FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 11, 2025)Â -Â The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team took down reigning Big Sky Conference champion Sacramento State in five sets on Saturday (25-20, 21-25, 28-26, 20-25, 15-13).
"It was a great Big Sky match, Sacramento was pushing hard and I felt that every time they did that, we were tough and pushed back," head coach Ken Murphy said. "It's exciting to be in those positions, where you are in the fifth set and it's competitive, being able to see our team respond to a challenge. Even at the end, Sac made a great run in set five - we were able to steady out and be really aggressive on those last few points. We have a really tough group."
After trading points early in the first set to 13-13, the Lumberjacks broke free on a 7-1 surge keyed by kills from Gigi Greenlee and a service ace by Melia Barlow. NAU closed it out 25-20 when Sophia Wadsworth delivered the set-clinching kill. The team hit .259 with a 70% side-out rate in the opener.
The Hornets responded with a quick 10-4 lead before the 'Jacks regrouped. NAU clawed back to tie it at 20-20 thanks to kills by Hanah Stoddard and Avery Gottschalk, along with a service ace from Keira Hall. However, Sacramento State finished on a 5-1 run to even the match. NAU's offense dipped to .152 in the frame despite late kills from Kylie Moran and Wadsworth.
Set three was a thriller with 11 ties and three lead changes. The Lumberjacks overcame an early 6-1 deficit by grinding through long rallies and strong blocking from Wadsworth and Greenlee. NAU erased a 24-22 deficit and then staved off two set points before back-to-back blocks sealed a 28-26 win.
Sacramento State jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the fourth set on a tough service run, forcing an NAU timeout. The Lumberjacks rallied behind Stoddard, who posted four kills in the frame, but couldn't recover from the slow start. NAU was held to .286 hitting in the set, and the Hornets' front line produced several timely blocks to force a deciding fifth.
The final set captured the afternoon's intensity. NAU raced ahead 8-4 after a big block from Gottschalk and four kills by Wadsworth. Sacramento State tied it at 12-12, but Stoddard guided the Lumberjacks through the final points. NAU finished the fifth hitting .214, closing out the set 15-13.
The 'Jacks have now won eight straight at home dating back to last season and improved to 14-5 overall and 4-2 in league play. The Hornets dropped to 9-8 overall and 2-3 in the Big Sky, with their six-match winning streak against Northern Arizona coming to an end.
Wadsworth and Stoddard each recorded 15 kills to lead Northern Arizona, with Greenlee close behind at 13. Wadsworth and Greenlee also posted six blocks apiece, while Avery Gottschalk added five. Melia Barlow paced the Lumberjacks with 23 digs and two aces, followed by Moran with 18 digs and one ace. Hall contributed one ace along with 24 assists, while Ella Hosfeld led the setting effort with 25.
Up next, NAU will hit the road to face Eastern Washington on Oct. 16 and Idaho on Oct. 18.
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