Volleyball to Host Portland State and Sacramento State in Rolle this Week

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Nov. 4, 2024) - The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team will host two home matches this week as they continue their Big Sky Conference effort. The Lumberjacks are currently 10-11 on their season with 3-7 in Big Sky Conference play.

The Lumberjacks most recently played Northern Colorado on Nov. 1 and were swept 0-3 (14-25, 18-25, 23-25). Northern Colorado sits at the top of the Big Sky standings, with 18-5 and 9-1. The Bears have won all 10 away matches and are on an eight-game winning streak. 

In the conference rankings, Taylor Jacobsen sits third for kills per set with a 3.68 average. She also ranks third in points with 4.15 per set and ninth in digs with 3.21 per set. Millie O'Ketter leads the table in digs, averaging 4.81 per set. Hanah Stoddard has an average of 3.07 kills per set, which ranks her sixth. Keira Hall places eighth in assists with 5.31 per set.

On Thursday, Nov. 7, Northern Arizona will host Portland State in the Rolle Activity Center at 6:30 p.m. Mountain Standard time. NAU played the Vikings on the road and were defeated 0-3 (14-25, 16-25, 18-25) back on October 12. The Vikings are currently 6-15 and 5-5 in conference play. 

Most recently, Portland State played against Eastern Washington and Idaho, taking a 2-0 win on their home court. Mikayla Lewis picked up a Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week award, sharing with Weber State's Kate Payne, after leading the Vikings in kills in both matches last weekend. Lewis set a season-high with 17 kills Thursday against Eastern Washington, followed by 11 on .308 hitting Saturday against Idaho. She ranks 10th in the conference in kills with a 2.90 average. 

Naomi White ranks fourth in the Big Sky in hitting percentage with an average of .345 and Reece Beisemeyer ranks seventh with .328. Paige Stepaniuk ranks sixth in digs with an average of 3.54 per set.

Northern Arizona leads the Vikings 31-26 in the all-time series but have lost the last five matches. 

The Lumberjacks will play against Sacramento State on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 12 p.m. MST. The 'Jacks were defeated by the Hornets 1-3 on the road back on October 10, falling 15-25, 18-25, 25-23, 21-25. 

The Sacramento State Hornets are currently fourth in the Big Sky standings, with a season record of 14-9 and 7-3 in conference play. 

They also took on Idaho and Eastern Washington most recently. For the second time this season, junior Ashlynn Archer has been named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week, after helping the Hornets to a pair of home victories. The middle blocker combined for 16 blocks over two contests, averaging 2.67 blocks per set. In the process, Archer and the Hornet's defense limited the opposition to a .077 hitting percentage. 

Two Hornets take the top spots in the conference in kills. Bridgette Smith leads with an average of 3.89 kills per set, followed by Caitlin Volkmann with a 3.69 average. Smith also leads in service aces per set with 0.59 and Volkmann ranks third with 0.38. Asher is eighth in the conference in hitting percentage with .313.

In the all-time series, the 'Jacks stand 24-43 dating back to 1991 and have a five-game losing streak. 

Both matches will be available to stream on ESPN+ along with live stats to follow along.

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