VB vs PSU
Kylie Knight
3
Winner Portland St. PSU 8-12,4-5 Big Sky
2
Northern Ariz. NAU 13-8,6-3 Big Sky
Winner
Portland St. PSU
8-12,4-5 Big Sky
3
Final
2
Northern Ariz. NAU
13-8,6-3 Big Sky
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Portland St. PSU 25 17 25 22 15 (3)
Northern Ariz. NAU 21 25 22 25 12 (2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Ashley Croft, NAU Athletic Communications

Lumberjacks Fall to Portland State in Five Sets

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 20, 2026) - The Northern Arizona volleyball team battled Portland State in a five-set match Tuesday night at the Rolle Activity Center, ultimately falling to the Vikings 3-2 (21-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-22, 12-15). The Lumberjacks move to 13-8 overall and 6-3 in Big Sky Conference play, while Portland State improves to 8-12 overall and 4-5 in conference action.

Hanah Stoddard led NAU offensively with 23 kills, three service aces and 13 digs to record a double-double. Gigi Greenlee added 10 kills while hitting .360 and leading the Lumberjacks with nine total blocks. Avery Gottschalk contributed seven kills and four blocks, while Ella Hosfeld and Taryn Davis distributed 22 and 21 assists, respectively. Hosfeld also recorded 15 digs, and Kate Federico anchored the defense with a team-high 24 digs and two aces. NAU finished with 14 total team blocks, five more than Portland State.

NAU stayed within striking distance in the opening set after trailing 16-11, using kills from Stoddard, Greenlee and Gottschalk to close the gap to 23-21. However, a service error and a Portland State block ended the comeback attempt as the Vikings took the set 25-21.

NAU responded emphatically in the second, opening with a 6-0 run sparked by a Greenlee kill and fueled by three consecutive Stoddard kills, a service ace from Federico and a Gottschalk kill. Stoddard added two aces later in the set, and NAU hit .300 while limiting Portland State to a .088 hitting percentage in a convincing 25-17 win.

The third set featured 10 ties and three lead changes as the teams traded points throughout. NAU briefly moved ahead 14-13 after a Stoddard kill and extended the advantage with a Federico ace, but Portland State rallied to take control late. Stoddard's five kills in the set helped keep the Lumberjacks close, but the Vikings closed out a 25-22 victory to regain the match lead.

Facing a three-set deficit, NAU mounted a remarkable comeback in the fourth after falling behind 11-3. The Lumberjacks steadily chipped away at the lead behind Stoddard and Gottschalk, while Gottschalk and Lauren Edlund helped strengthen the net defense. NAU tied the set at 19-19 and took advantage of Portland State errors to seize momentum. Stoddard delivered consecutive kills late as the Lumberjacks completed the rally with a 25-22 win. NAU hit .294 in the set while holding the Vikings to a .026 mark, forcing a decisive fifth set.

The teams traded momentum early in the fifth before NAU built a 10-7 lead behind timely kills from Stoddard, Quincey Coyle and Greenlee. Portland State responded with a late surge, however, capitalizing on NAU's offensive struggles to turn the deficit into a lead. The Vikings limited the Lumberjacks to four kills and a .062 hitting percentage in the deciding set, closing out a 15-12 victory. Despite the loss, NAU finished with a .156 team hitting percentage compared with Portland State's .146 and held a 14-9 advantage in total blocks.

Northern Arizona will face Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. MST. The 'Jacks will return for two home matches on Oct. 29 and Oct. 31.

Stay up to date with Northern Arizona volleyball by following the Lumberjacks on X and Instagram.
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