PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct. 12, 2024) - The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team took on the Portland State Vikings today for their fifth match of Big Sky Conference play. The Lumberjacks were swept in three sets, 14-25, 16-25, 18-25, putting their overall season record at 7-9, 0-5. Portland State moves to 4-12, 3-2.
The first set started closely matched, seeing the teams tied at 3-3 before PSU made a 4-1 run to creep ahead at 7-4. The 'Jacks would get to within two points at 10-8 before the Vikings made an 8-0 run to advance to 18-8. Kills by Hanah Stoddard and Sophia Wadsworth, along with a block assist by Wadsworth and Kendall Robertson would be part of a 4-2 run, making the score 20-12 in PSU's favor. A 5-2 run by the Vikings would secure them the first set 25-14.
Set two began 6-2 for Portland State, before Wadsworth and Taylor Jacobsen made kills to narrow the gap to 6-4. The Vikings made a 6-1 run to advance their lead to 12-5. The Lumberjacks retaliated with a 7-2 run; with kills by Stoddard, Savannah Bloom, and Jacobsen, a service ace by Keira Hall, and another block assist by Wadsworth and Robertson. This would see Northern Arizona close the gap to two at 14-12. With a 7-1 run by Portland State, they would break away at 21-13. Stoddard and Bloom would both make kills as part of a 3-1 run as a final push by the 'Jacks to get to 22-16, to which Portland State closed out the second set with three straight points including a service ace.
Northern Arizona took the early lead in the third set. Wadsworth came hot out the gates with three of the first four points being kills. Along with a kill by Jacobsen - all of which were assisted by Hall. Redshirt freshman Gigi Greenlee made her second-ever appearance on the floor and secured a kill. The Vikings would get to within one point at 7-6. Bloom, Stoddard, and Greenlee would all contribute kills as part of a 5-2 run to maintain the lead at 12-8. Portland State made a big advance with a 7-0 run to take the lead from the 'Jacks 15-12. Another 5-2 run came from Northern Arizona to tie the score up at 17-17 apiece. The third set was completed by an 8-1 run by PSU to take the third set 25-18 and award them the sweep.
Overall, Northern Arizona had a hitting percentage of .146, compared to its rival's .280. Portland State would complete eight service aces compared to NAU's one. Jacobsen led the floor in kills and total points with 13 and also led in attacks with 37. Wadsworth was the leader for the Lumberjacks in hitting percentage with .500, followed by Greenlee with .333. Hall had 18 assists, followed by Karya Suvarioglu with 11. Robertson and Wadsworth averaged 2.0 blocks per set. Stoddard would come out on top for digs with 11, in front of libero Millie O'Ketter and Suvarioglu both with eight, and Jacobsen with seven.
Northern Arizona will go on to play two matches at home in Flagstaff next week on Thursday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct.19 against Montana and Montana State respectively.Â
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