FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 1, 2025) - The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team outlasted Montana State in five sets, winning 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-8) in Big Sky Conference action on Saturday afternoon for its 11th straight win.
The Lumberjacks now stand at 19-5 overall and 9-2 in Big Sky play, holding onto their first place standing, while the Bobcats move to 11-11 and 6-5 in league action.
"We blocked well, conserved well, and hung in points." said head coach Ken Murphy, noting defense as a strength and key to today's match.
Right out of the gate, the Lumberjacks took the lead in Set one with a three-point service run by Keira Hall. The 'Jacks kept the 'Cats at bay, keeping the lead the entire set while stopping five of the Bobcats' attacks with blocks from Avery Gottschalk, Gigi Greenlee, Laney Wilson, and Kylie Moran. The set point was won, 25-21, via an attack by Sophia Wadsworth, one of 15 for the 'Jacks in Set one.
Set two was a well-fought, back-and-forth affair for both teams. The Bobcats held a strong defense via five blocks, but the hosts still managed 13 kills. Neither team held more than a two-point lead after the halfway point of the set, with a kill by Moran tying things at 14-14. Down the stretch, kills by Gottschalk, Wadsworth, and Greenlee weren't enough as the 'Jacks fell the second set, 25-23.
NAU wasted no time bouncing back in Set three, as Hall gave everyone deja vu with another three-point service run to start off the set strong. The Lumberjacks amped up offensively, having a total of 15 kills with only three attack errors. The set came to a fiery finish with kills from Hannah Stoddard, Gottschalk, and Moran, to take it comfortably, 25-17.
Set four was another closely fought set by both teams, as NAU received blocks from Wadsworth and Gottschalk to aid the defense against the Bobcats' 15 kills in a 25-23 set win for Montana State.
With the Bobcats winning the coin toss to gain the service into Set five, the 'Jacks held nothing back offensively, opening up with back-to-back kills from Stoddard and Moran. The Bobcats then tied the set with a service ace, making it 8-8, but NAU responded with kills from Wilson, Stoddard, and Wadsworth to end the set and match with a seven-point lead (15-8).
Northern Arizona had a whopping 12 blocks, highlighting its strong defense. However, NAU's offense was hard to miss as well, hitting to a .250 clip. Sophia Wadsworth led the charge with 14 kills and only one error, while Hannah Stoddard contributed 12 kills and Kylie Moran poured in 11.Â
"We said to keep swinging high and swinging hard and not letting them get away with anything." Wadsworth said, noting the offensive mindset for the match.
Northern Arizona will be on the road this week for two matches, playing Sacramento State on Nov. 6 and Portland State on Nov. 8.
Stay up to date with the NAU women's volleyball team by following the Lumberjacks on Instagram and X.
