Volleyball Suffers First Loss of Season, 3-1, to Sacramento State

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 25, 2021) – Unlike Sunday's season-opening sweep, the Northern Arizona volleyball team's second match was a much bumpier ride resulting in a 25-18, 13-25, 25-14, 25-19 loss to Sacramento State Monday night. With the victory, the Hornets snapped a 12-match losing streak to the Lumberjacks in the Rolle Activity Center and left both teams with an 1-1 record after the first week of the season.
 
"I want to give Sacramento State credit; they're well-coached, they made some adjustments and came out of yesterday's match more motivated," said head coach Ken Murphy. "They played some good defense on their side and controlled a couple of things we like to do. They played a little harder today and I give them credit first."
 
After hitting .357 on Sunday, the Lumberjacks were kept in check with the Hornets limiting them to a .217 clip. Despite outhitting the Hornets and keeping them under .200 for the second consecutive match, the Lumberjacks struggled to kill the ball particularly in the first and three sets – combining for just 15 kills in those games.
 
NAU scored the first three points of the match and was locked in a tight opening set before the Hornets pulled away. Tied at 15-15, Sacramento State scored seven of the next eight points in an eventual first set win. NAU hit only .038 in the opener with just eight kills to seven errors.
 
The Lumberjacks bounced back with a second set win riding a 10-4 start to evening the match at one game apiece. After freshman Lyla Hollis began the set with an ace, Sacramento State registered five of its eight attack errors in the run and sophomore Taylor Jacobsen put down three kills to spur NAU.
 
Jacobsen converted five kills and Hollis chipped in three while the two outside hitters combined to hit .571 without an error in a near wire-to-wire set victory.
 
Sacramento State responded from its worst offensive set with its best of the night in the third game to take a 2-1 match lead. The Hornets hit -.091 in the second game before hitting .345 in the third and despite the lopsided final score, the set was close early. Sacramento State pulled ahead 16-10 with a 6-0 run, only for NAU to answer with four straight points – the last two coming off blocks by sophomore Neche Newton. However, the Hornets scored the final nine points of the set to stop the 'Jacks in their tracks.
 
Jacobsen tried to rally the Lumberjacks in the fourth set, recording five more kills during NAU's best offensive set of the night, but it would not be enough to extend the match. Freshman Savannah Bloom also did her best to force a fifth set, registering three consecutive blocks during a quick 3-0 spurt that gave NAU a 16-15 lead.
 
Sacramento State answered with four straight points as part of a larger 9-2 run that got them to match point. Jacobsen staved off one match point with her match-leading 14th kill, but an NAU ball handling error on the following point was the clincher for the visitors.
 
"You could tell our team had a little different mentality going into this one and we were a little less settled on the court," Murphy said. "There were moments that we anticipated things like we want to, but it was a struggle for us and we need to know that it's about respecting the way we play volleyball. We have a younger team and we might have to learn some of these lessons and today was a good example of that."
 
Sacramento State had a huge advantage at the service line, recording five more aces than NAU (10-5) and also committing seven fewer errors, while also claiming the slight edge in digs (55-51).
 
In reserve, Bloom came in for her first meaningful collegiate action and shine with four total blocks and help NAU hold a 7.0-6.0 advantage in the category. Bloom also posted three kills on her four swings.
 
Behind Jacobsen's 14 kills, Hollis finished with eight and senior Heaven Harris had six. Hollis also led the team with 13 digs.
 
The Lumberjacks head out on the road for the first time this spring beginning Saturday at Portland State. NAU will also play the Vikings on Sunday with both matches at 2 p.m. MST.
 
To stay up to date with the NAU volleyball team, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram.