FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 6, 2022) – A busy Family Weekend Saturday on campus will conclude in the Rolle Activity Center as the Northern Arizona volleyball team hosts Northern Colorado at 6:30 p.m. Fans attending the football game in Findlay Toyota Field earlier that day can receive free admission at the volleyball match with streaming available on ESPN+.
The Lumberjacks welcome in the defending Big Sky Tournament champions and the preseason favorites to repeat with hopes of snapping their eight-match losing streak. It will be the first time that NAU and Northern Colorado will match up in Rolle in nearly three years since a 3-0 Lumberjack victory on Oct. 24, 2019 – exactly 1,080 days come Saturday.
NAU once again came up short in snapping its skid last week with a pair of five-set losses to Sacramento State and Portland State. The two losses dropped NAU's record to 1-10 overall and 0-4 in the Big Sky, although three of its four league losses – and four of its last five overall – have come in five sets.
"The team is really figuring out how each of them contributes to the overall plan that we have and how they fit into our systems," said head coach
Ken Murphy. "We're starting to see a lot more flow and a team that is growing their confidence out there because they understand what we're trying to do."
Freshman
Kylie Moran, redshirt freshman
Kacee Moore and junior
Jordan Elder each averaged at least 2.10 kills per set in last week's two matches in a balanced offensive effort. Moran and Moore both recorded double-digit kills in both matches with Moran tallying a season-high 16 kills to go along with 15 digs in her first career double-double versus Sacramento State.
With junior
Taylor Jacobsen missing the last three matches with an injury, Moore's 2.21 kills per set is the highest amongst active Lumberjacks with Moran (2.14) and Elder (1.71) trailing.
NAU's 65th-ranked dig average of 15.36 in the country will be tested against one of the nation's top offensive teams. Northern Colorado heads into Saturday's tilt ranked 12th in assists per set (12.98), 16th in kills per set (13.93) and 29th in hitting percentage (.265), all of which pace the Big Sky.
Juniors
Millie O'Ketter and
Kate Hatch have led the 'Jacks in digs this season with O'Ketter's 4.82 per set placing her atop the Big Sky and No. 30 in the country. O'Ketter has eclipsed 20 digs in each of her last four matches at an average of 5.53 per set during the span. Meanwhile, Hatch is averaging 2.95 digs per set and has posted a team-high seven double-doubles.
Northern Colorado rebounded from an 0-2 start to conference by picking up a pair of home victories last week. The Bears (8-7, 2-2 Big Sky) swept Portland State and proceeded to defeat Sacramento State in four sets. However, since notching a four-set win at Colorado State on Aug. 30, the Bears have won just one of their last five matches away from Greeley. Northern Colorado is 6-2 at home but just 2-5 in road/neutral matches.
Syd Cole runs the show offensively, leading the Big Sky with 11.14 assists per set and 646 assists. She ranks sixth in the country in assist average and 15th in total assists. Makenzie Harris leads the Bears, and ranks fourth in the Big Sky, with 3.59 kills per set. Harris is hitting .267 on the season, including .292 in conference play.
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