GREELEY, Colo. (November 24, 2025) - The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team battled through a long, momentum-shifting match on Monday evening in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky tournament, but Idaho State controlled the decisive points in the fifth set to hand the Lumberjacks a 3-2 loss (20-25, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 5-15) inside Bank of Colorado Arena.
The opening set saw NAU generate offense early, with kills from Kylie Moran, Avery Gottschalk, Sophia Wadsworth, and Hanah Stoddard helping the Lumberjacks build a 15-10 lead. A pair of kills by Gigi Greenlee pushed the lead 19-17, but Idaho responded with a late 8-1 run to close out the first set 25-20.
Northern Arizona took control in the second set behind steady attacking from Stoddard and Moran, including a 5-1 run to get ahead 17-14. The Lumberjacks held their edge with an 8-2 run to close out set two 25-18 to tie it up.
The third set featured one of NAU's strongest offensive stretches of the match. Moran, Stoddard, Gottschalk, Wadsworth, and Greenlee all contributed kills as NAU built a 15-10 lead. The Bengals clawed back to get within one at 20-21, but blocks by Moran, Wilson and Greenlee sealed set three 25-23.
Idaho State built an early lead in the fourth with strong pressure at the service line 8-3. Moran delivered back-to-back service aces in a 3-0 run to get to within two at 8-6. The two teams exchanged points back and forth in the middle of the set, but ISU pulled ahead 22-17. The Lumberjacks made a 6-2 run to get within one at 23-24, but a final Bengal kill tied it up 2-2 and forced a fifth set.
The Bengals controlled the final set from the opening serve. NAU broke through with a kill from Stoddard to make it 1-6, then added two more with kills by Wadsworth at 4-9. However, the Bengals continued to capitalize on transition opportunities and finished the match 15-5.
Moran and Stoddard led the Lumberjack offensive with 19 kills each and Wadsworth tallied 12, while both scoring double-doubles with 12 and 15 digs respectively. NAU had seven total service aces, three by Moran. Libero Melia Barlow had 19 digs, followed by setter Hall who had 17 digs and 30 assists. Fellow setter Hosfeld added 21 assists and 12 digs. Of the 'Jacks eight total blocks, Greenlee led with six, Wilson added four and Moran had three.
Today's match concludes the 2025 season, with NAU walking away with a regular season title, an undefeated home record, Big Sky Coach of the Year, Co-MVP and three first team honors. The Lumberjacks will host the 2026 Big Sky Conference tournament in Rolle Activity Center.
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