NAU Volleyball Halts Sacramento State’s Win Streak with Senior Night Sweep

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 6, 2021) – Facing the hottest team in the Big Sky Conference, the Northern Arizona volleyball team played their best match of the season. NAU put an end to Sacramento State's six-match winning streak with authority, sweeping the Hornets, 25-20, 25-20, 25-20, in its home finale in the Rolle Activity Center Saturday night.
 
"I'm thinking about our quality of play and that was the best that we've played so far this year," said head coach Ken Murphy. "Sac State played well too. They were hot coming into this weekend and we knew we had to play our best. That was as good as we've been so far and that is credit to our team's growth. We showed a lot of maturity and resilience and they never flinched."
 
Sacramento State entered the night on a six-match winning streak, including four wins against the three teams currently tied for first in the league, but the Lumberjacks rose to the occasion. Sweeping the season series for the just the second time in school history, NAU (11-12, 9-5) pushed Sacramento State out of a three-way tie for fourth going into the final week of the regular season.
 
With one week left to play before the conference tournament, Portland State, Weber State and Northern Colorado are all tied for first in the standings at 11-3 in conference play. Meanwhile, NAU and Montana State are both 9-5, a game ahead of Sacramento State who fell to 8-6.
 
To snap the Hornets' streak, the Lumberjacks' defense in particular was dialed in. Although Sacramento State recorded 10 more kills than NAU, the Lumberjacks forced 24 Hornet attack errors to their seven. NAU had 6.0 team blocks – all coming in the first set in setting the tone – and kept Sacramento State in check to just a .156 hitting percentage.
 
"It felt like an NAU Volleyball match. We played good defense and we played the way we do it," Murphy said. "We executed the right position responsibilities and the right blocking assignments. It gives me a lot of hope that we can be great moving forward going into next weekend."
 
Senior Ryann Davis – one of three Lumberjack seniors honored prior to the match on Senior Night along with Aubrea Bandfield and Mara Abernethy – and sophomore Neche Newton each totaled four blocks apiece. Sophomore Millie O'Ketter held down the back line with 18 digs with Davis totaling a dozen.
 
Sacramento State gained the initial advantage, holding a 5-1 first set lead before an ace by junior Taylor Jacobsen brought the game even at 12-12. The set remained tight until Newton and Davis accounted for all three points during a 3-0 run that snapped an 18-18 tie for good.
 
Both players recorded a kill and then combined for a block, making it a 21-18 NAU lead. Following that 18-18 tie, the Lumberjacks would actually close out the set with a 7-1 run, with the clinching point coming on a solo stuff by Newton, NAU's sixth block of the set.
 
Once again, Sacramento State held the early lead in set two, although NAU erased the 8-4 deficit with four straight points. The momentum completely shifted with a second 4-0 scoring run, capped by consecutive Bandfield aces, which provided the 'Jacks with a 14-10 lead.
 
Although Sacramento State twice pulled within one, NAU landed the haymaker with a 5-0 run that pushed its lead out to 22-16 on its way to taking the second set.
 
Unlike the first two, the third set belonged to the Lumberjacks early as they snagged a 5-2 lead that they maintained throughout to complete the sweep. NAU kept Sacramento State at a distance, and after back-to-back Hornet points pulled the visitors within 20-18, NAU scored five of the next six points to reach match point that sophomore Jordan Elder terminated with a kill.
 
"This win was what we needed," Bandfield said. "We've been trying to build our confidence throughout the season and this was a breakthrough for us. It feels amazing, and especially on Senior Night, it's bittersweet too."
 
Redshirt junior Morgan Gappmayer led the team, and tied for match-high honors, with 11 kills, doing the majority of her damage in the third set with six kills in the clincher. She hit a team-high .333, with Jacobsen behind her with nine kills as the Lumberjacks hit .252 as a team.
 
In their final matches in the Rolle Activity Center, Davis (seven kills, 12 digs, four blocks) and Bandfield (32 assists, two aces) both shined one final time in front of the home fans.
 
"I'm so happy for them" Murphy said. "Senior Night is tough for me because we've experienced so many great things with this group. So many wins, so many good moments for NAU Volleyball, and I'm happy that they can walk out of here with a win they can be proud of and remember."
 
The Lumberjacks will now embark on final road trip to close out the regular season before the conference tournament. NAU will face Weber State next Thursday in Ogden, Utah at 6 p.m. followed by the regular season final in Pocatello, Idaho next Saturday versus Idaho State at 1 p.m.
 
To stay up to date with the NAU volleyball team, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram.