SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Sept. 18, 2025) - The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team continued on its six game winning streak after defeating USC Upstate 3-1 this morning.
Northern Arizona moves to 8-2, 0-0 (Big Sky) on its season, while USC Upstate moves to 6-5, 0-0 (Big South).
The first set was a back-and-forth exchange, with the score tied 12 times by 14-14. From there, the Spartans built momentum with two consecutive service aces, followed by a kill and a block to pull ahead 18-14. A kill by Hanah Stoddard, Keira Hall's third service ace of the set, and a kill by Sophia Wadsworth brought the Lumberjacks within one at 19-20. However, USC Upstate closed out the set with a 5-1 run to take it 25-20.
Set two began in similar fashion, with the score tied at 4-4. Northern Arizona responded with a 6-2 run, including another ace from Hall, to take a 10-6 lead. A kill by Stoddard extended the advantage to 12-8, before the Spartans scored four straight points to tie it at 12-12. Laney Wilson and Gigi Greenlee stepped up at the net, combining for two blocks to spark four straight points for the 'Jacks. USC Upstate answered again with a 4-0 run to level the score at 16-16. Kills by Wadsworth, Wilson, Masina Perez, and Ella Hosfeld, along with another ace from Hall, helped Northern Arizona maintain a slight edge. An attack error by the Spartans sealed the set for NAU, 25-22.
In set three, Northern Arizona took the early lead with kills from Wilson and Stoddard, going up 5-4. A kill by Greenlee extended the lead to 7-5. The 'Jacks followed with a 3-0 run, including a Perez kill, but USC Upstate responded in kind to tie the score. The Spartans then surged ahead with a 6-0 run to take a 16-12 lead. Greenlee responded with two kills and a block assist with Perez, followed by a Stoddard kill to tie the score at 17-17. Two more kills by Stoddard and Hall's sixth ace of the night gave NAU a 21-19 lead. USC Upstate tied it again at 21 and 22, but kills from Wadsworth, Avery Gottschalk, and Wilson secured the set for NAU, 25-22.
The fourth set started with a fiery 6-0 run by USC Upstate. Remarkably, Northern Arizona answered with six straight points of their own to tie it 6-6. As with the rest of the match, the score remained tight, with another tie at 11-11. The Lumberjacks then pulled ahead 15-11, thanks to a block assist by Gottschalk and Stoddard and a kill by Stoddard. Gottschalk continued to contribute at the net with more blocks and kills, keeping NAU ahead 20-16. Wadsworth and Wilson added kills during a 5-0 run, capped off by a Greenlee block to take the set 25-18 and win the match 3-1.
The Lumberjacks hit .290 as a team over four sets. Hanah Stoddard led the offense with 13 kills, while also adding 10 digs and two assists. Sophia Wadsworth followed with 11 kills and one block. Laney Wilson contributed 10 kills, 17 digs, and one ace. Keira Hall was strong from the service line with six aces, along with 23 assists and seven digs. Ella Hosfeld added 22 assists. At the net, Avery Gottschalk and Gigi Greenlee each recorded three blocks.
Tomorrow, NAU will face Marshall in their first match of the Wofford Invitational. The game will begin at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Standard time with live stats available here.
Stay up to date with the NAU women's volleyball team by following the Lumberjacks on Instagram and X.
