FLAGSTAFF Ariz. (Sept. 14, 2024) - The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team completed a straight-set sweep in their second home match against Tarleton State Saturday afternoon (25-17, 27-25, 27-25). It was the Lumberjacks concluding match of their home opening tournament - the Lumberjack Classic, where NAU finished 2-0. The victory puts their season record at 4-4.
"Today wasn't our perfect match exactly," head coach Ken Murphy said, "but I thought we were tough in those moments where we needed to be tough and proved to ourselves that we can make the plays that we need to to be successful."
The first set began with a 4-2 run by the Lumberjacks. The Texans came back with a 4-1 run to put the score at 6-5. NAU crept back ahead with two straight points to get to 7-6 before the Texans retaliated with a 3-0 run to regain the lead at 9-7. From here, Northern Arizona would complete a 9-1 run to advance to 16-10. A 4-2 run after this would make the score 20-12. At this point, both teams would secure two points each alternately for the next eight plays - making the score 24-16 in the first set for the 'Jacks. The Texans would score one more kill to get 17 points before the set was concluded by a kill from Hanah Stoddard to win NAU set one 25-17.
The second set was started strongly by TSU, with a 4-2 run. By the time the score was 8-5 to the Texans, the 'Jacks came back with a 4-1 run to tie the second set 9-9. The score would tie again at 12-12. TSU made another kill to get one ahead before Northern Arizona fulfilled an 8-0 run, putting them at 20-13. Tarleton answered with a 5-1 run to close the gap at 18-21. Another 3-2 run by TSU would make the score 23-21 for NAU. Taylor Jacobsen carried out a kill to give the 'Jacks the first match point. However, Tarleton stood their ground and fired off a 4-0 run, putting them ahead by one (25-24) and giving them a match point opportunity. The Lumberjacks refused to give up the set and completed a 3-0 run to secure the second set 27-25. Jacobsen would join the 1,000 dig club for her career during the second set.
Set three began with a 4-0 run from Tarleton. The 'Jacks returned a 4-1 run putting the score at 5-4 to TSU. Shortly after, the Lumberjacks made a 4-1 run to creep ahead 9-8. The score would tie at 9-9 and again at 10-10. The set would go on to tie once again at 14-14 followed by a 3-1 run to put NAU at 17-15. Tarleton would tie again at 17-17 and 18-18. From here, the Lumberjacks made a 3-2 run to lead 21-19. The set would see a tie for the eighth time at 23-23. NAU would have the first match-point advantage at 24-23 to which the Texans made two straight points to get to 25-24. Northern Arizona would replicate the second set and make three straight points to win the third set 27-25, which was ended by a kill from Kendall Robertson and secured them the victory sweep 3-0.
"One of the things we've been working on a lot during the off-season is becoming much more of a presence with our block," said Murphy. "We came off a rough year last year and we needed to build our confidence a little bit. I think every time that we can put together a good match and get the result, we prove to ourselves that we're capable of playing at a very high level again here."
Overall, Stoddard would lead the 'Jacks in kills with 13, followed by Jacobsen with 11. Keira Hall and Karya Suvarioglu both carried out a service ace each. Sophia Wadsworth and Avery Gottschalk tied with the highest blocks, both completing four each. Suvarioglu led in assists with 20, followed by Hall with 13. Millie O'Ketter added 20 digs to her career, putting her at 1,573 total digs. Jacobsen closely followed with 17.
Northern Arizona will hit the road this upcoming week to play a rematch against Southern Utah on Sept. 17 and against Utah Tech on Sept. 19. The Lumberjacks will return to Rolle Activity Center on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. Mountain Standard time to host Utah Tech.
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