Northern Arizona Volleyball
Riding the momentum of a Senior Day victory, the Northern Arizona University volleyball team sets off on its final road trip of the regular season. The Lumberjacks face Idaho in Moscow, Idaho on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. Mountain Standard time. NAU finishes up the regular season at Eastern Washington on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. MST. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
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Northern Arizona concluded its home slate with a loss to Weber State (3-1) but a win over Idaho State (3-2) to move to 4-17 overall and 3-11 in Big Sky Conference play. The win marked the second five-set victory for NAU after losing five, five set matches previously, four of which came at home. One of those five set victories at home came over Eastern Washington back on Oct. 20.
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With one week remaining in the regular season, six out of the eight Big Sky Conference tournament spots have been clinched. Idaho State, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona and Idaho are all still vying for a postseason berth with two spots remaining. Northern Arizona has a chance to keep its postseason hopes alive if it wins both matches this weekend.
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The Eagles are 10-16 overall and 5-9 in Big Sky play, coming off an exciting win over Portland State on the road last Saturday. Idaho is in the basement of the conference standings, sitting a 4-22 and 1-13. Its lone conference victory is a 3-1 win over Northern Arizona on the road back on Oct. 22.
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NAU leads the all-time series with Idaho, 21-13, but are just 6-8 all-time in Moscow. The Lumberjacks have won seven out of the last three matches against the Vandals. While NAU is winless in true road matches this season, the Vandals are also 0-6 at home. When the Lumberjacks traveled to Moscow last season, they earned a 3-0 sweep. Prior to the loss in October, NAU had won four-straight over Idaho.
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Against the Eagles, NAU trails 38-35 all-time. In Cheney, the Lumberjacks are 13-19 all-time and lost 3-1 on the road trip last season. The Lumberjacks have won seven out of the last three meetings with the Eagles. In the five-set victory earlier this season, NAU earned double digit kills in four out of the five sets, hitting .270. Three Lumberjacks earned double digit kills, led by
Savannah Hasson with 16 while hitting at a .552 clip. Kylie Moran earned a double-double of 15 digs and 11 kills.
Kate Hatch served 50 assists and
Millie O'Ketter earned 18 digs to lead the way.
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O'Ketter will be searching for a milestone of her own his weekend, as the junior is just 19 digs away from 1,000 in her three-year, 63-match career with the Lumberjacks. She is currently second in the Big Sky with 4.31 digs per set and 362 on the year.
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As a team, NAU is hitting .187 on the year and allowing opponents to strike .229. It averages 11.71 kills, 1.85 blocks, and 1.18 services aces per set. Additionally, the Lumberjacks are fifth in the conference with 14.81 digs per set.
For the Lumberjacks,
Jordan Elder ranks 10
th in the conference with a .304 clip, while
Kate Hatch is sixth in the Big Sky with 8.94 assists per set.
Kacee Moore leads the team with 2.22 kills per set.
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Idaho strikes .182 and allows its opponents to hit .264. It is fourth in the conference with 2.22 blocks per set and averages 14.37 kills per set. Kate Doorn is 10
th in the conference with 5.62 assists per set, Travel Morris ranks eighth with a block per set, and Aine Doty is ninth with 3.58 digs per set.
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Just like the Lumberjacks, the Eagles hit at a .187 clip. They are third in the conference with 1.65 aces per set, and average 13.06 digs and 11.71 kills per set. Offensively, they are led by Sage Brustad with 3.34 kills per set to rank fourth in the Big Sky, and Sadie Bacon ranks ninth in hitting percentage with .306. Lindsey Russell runs the offense ranking fourth in assists per set with 9.47. Brustad is also third with 0.42 service aces per set.
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To stay up to date with the NAU volleyball team, follow the Lumberjacks on
Twitter and
Instagram.
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