ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (September 15, 2023) – After dropping the first of two consecutive matches versus New Mexico in Flagstaff on Wednesday, the Northern Arizona volleyball team was unable to get revenge, with the Lobos coming out victorious in match two in straight sets Friday night, 12-25, 20-25, 17-25 in Albuquerque.
"I really liked our energy and focus on playing our style of volleyball tonight," head coach Ken Murphy said. "I give all the credit to the leadership on our team for that. Regardless of the result, they were determined to play a match where we were in control of our side. I thought the match came down to us making some aggressive errors. But again, I give our team credit for competing and trying to make things happen."
Tonight's match wraps up the 11-match non-conference schedule for the Lumberjacks (3-8), who picked up wins over Tarleton State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Boise State. Combined, the record of the eight teams that have defeated NAU so far this season is 39-28.
Just like in the first match on Wednesday, New Mexico got off to an extremely hot start, winning eight of the first 10 points to start the contest and forcing NAU to burn an early timeout. The Lobos would continue to prevent the Lumberjacks from getting anything going on offense, as the visitors would hit at a -.081 rate in the opening set.
After the first Northern Arizona timeout, the home team would let NAU within six points and had their offensive game working with a percentage of .303 with 14 kills on 31 swings to go up early on the Lumberjacks, taking set one by a 13-point margin.
Northern Arizona would look to flip the script in set two and started off strong through the first five points by way of kills from Sophia Wadsworth and Hanah Stoddard. Add in the Lumberjack defense forcing an attack error from the Lobos, and NAU had a 4-1 lead early.
Wadsworth was Northern Arizona's shining star on offense on the night, finishing the match hitting .385 on the strength of 7 kills on 13 attempts. It is the redshirt sophomore's fifth time hitting above the .350 mark this season, and her .251 percentage on the season leads the team with at least 100 total attempts.
On the other side of the floor, senior Millie O'Ketter put up 10 digs in Albuquerque on Friday, marking the third straight match she has picked up at least 10 digs and the eighth time in 11 matches overall this season.
Extending the lead from 4-1 to 6-2 in the second set, New Mexico would go on a 6-0 run to retake the lead 8-6. The Lobos would hold on to narrow leads throughout the entirety of set number two, with NAU keeping up with the home team and eventually trailing by only one point, 19-18, in the later stages of set two. But six of the next eight points would go New Mexico's way to seal a two-set lead heading into the break.
Set three saw a similar pattern as the second set did, with Northern Arizona and New Mexico continuing to go back and forth with one another, with the home team holding onto a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. As was the story in the first set, New Mexico's offensive efficiency continued to propel them, featuring a .429 hitting percentage in the third set to close out the Lumberjacks.
It will be six days until NAU volleyball takes the court next, beginning 16 consecutive matches against Big Sky competition, starting with a trip to the capital of California, Sacramento, to face off with the Sacramento State Hornets on Thursday night. The conference opener will be streamed on ESPN+ and is set for a start time of 7 p.m.
"Our team is learning fast and getting better every week," Murphy said. "I'm excited to carry that momentum into conference next week. There are some big challenges ahead for us, but as long as we keep working and improving, I'm confident that there are some great things ahead for us."
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