MATCH NOTES (PDF)
TICKETS
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 2, 2018) – The Northern Arizona volleyball team's return to the Rolle Activity Center will be brief, as this weekend's home matches versus Montana State and Montana will be their last until the final week of October. The Lumberjacks will host the Bobcats on Thursday and the Grizzlies on Saturday with both match times at 7 p.m.
"Both of these teams put together really good preseason wins and will be great challenges for us," said head coach
Ken Murphy. "It's a testament to the depth and strength of our league from the standpoint that every match will be a battle. We have a lot of respect for what they've done so far this season."
In honor of Thursday being National Taco Day, the first 150 NAU students will receive two free tacos prior to the match starting at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a photo booth for fans to take pictures at with costumes and props.
First serve for Saturday's match will be at 7 p.m. due to the early football kickoff in the Walkup Skydome. All fans attending Saturday's Family Weekend match will receive free admission.
The Lumberjacks, 10-7 overall, have split the first two weekends of conference play and own a 2-2 mark. NAU is currently tied for sixth in the Big Sky standings with preseason favorite Idaho. The 'Jacks trail five teams, including Montana, after two weeks of the league schedule. NAU swept Portland State last Thursday, and then fell short in five sets versus Sacramento State on its road trip last week.
Senior
Jordan Anderson totaled 42 digs in two matches last week, and continues rank highly among the Big Sky's top back row players this season. Ranking fifth overall in the league with 4.50 digs per set, Anderson is averaging 4.88 digs per set in conference play. She could vault up another spot on the program's all-time digs list this week, needing 31 digs to move into sixth in school history.
Redshirt senior
Kaylie Jorgenson, junior
Abby Akin and freshman
Ryann Davis comprise the Lumberjacks' main sources of offense since the start of league play. Jorgenson is averaging a team-high 3.06 kills per set in conference play, with Davis (2.71) and Akin (2.50) behind her. Jorgenson leads the team overall with 2.97 kills per set for the season. Akin is NAU's leader in hitting percentage at .361, which places her third in the league, and is attacking at a .439 clip the last two weeks.
NAU continues to lead the Big Sky Conference in opponent hitting percentage (.173) and digs per set (17.59). The Lumberjacks are also second in the league in hitting percentage (.238) and third in aces per set (.143).
In the NCAA's first RPI ranking released on Monday, the Lumberjacks are slotted No. 150. NAU is the third-highest rated team in the conference trailing Northern Colorado (No. 114) and Weber State (No. 119).
Fans can catch this week's matches on NAU's dedicated Pluto TV Channel 239 available
online in addition to the free Pluto TV app.
About Montana State:
Record: 6-9, 1-3 Big Sky
2018 Preseason Big Sky Poll: Eighth
All-Time Series: NAU, 38-23
Last Meeting: NAU, 3-1 (Oct. 19, 2017)
About Montana:
Record: 6-10, 3-1 Big Sky
2018 Preseason Big Sky Poll: Ninth
All-Time Series: UM, 33-31
Last Meeting: NAU, 3-0 (Oct. 21, 2017)
