PHOENIX, Ariz. (Sept. 5, 2025) - The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team battled through a tough four-set match against Washington State (2-2, 0-0 West Coast Conference) to open the GCU Classic. The Lumberjacks fought hard but ultimately fell 3-1 (25-18, 28-26, 22-25, 29-27).
The set began with back-and-forth points, tied at 5-5 early. NAU gained a brief 8-6 lead after strong plays from Avery Gottschalk and Gigi Greenlee. Washington State responded with back-to-back kills before creeping ahead 13-9 behind two service aces. The Cougars added two kills to extend the lead, while NAU struggled with multiple attack errors. WSU maintained their edge through to the end of the set, closing it out 25-18.
NAU opened the second set with a block by Greenlee and Masina Perez and stayed competitive with kills from Hanah Stoddard and Kylie Moran. Gottschalk had a service ace that gave the 'Jacks a 6-5 lead. Stoddard scored again to tie it 12-12, and Melia Barlow's ace pushed NAU ahead 13-12. Gottschalk struck again with another ace for 18-16. Sophia Wadsworth and Perez added kills, and Stoddard notched another to go up 21-19. Keira Hall's kill brought set point at 24-23, but a service error tied it. Wadsworth again gave NAU the lead at 25-24, but WSU held off the pressure, and the Lumberjacks ultimately fell 28-26.
Back-to-back kills from Stoddard got the third set off to a hot start. She remained a key scorer, adding kills at 4-3, 9-7, and 15-14, and later landed a service ace to put NAU up 16-14. Hall assisted on multiple plays, setting up Moran, Gottschalk, and Greenlee, who each contributed key kills in a 6-1 NAU run to go up 20-15. A kill from Moran brought the set point at 24-20. Though the Cougars fought back, Northern Arizona closed it out 25-22 with Stoddard's final kill.
In the fourth set, WSU took the early lead at 5-3.The 'Jack went on a 4-0 run to gain the lead 6-5. Moran contributed back-to-back kills for a 19-17 advantage. Washington State would tie it up at 19-19 and edge forward to 22-24. NAU had a 3-0 run to regain the lead at 25-24. The set would be tied for the 15th time at 26-26. The Cougars had a final surge, closing it out 27-29 and taking the match 3-1.
Stoddard had her third double-double of the season and led the 'Jacks in kills with 18, along with 13 digs, three blocks and a service ace. Moran added nine kills with a service ace, 11 digs and two block assists. Greenlee also had nine kills with a solo block and three block assists. Gottschalk added six kills on .429 hitting, with two service aces and three blocks. Leading NAU in assists was Hall with a 22 total while adding 11 digs. Barlow tied for the lead in digs with 13, putting her season total at 40, and contributed six assists.
Tomorrow, Northern Arizona will face East Texas A&M for the first time in program history at 3:00 p.m. Mountain Standard time. Live streaming of this match will also be available for a $5 fee on Grand Canyon's website, and live stats can be found here.
Stay up to date with the Northern Arizona women's volleyball team by following the 'Jacks on Instagram and X.
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