FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 18, 2022) – Returning home following a two-match road trip to Montana, the Northern Arizona volleyball team will look to pick up where it left off back at home a little less than two weeks ago.
Defeating the Northern Colorado Bears back on Family Weekend, Northern Arizona now hosts the Eastern Washington Eagles and the Idaho Vandals on Thursday and Saturday in Rolle Activity Center. Thursday's match with the Eagles is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start while Saturday's match against the Vandals will begin at 12 p.m. Tickets are available at nauathletics.com/buy and both matches will stream on ESPN+.
Entering the week at 2-12 overall, 1-6 in the Big Sky, the Lumberjacks will face a pair of schools they have recently had success against. Northern Arizona has won its past four home meetings with Eastern Washington, as well as the past three against Idaho. In those last seven home matches against the Eagles and Vandals, the Lumberjacks dropped just one set with six 3-0 sweeps.
Eastern Washington (8-10, 3-3 Big Sky) is right in the middle of the conference as it approaches the halfway point of the Big Sky schedule, sitting just a half game back of fourth while also just a game and a half ahead of eighth. Idaho (3-15, 0-6) is seeking its first Big Sky win of the season and to snap a six-match losing streak.
As has been the case often this season, Northern Arizona played shorthanded last week against Montana and Montana State. With
Kylie Moran unavailable, and
Taylor Jacobsen out,
Savannah Hasson stepped up with 26 kills across the two matches against the Grizzlies and Bobcats.
Hasson led the Lumberjacks in both matches and was the only player to reach double-digit kills against Montana State. Averaging 3.25 kills per set, Hasson added six block assists in the two matches as well. Hasson's 15 kills against the Grizzlies came with a .500 hitting percentage and the junior followed up with a .474 against the Bobcats.
Kacee Moore and
Jordan Cherniss also put together career highs in Montana. Moore's 11 digs and three aces against the Grizzlies set new highs while her 10 kills against Montana gave the freshman her first ever double-double. Cherniss finished with 13 kills, 24 digs and four service aces in the two matches, with her 16 digs and eight kills against Montana setting new career highs.
On the defensive side,
Millie O'Ketter continues to lead the Big Sky Conference with 4.53 digs per set, sitting at 258 for the season. That is the highest average of her career and has her now sitting at 877 during her time as a Lumberjack. O'Ketter has totaled at least 20 digs in five of her past seven matches, including 22 against the Grizzlies.
Kate Hatch added another double-double to her team-high of nine, with 44 assists and 16 digs against Montana.
As a team, Northern Arizona ranks 83rd in the country and second in the Big Sky in digs per set as a team with 15.23.
EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES
Eastern Washington dropped its first two matches of the conference schedule, but won three of its past four with sweeps of Idaho and Idaho State. Two of the Eagles' victories came against the Vandals in the span of 16 days. Eastern Washington has played four of its first six conference matches in Cheney, with one of the two road trips out to Moscow, a 70-mile drive south.
Junior outside hitter Sage Brustad leads the Eagles offensive attack, ranking first in the Big Sky in kills and kills per set (263, 3.87), first in points and points per set (307, 4.51), first in total attacks and attacks per set (644, 10.54) and third in service aces and aces per set (30, 0.44). Brustad has recorded double-digit kills in 15 of 18 matches this season, with a season high of 22 coming against South Dakota State and Arkansas State.
Setting for Brustad, senior Lindsey Russell averages 9.61 assists per set for a season total of 644, ranking fourth and sixth in the conference respectively.
IDAHO VANDALS
Currently sitting alone at the bottom of the conference standings, the Vandals remain just a half game behind the Lumberjacks after falling to Sacramento State, Montana, Idaho State, Weber State and Eastern Washington twice to open Big Sky play.
While they are winless in conference, the Vandals have won a set in four of their six matches, with three of the four set victories being the third set as they avoided sweeps.
Similarly to Eastern Washington, Idaho has not traveled much since conference play began on Sept. 22. Playing at Montana and Eastern Washington, a 70-mile drive, Idaho hosted four of its six conference matches so far this season.
Though it has been a slow start for the Vandals, they have done so with five of their top six leaders in sets played this season listed as freshmen. Libero Aine Doty, outside Taryn Vrieling, outside Olivia Gloeckner, middle Madison Wilson and setter Kate Doorn have all played at least 53 of a possible 61 sets this season. As a team, the Vandals rank eighth or lower within the Big Sky in 12 of 15 statistical categories. Idaho's one strength has been on the block, averaging 2.16 per set to sit fifth in the conference. Wilson is responsible for 0.95 blocks per set this season, ranking 10th in the conference.
To stay up to date with the NAU volleyball team, follow the Lumberjacks on
Twitter and
Instagram.
