FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 13, 2019) – Behind an effective attack that came at South Dakota State from every angle, the Northern Arizona volleyball blitzed through a 25-14, 25-11, 25-16 sweep in their home opener Friday morning. The Lumberjacks needed just 70 minutes to dispatch the Jackrabbits in the Rolle Activity Center and improved to 4-3 overall with their first win of the Lumberjack Classic.
"It started with our defense today," said head coach
Ken Murphy. "We were controlling our side and we had an idea of how to slow down some of their better players. South Dakota State has some really good attackers and this was the closest to where we are in practice. We executed at all three spots offensively and were in control throughout the match."
Senior
Abby Stomp (23 assists) and sophomore
Aubrea Bandfield (17 assists) set the Lumberjack offense to a .361 hitting percentage – the third straight match in which NAU has hit .300 or better. Sophomore
Ryann Davis and freshman
Taylor Jacobsen both tallied a team-high 11 kills, with Jacobsen recording her second double-double adding 13 digs.
While the Lumberjacks' offense was clicking, their defense shut down the Jackrabbits with the visitors hitting only .021. Redshirt senior
Victoria Ewalefo tied a season-high with four blocks and junior
Heaven Harris added three.
Jacobsen and Davis spurred a 6-0 NAU run that snapped a 5-5 first set tie. Davis recorded two of her seven first set kills and Jacobsen served three straight aces during the run that put the Lumberjacks ahead for good. Harris complemented Davis with four kills of her own as the NAU's right side hitters dominated South Dakota State in the opening game.
After hitting .385 in the first set, the Lumberjacks upped their efficiency to .405 in the second. After the Jackrabbits claimed the initial point of the set, the Lumberjacks were off and running following a 9-0 service run by freshman
Jasmine West. NAU shifted its attack from the right side to the left, where Jacobsen torched the Jackrabbits with seven kills in the game.
NAU seized control of the final set at the onset yet again with Jacobsen serving a 7-0 surge that put the Lumberjacks ahead, 10-5. Senior
Sydney Lema and Davis both chipped in two kills during the run and Jacobsen recorded her season-best fourth ace. NAU led by as much as five points the rest of the way with Lema totaling five of her seven kills for the match in the final set.
"Our week of practice preparing for this weekend was really good," Davis said. "We focused on controlling our side. It's good to be home and we trusted one another."
Making her first career start, freshman
Neche Newton posted three kills and two blocks in her collegiate debut.
NAU squares off against LSU at 7 p.m. in Friday's nightcap match. LSU also started the Lumberjack Classic with a victory, defeating Fresno State in four sets this morning.
