FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 29, 2023) – They both share the same primary colors. Both teams are travel partners and have been two of the most successful volleyball programs in the Big Sky over the last decade.
Now, Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado will be fighting for something in addition to a conference victory when they meet twice this season, the Blue and Gold Battle Trophy.
The trophy features a wooden foundation with both schools' logos featured on the main plaque at the front of the trophy. Surrounding plaques will be filled with future results of the rivalry.
Highlighting the trophy is a golden volleyball is featured at the top of the foundation.
"During my time at NAU, I feel like Northern Colorado has been our most consistent rival. We have had great matches with one another," Northern Arizona Head Coach Ken Murphy said. "It is amazing how many times we have gone five sets with them, how many times we have gone back and forth home and away with them. This helps to accentuate how intense this has been over the past 10 years."
NAU and UNC have won a combined eight Big Sky regular season titles to go along with 10 Big Sky Conference Tournament championships, including four of the last five seasons seeing either the Bears or Lumberjacks qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
"We are very excited about this first-ever rivalry trophy between Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado," Northern Colorado Head Coach Lyndsey Oates said. "They are our travel partners, and we have had a lot of similarities in our time in the Big Sky. Both programs have been extremely competitive at the top of the conference. We also share the same colors and similar names, so we have incorporated that into the trophy. This should help spark the rivalry between the two schools for volleyball even more, something that we do not always have in the Big Sky since there is not another in-state school."
The Blue and Gold Battle Trophy will be up for grabs for the first time this Saturday in Greeley before the two teams square off again in Flagstaff on Oct. 14. The winner of this Saturday's match will retain the trophy before it will travel to the site of the next match.
All-time Northern Colorado leads the series 21-12. However, Northern Arizona has won three consecutive matches played at Rolle Activity Center dating back to 2018. The Lumberjacks will be looking for their first win against the Bears in Greeley this weekend since Sept. 22, 2016.
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