FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona volleyball team debuted a new lineup in their home debut Friday morning and received strong contributions despite falling to Utah State, 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-18 in their first match of the Lumberjack Classic. The Lumberjacks are now 3-4 overall heading into tonight's highly anticipated match versus Arizona State at 6:30 p.m. in the Rolle Activity Center.
"I think (the new rotation) was really good for us because it allowed us to expand our attack," said head coach
Ken Murphy. "I thought both Heaven (Harris) and Kasie (Gilfert) hit some quality shots and it helped our offense quite a bit. It's something we can build on going forward."
Junior
Jordan Anderson and redshirt freshman
Kasie Gilfert had their first extensive run as part of NAU's rotation and both responded. Anderson, primarily a back row player through her first two seasons, totaled a career-high 16 assists while Gilfert recorded eight kills and two blocks – both of which were season-highs.
Redshirt junior
Kaylie Jorgenson and freshman
Heaven Harris tied for team-high honors with 10 kills each, but NAU only hit .190 for the match. Utah State attacked at a .270 clip for the match.
Utah State came out guns blazing in NAU's home opener, before the 'Jacks forged a furious rally to steal the first set. Trailing 17-9, NAU went on a 10-3 run to pull within 20-19 forcing an Aggie timeout. Redshirt sophomore
Ohiyah Shirley's ace tied the set at 22-22 and a Utah State error put the 'Jacks on the following point. After Utah State evened the score at 23-all out of a timeout, sophomore
Abby Akin fittingly served the final two points for NAU, as she posted four kills, two aces and two blocks in the opening set.
The Aggies used a 3-0 run to snap a 6-6 tie and take the lead for good in the second set. They led by as much as six, but the Lumberjacks closed to 20-16. Sensing a change in momentum, Utah State called a timeout and scored five of the final seven points to even the match at one set apiece going into the intermission.
Jorgenson, who was held to just three kills combined in the first two sets, came out of the locker room with a vengeance providing NAU with a jolt to start the third. She notched three kills and two aces during NAU's 6-2 opening run, but the lead was short-lived with the Aggies immediately going on a 7-1 run after. Two kills by Harris held the 'Jacks ahead late, 19-17, only for the Aggies to tie it two points later and eventually close out a narrow third set.
Needing to extend the match, NAU fell victim to a 5-0 Utah State run that turned around a tight set midway through. The Lumberjacks trailed 19-13 before responding with three points – the last coming on a block by redshirt junior
Brittni Dorsey and Harris – to slice their deficit in half. They could not get any closer than three points the rest of the way though and Utah State wrapped up its win with the final four points of the match.
Senior
Brooke Donnelly (season-high 24 digs) and redshirt sophomore
Victoria Ewalefo (career-high eight kills) both had standout individual performances. Ewalefo and Harris tied for team-high honors with four blocks each.
The Lumberjacks' new rotation enjoyed moments of excellence with sophomore
Abby Stomp and Anderson splitting time at setter. But NAU struggled to slow down Utah State's attack consistently, which ultimately proved to be too much to overcome despite eight team aces and eight team blocks.
"Utah State executed their plan at a little higher level than we did," Murphy said. "We had a really hard time stopping their offense especially (Lauren Anderson and Kayla DeCoursey). We had some plans on how we planned to limit that, but I give them credit for excecuting their plan and controlling the pace of the match."
Arizona State swept CSU Bakersfield, 25-17, 25-18, 25-21, in the first match of the day. Utah State and CSU Bakersfield opens the evening session at 4:30 p.m.
The Lumberjacks and Sun Devils will do battle at 6:30 p.m. in Rolle Activity Center. The first 100 NAU students will receive a "I'm a Lumberjack" shirt and all fans will receive rally towels for the in-state showdown to close the first day of the Lumberjack Classic.
