FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Sept. 13, 2024) - The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team rocked the Rolle tonight in its home opener against the University of New Mexico. The match marked the first of the 'Jacks Lumberjack Classic. It would be the first victory over the Lobos in the last five matches against them. NAU won 3-2 (25-22, 25-11, 20-25, 22-25, 15-12).
"I was impressed by their resilience," head coach Ken Murphy said. "It's tough to lose two and then come back to win in the fifth. It shows our teams getting tougher and we're figuring out how to compete together."
The Lobos would start things off with a 10-4 run in the first set. Later in the set, the 'Jacks would fight back and make a 9-3 run to bring the score to 15-14 in the Lobos favor. UNM then made three straight points to get to 18-14, before the 'Jacks returned the fire with a 3-0 run of their own to get to 18-17 - including a service ace by Millie O'Ketter and kills by Avery Gottschalk and Hanah Stoddard. The Lobos would score another kill before the 'Jacks would make an 8-3 run, taking the lead and securing the first set 25-22.
The second set began with a 4-0 run from the Lumberjacks. Two points would go to UNM before another 4-0 run by the 'Jacks - putting the score at 8-2. A single kill by UNM would occur, followed by a 4-2 run by NAU to make the score 12-5. A 2-1 run by the Lobos would close the gap slightly at 13-7. The Lumberjacks proceeded to make six straight points, putting them ahead at 19-7. This run would include a kill from Savannah Bloom, three straight kills by Stoddard, and a kill and a service ace by Keira Hall. A 2-1 run followed to make the score 21-8 before both teams would score alternatively for the next five points. The score was 23-11 in the 'Jacks favor at this moment. NAU would obtain the last two points to give them the second set 25-11.
The Lobos would retaliate with a 13-3 run to kick off the third set. A 3-1 run by the 'Jacks shortly after with a kill by Bloom and a service ace by Stoddard would put the score at 16-7 to UNM. The 'Jacks would make another run 3-1 to get to 18-10. New Mexico would make two straight puts to put them 10 points ahead in the set at 20-10. A 5-2 run by the Lumberjacks would see the score at 22-15, including another service ace, this time by Taylor Jacobsen. UNM would make a kill to get to 23 points before NAU made a push with a 5-1 run to make the score 24-20. The Lobos would acquire the final point of the third set at 25-20.
The fourth set began with a 3-1 run by NAU. This would be succeeded by a 4-0 run by UNM to take the lead 5-3. Jacobsen would carry out two straight kills to tie at 5-5. The Lobos made five straight points, putting them ahead at 10-5. Northern Arizona responded with a 7-2 run to see the set tied for the fourth time, now at 12-12. The teams would tie again at 13-13 and 14-14. New Mexico crept ahead with a 3-1 run, before Northern Arizona carried out a 3-0 run of their own, regaining the lead at 18-17. The fire was returned with a three-point streak by UNM to go ahead at 20-18. The next seven plays would see the teams score alternately, making the score 23-22 to the Lobos. They would round out the fourth set with two points giving them their second set, 25-22. With a 2-2 tie, the match would go into a deciding fifth set to 15 points.
The fifth set would begin the same as the previous with a 3-1 run by the 'Jacks. This included kills by Jacobsen and Sophia Wadsworth. UNM would tie the score 3-3 with a 2-0 run. The 'Jacks fired back with two points of their own, including a kill by Karya Suvarioglu. A 2-1 run by New Mexico would attempt to close the gap at 6-5 to NAU. A 4-2 run with kills by Stoddard and Kendall Robertson would put the 'Jacks at 10-7. A 3-1 run by NAU would see the score at 13-8. The Lobos would carry out a final charge with a 4-1 to make the score 14-12 to NAU. The Lumberjacks sealed the deal with a final kill by Bloom, assisted by Suvarioglu to give them the fifth set victory 15-12 and capture the match three sets to two, breaking their five match losing streak against New Mexico.
"We really controlled those first two sets," said Murphy. "We had a lot of control over what they were doing, our defense was fantastic, and our block was really good."
Overall, NAU completed 64 kills over the 46 by UNM with a hitting percentage of .185 as a team. Jacobsen led the match in kills with 18, followed by Wadsworth and Bloom who each had 12. Of the 'Jacks five service aces, Stoddard had two and Jacobsen, O'Ketter and Hall each had one. Robertson and Wadsworth led in blocks with two each. Hall carried out 24 assists, followed by Suvarioglu with 19. O'Ketter would complete 26 digs, followed by Jacobsen with 20.
Northern Arizona will play against Tarleton State this Saturday at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Standard time to conclude the Lumberjack Classic. The match will be held in Rolle Activity Center - questions regarding tickets can be directed to LumberjackTicketOffice@nau.edu.
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