FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 28, 2023) – The Northern Arizona volleyball team (5-16, 2-8) finished within three points in each of the three sets played on Saturday night at Rolle Activity Center, but it was the top team in the Big Sky Conference, Sacramento State (17-8, 10-1) that walked out of Flagstaff with the victory in straight sets, 23-25, 22-25, 22-25.
"We played two matches this weekend in which I was impressed with how our team competed," head coach Ken Murphy said. "I think we have been playing more consistent volleyball, and the difference between tonight and Thursday was just a couple of points that we can get a little better at. Obviously, letting Sacramento State hit that high of a percentage is going to be tough. But I was happy with how we hung in and just kept fighting."
The visitors from the California capital hit an even .300, the second straight match this weekend in which NAU's opponent finished with a percentage over the .300 mark. Portland State wound up with a rate of .319 on Thursday night.
However, Northern Arizona hit better than its season average in two of the three sets against the team that currently possesses the best record in the Big Sky.
Two points separated NAU and Sacramento State at the media timeout to start the match before five of eight points would go the visitors' way to give the Hornets their largest lead of the set at 20-17.
A solo block from Neche Newton would bring the Lumberjacks within one at 21-20 before Sacramento State would once again take five of the following eight points to close out the first set, a set in which they hit at a .343 clip with 18 total kills.
After a strong offensive performance against Portland State, Newton hit eight kills on 16 swings with just three errors. On the defensive end of the floor, the graduate student had two solo blocks on the night. Newton was second only to Hanah Stoddard, who put forth a nine-kill effort.
NAU went right back to work to start the second set of play, going on a 6-1 run that featured kills from Jordan Cherniss and a pair of service aces from the Lumberjacks leader in the category, senior Millie O'Ketter.
O'Ketter would close out the night with three service aces to go along with nine digs.
The timeout from Sacramento State down 6-1 would see the Hornets respond quickly, going on an 8-3 swing to tie the match at nine apiece.
Following the tied score at nine, NAU would hold the lead twice more in the set before the Hornets took control.
Even with Sacramento State entering the weekend as a top-10 blocking team in the nation, it was their offense that would get them out of trouble, recording 17 kills in set two, including five from Bridgette Smith and four from Kalani Hayes and Caitlin Volkmann.
It was much more of a struggle offensively for the two teams in set three. Three points would differentiate the two teams at the first timeout of the set, with the Hornets leading 15-12.
As the third set progressed, Sacramento State would start to find the style that allowed them to take 10 of their first 11 Big Sky matches. The Hornets would pick up four blocks in set three and held the Lumberjacks to a match-low .111 hitting percentage in what would be the final set of the match.
Four straight matches on the road await Northern Arizona beginning next Thursday night when they head to Missoula to face the Montana Grizzlies at 6 p.m. before squaring off with Montana State on Saturday night. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+
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