FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 23, 2019) – The Northern Arizona volleyball team's 25-16, 26-16, 25-12 Senior Day sweep of Idaho was the latest example of NAU playing its best volleyball of the season and that bodes well for the Lumberjacks going into next week's Big Sky Championship tournament. After recognizing their three seniors, the Lumberjacks (20-12, 13-5 Big Sky) blasted the Vandals in picking up their season-best sixth consecutive win on Saturday in the Rolle Activity Center.
"From the first point to the last, we were in control of this match," said head coach
Ken Murphy. "We were methodical, played one point at a time and had great energy. When we're at our best, that's what we do. If we can play three matches like this next week, we've got a pretty good shot."
With the win, NAU secured its fifth 20-win campaign in the last six seasons. The Lumberjacks also posted their fifth straight sweep at home and they have won 18 consecutive sets in Rolle – the longest such streak since 2008.
NAU's three seniors each performed exceptionally in their final home matches.
Abby Akin compiled eight kills on .438 hitting, two blocks and an ace, while
Sydney Lema hit .412 and totaled seven kills, seven digs and an ace.
Abby Stomp posted 16 assists, seven digs and two aces.
The Lumberjacks hit .313 as a team and had four players record at least seven kills in the brisk 76-minute sweep. The 'Jacks also recorded seven aces and forced the Vandals into .061 hitting and 21 total attack errors.
"When we're on, teams can't kill the ball against us and that's what we've been looking for," Murphy said. "We just need to have more control of it. It's a sign of our growth from the first match of the year to today."
After Idaho scored the first point of the match, the Vandals committed three straight attack errors before Akin put down a kill in NAU building a 4-1 advantage. The Lumberjacks led comfortably throughout the remainder of the set and closed on a 4-0 run with kills by freshman
Neche Newton and junior
Heaven Harris, a Vandal error and a Lema ace.
The 'Jacks flipped the scoreboard with a 7-1 run to take a 10-5 lead in the second set, but the Vandals climbed back to 12-11. After Idaho closed the gap, NAU responded with a 6-1 run setting the Lumberjacks in motion to a second set victory in which the Vandals hit .027 in the game.
Jacobsen, who recorded a match-high 13 digs, three aces and two solo blocks, served the Lumberjacks on a decisive 8-0 run to push NAU out to a 12-3 third set advantage. During the run, four different players recorded a kill and Jacobsen ended it with consecutive aces. The Lumberjacks added three more points in an 11-1 overall run and they led by at least eight the rest of the match. NAU hit .387 in the final set with Idaho hitting .031.
"We've had a lot of ups and downs and we've had to work through a lot of things to get to the level we're playing right now," Lema said. "I'm excited to get to the tournament with the way we're playing right now. I feel we're unstoppable if we trust what we're doing. We're feeling really confident."
Harris led all players with nine kills with Akin and sophomore
Ryann Davis each posting eight kills apiece. Four players – Newton, Jacobsen, Akin and Harris – each finished with two blocks.
The Lumberjacks will learn their seed and their first round opponent at the conclusion of Saturday's matches throughout the conference. NAU will get no lower than the third seed in next week's Big Sky Championship which will start Thursday, Nov. 28 in Sacramento, Calif.
