MATCH NOTES (PDF)
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 21, 2018) – The Northern Arizona volleyball team enters this weekend's Big Sky Championship as the No. 1 seed and will begin their run toward the conference tournament title and subsequent NCAA Tournament bid on Thursday versus Montana State at 12:30 p.m. The semifinals will be held on Friday and the championship match will be contested on Saturday. All matches will be held at the Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley, Colo. with Northern Colorado serving as the host team.
The Lumberjacks wrapped up a share of the regular season title with sweeps over Idaho and Eastern Washington last week. The two victories extended NAU's current win streak to 10 matches – the fourth-longest win streak in program history. NAU took care of business at home, sweeping Idaho in the battle for first-place last Thursday before hitting the road. The 'Jacks then swept Eastern Washington to secure the top seed heading into the tournament. NAU is 23-8 overall and finished the regular season with a 15-3 conference record.
"Our team is trying to hit the reset button and focus on playing a really good match on Thursday," said head coach
Ken Murphy, who was named
Big Sky Coach of the Year earlier on Wednesday. "Hopefully that leads to greater things later in the week. We've learned a lot about our opponents and we have our minds centered on what we need to do to be successful. If we control our side, we should have some good outcomes but we know we have a lot of work ahead of us."
NAU faces eighth-seeded Montana State in the opening round on Thursday. The Lumberjacks swept the Bobcats twice during the regular season. NAU owns a 10-3 record against the seven other teams in the tournament field.
The 'Jacks are looking to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history and the first since 2015. NAU has advanced to the championship match in two of the last three years.
Redshirt senior
Kaylie Jorgenson was voted the Big Sky Co-Most Valuable Player and selected to the All-Big Sky First Team on Tuesday, headlining four Lumberjacks on the
all-conference team. Jorgenson is the fourth player in program history to receive the conference's MVP award. Jorgenson ranks in the top 10 of the conference in kills (3.08 per set), digs (4.18) and aces (0.34). She also leads the Big Sky with 21 double-doubles.
Junior
Abby Akin and sophomore
Heaven Harris were also named to the First Team giving NAU a program-record tying three First Team picks. Akin ranks 10th in the nation in hitting at .402 and is averaging 2.59 kills per set, right behind Harris' 2.80 per set. In addition, Harris was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. The award was Harris' second of the season and third for her career.
Freshman
Ryann Davis rounded out NAU's all-conference honorees with her selection to the Second Team. Davis, who was also voted the Big Sky's Outstanding Freshman, is averaging 1.96 kills per set.
All of the weekend's matches will be streamed on Pluto TV Channel 231
online in addition to the free mobile app, along with
watchbigsky.com. Friday's semifinal matches and Saturday's championship match will also be televised on Eleven Sports.
About Montana State:
Record: 11-18, 6-12 Big Sky
2018 Big Sky Finish: Eighth
All-Time Series: NAU, 40-23
Last Meeting: NAU, 3-0 (Nov. 3, 2018)
