ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (September 14, 2022) – In their first match in 11 days, the Northern Arizona volleyball team rebounded from a slow start and challenged a one-loss New Mexico team on their home court before falling 25-11, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23. The Lumberjacks fell to 1-5 this season, while the Lobos improved to 8-1.
Following their match tonight, the Lumberjacks and Lobos will conclude their respective non-conference schedules with a rematch in the Rolle Activity Center on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
"The team did a great job regrouping," said head coach
Ken Murphy. "They owned that they could play a little better and over the next three sets they played solid volleyball."
Senior
Taylor Jacobsen had an efficient and effective evening, totaling a season-high 22 kills on .297 hitting. Senior
Neche Newton recorded her first double-digit kill match of her career, posting 10 kills on .529 hitting in addition to leading the team with six blocks.
While the Lumberjack seniors posted the two highest kill totals on Wednesday, redshirt freshman
Kacee Moore was third in the ledger with eight kills in her first career match. Moore was previously sidelined with an injury this season following a redshirt year last fall.
"She gained confidence throughout the match," Murphy said. "With it being her first match and considering all that time off, she took some time to get going, but by the end she was playing well. She's someone who can help us out offensively and defensively and that was good to see."
Despite the loss, NAU hit a season-best .269 with junior
Kate Hatch running the attack. Hatch recorded her third double-double of the season with 33 assists and a career-high 17 digs, while also logging a career-high seven kills on 14 attempts without an error.
The Lobos came out swinging and dominated the opening set, hitting .516 in a wire-to-wire victory. New Mexico, who hit .306 for the match, raced out to a 5-1 lead and put away the set early courtesy of a six-point run that increased its lead to 15-4.
The 'Jacks shook off the rust though and settled in the rest of the night starting with the second set. After falling behind 15-10, Jacobsen and Newton recorded consecutive kills to begin a methodical charge back. NAU eventually managed to tie it at 21-21 and once again at 22-22 on two of Jacobsen's seven kills in the set. However, New Mexico scored three of the final four points to take a 2-0 lead.
The third set was a back-and-forth affair with 11 ties and four lead changes even after New Mexico appeared on its way to a sweep. The Lobos broke free courtesy of a 7-1 run that opened up a 16-11 advantage before the Lumberjacks snatched the momentum.
Five different 'Jacks recorded kills – and redshirt freshman
Jordan Cherniss chipped in an ace – during a 9-2 run that forced a New Mexico timeout with NAU leading 20-18 and the Lumberjacks never looked back. Although New Mexico got within a point on three occasions late, NAU held on for a set win – something the Lumberjacks had struggled to do earlier this season – when Newton dumped an overpass for a kill on set point.
"We've been working on that and they did a good job of keeping their composure and doing what they do all the time in the gym," Murphy said. "That gave us a nice boost and hopefully we can continue that throughout the season."
Unfortunately for NAU, the 'Jacks were on the short end of a third straight two-point set in the fourth as they could not mount a comeback. NAU did fight back once again though, erasing an early 5-2 deficit with a 5-0 run fueled by two kills apiece from Jacobsen and Newton. Holding a 7-5 advantage, the Lumberjacks maintained the lead – with the exception of a brief 14-14 tie – until the Lobos closed the match with a 4-0 run to conclude the night.
For the first time this season, NAU was out-aced at the line with New Mexico holding an 8-2 edge. Blocks were even at 7.0-7.0 with junior
Savannah Hasson backing Newton's six stuffs with five of her own. Junior
Millie O'Ketter led the team with 19 digs and freshman
Keira Hall notched her first career double-digit dig match with 11.
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