups. NAU used the same starting lineup just three times in back-to-back matches, but once was last weekend with the return of Lema from injury allowing the Lumberjacks to start their projected lineup for the first time all season. A total of seven different players have started their first career matches this season. In addition, Jorgenson is the only player to start every match this season and a total of 12 players - not including senior Brooke Donnelly who has appeared at libero in nine matches - have started at least once.

Recipe for Success: The Lumberjacks pride themselves on service pressure and their blocking, which then leads to their efficient offensive systems so it should be no surprise that those three elements have been key to their success early in the season. When NAU has held the advantage in service aces, it has a 4-1 record. The Lumberjacks are also 4-2 when they have outblocked their opposition. When NAU has outhit its opposition, the 'Jacks are 5-1. The win-loss splits are drastic with the Lumberjacks hitting .254 and averaging 2.06 aces and 2.17 blocks per set in wins while hitting only .176 with 0.77 aces and 1.90 blocks per set in losses.

NAU Quick Hits: Ken Murphy is just three wins shy of 100 at NAU...Donnelly ranks third in the Big Sky with 4.35 digs per set...The Lumberjacks have two players ranked in the top 10 of the conference in hitting percentage...Harris ranks fourth with a team-best .349 clip while Akin ranks sixth at .329...Sophomore Abby Stomp ranks 10th with 7.54 assists per set...Last weekend, NAU hit .273 - the third-highest clip in the first week of conference play - to improve its season percentage to .206.

About Idaho State: Idaho State was voted sixth in the preseason Big Sky Coaches Poll, placing fourth among teams in the Big Sky South Division. The Bengals fell to 3-12 this season with two losses to Portland State and Sacramento State on the road last weekend during the first week of conference play. Idaho State has dropped its last 10 matches, eight of which have been in three sets. Idaho State has a pair of players ranked in the top 10 of the conference in kills starting with Chloe Hirst, who is tied for sixth with 3.39 per set. Abby Garrity is 10th with 3.22 per set and led the Bengals last week with 22 kills against Portland State and Sacramento State. The Bengals rank seventh in the conference with a .187 team hitting percentage while opponents are hitting .262 against them collectively this season.

About Weber State: Weber State wound up in eighth in the Big Sky Preseason Poll according to the league's coaches. The Wildcats also fell to Sacramento State and Portland State last week on the road to drop to 2-12 overall this season. Weber State lost to Sacramento State in four sets before being swept by Portland State. Amanda Varley leads the Wildcats in kills with 3.22 for the season including a 3.71 average during the opening week of conference play. Hannah Hill is one of three players ranked in the top of the Big Sky in blocking, leading the team with 1.34 blocks per set. As a team, Weber State is No. 19 in the country with a Big Sky-best 2.85 blocks per set. The Wildcats are ninth in the Big Sky in hitting at .172 and 11th in opponent hitting at .249.