LUBBOCK, Texas (Sept. 7, 2024) - This morning the Northern Arizona women's volleyball team took on Florida Atlantic for its third and final leg of the Red Raider Classic. The Lumberjacks fell 3-1 to the Owls (19-25, 28-30, 25-21, 21-25) to put their current season record at 2-4.
"I thought we played a good strong match today," head coach Ken Murphy said. "FAU was very good and kept matching us every time we made a push."
The first set began with a 3-1 run by Florida Atlantic. Kills by Sophia Wadsworth and Kendall Robertson would take the score to 6-5 before a service ace by Hanah Stoddard tied the score at 6-6. The set would tie again at 9-9 and 10-10 before FAU went on a 4-0 run to make it 14-10. Two points to NAU would bring the score to 14-12. The Owls made a 7-3 run (21-15) before the 'Jacks called a timeout. FAU would score two more points before the Lumberjacks made a 4-1 run to bring the score to 24-19. A service error would give FAU the first set 25-19.
The Lumberjacks entered the second set 2-0 featuring a service ace by Stoddard. The Owls would counter with two points of their own to tie 2-2. The set would tie again at 3-3, 4-4, 6-6, and 7-7. The Lumberjacks would make a 5-1 run putting them ahead of the Owls 12-8. After a timeout by FAU, NAU put on a 7-4 run to put the set at 18-13. At this point, the Owls completed a 6-1 run including two service aces to tie the set for the seventh time at 20-20. The two teams would battle it out, each scoring alternately for the next four plays to tie the set at 22-22. FAU crept ahead at 23-22 before a timeout was called by Northern Arizona. The 'Jacks would come back with a 2-0 run to step ahead at 24-23 for the first match point. The set would continue to tie another five times putting both teams at 28-28. Following five potential match points, the Owls would eventually take the second set 30-28, putting them at 2-0 so far in the match.
Set three would begin with a 7-3 run by the Lumberjacks, causing the Owls to call a timeout. Another two kills from Taylor Jacobsen and Stoddard each were part of a 5-2 run to make the score 12-5, resulting in FAU to call a second timeout. Florida Atlantic would come back with a 5-1 run including another service ace to bring the score to 13-10. NAU returned the fire with a 5-1 run of their own to get ahead to 18-11. A retaliating 8-1 run by the Owls including their fifth service ace would bring yet another tie at 19-19. A 6-2 run by the 'Jacks would give them the set 25-21, leading the score to be 2-1 in the match.
The fourth set would see another close match-up in the score between the Lumberjacks and Owls. With the score at 6-4 to FAU, the 'Jacks would make a 3-0 run, including a service ace by Robertson to pull ahead 7-6. The Owls would tie up the set for the fifth time at 7-7. Kills from Avery Gottschalk and Jacobsen would put the 'Jacks ahead again at 9-7. From there, the Owls made a 5-1 run with their fourth service ace of the game to get to 12-10. NAU would score another two points including a kill by Savannah Bloom, that was assisted by Karya Suvarioglu, and would tie the match at 12-12. A 5-2 run by FAU put the score at 17-14 where a timeout was called by NAU. By the time the score had reached 22-17 to the Owls, the Lumberjacks would carry out a 3-0 run with two service aces in a row by libero Millie O'Ketter (22-20). The set would ultimately be finished off by Florida Atlantic with a 3-1 run, securing a 25-21 set and a 3-1 win in the match.
Overall, Jacobsen was once again at the top of the leaderboard in kills with 16 and attacks with 56. Bloom had the highest hitting percentage of the 'Jacks with .429. Stoddard and Jacobsen would both lead with 15 digs each, followed by O'Ketter with 14. The assists were led by Suvarioglu at 24. The Lumberjacks took the top five spots in blocking leaders of the match with Robertson at 10.0, Wadsworth at 6.0, Bloom and Gottschalk at 4.0 and Stoddard at 3.0. O'Ketter was named as part of the all-tournament team selection.
"I especially liked the way we blocked and defended. We had a lot of chances to convert points and we will continue to get better at that as the season progresses," said Murphy. "Another huge highlight for us was the connection between Savannah and Karya. It was the best it's been this year and it had a major impact on our ability to compete and improve today."
Northern Arizona will return to the court next week for their first home game in Flagstaff as they host the Lumberjack Classic from Sept. 12-14. They will take on New Mexico at 6:30 p.m. Mountain Standard time (Sept. 12) and Tarleton State at 12 p.m. MST on Sept.14. Questions regarding tickets can be directed to LumberjackTicketOffice@nau.edu.
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