VB CBU
Zach Melendez
3
Winner Northern Ariz. NAU 6-4,0-0 Big Sky
1
California Baptist CBU 2-7,0-0 Big West
Winner
Northern Ariz. NAU
6-4,0-0 Big Sky
3
Final
1
California Baptist CBU
2-7,0-0 Big West
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Northern Ariz. NAU 25 20 25 30 (3)
California Baptist CBU 15 25 8 28 (1)

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

Lumberjacks Chop Down Lancers 3-1

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (September 17, 2026) - The Northern Arizona women's volleyball team took down the California Baptist Lancers in four sets, 3-1 (25-15, 20-25, 25-8, 30-28), as they opened play at the USF Challenge.

NAU was led by a balanced effort across the court, with Hanah Stoddard pacing the Lumberjacks with 13 kills, followed by Quincey Coyle with nine and Avery Gottschalk and Gigi Greenlee with eight. Kate Federico provided a spark from the service line with five aces, while Coyle added three. At the net Greenlee recorded a team-high eight blocks, with Masina Perez adding seven and Gottschalk five. Taryn Davis directed the offense with 25 assists, while Ella Hosfeld contributed 16. Defensively, Coyle led NAU with 20 digs, followed by Federico with 14 and Hosfeld with seven.

NAU opened the match with a strong offensive push, jumping out to a 7-3 lead and maintaining control throughout the opening set. The Lumberjacks received key contributions from Stoddard, Coyle and Laney Wilson, while Gottschalk and Coyle added defensive pressure at the net. NAU built its largest lead at 20-12 and held off a late California Baptist rally to secure the first set, 25-15. The 'Jacks hit to an efficient .417 clip in the first frame.

The 'Jacks faced an early deficit in the second set, falling behind 10-3 before battling back to keep the set within reach. The Lancers maintained their advantage through the middle portion of the frame, but the Lumberjacks saved their best push for the end. Trailing 23-12, NAU erupted for an 8-0 scoring run behind strong serving and attacking from Coyle, along with key blocks and defensive plays from Georgi Stein, Greenlee and Perez, to cut the deficit to 23-20. CBU answered with the final two points, taking the set 25-20 and evening the match.

Northern Arizona came out firing in the third set, opening with a 13-2 run and never looking back in a dominant 25-8 victory. Federico made an immediate impact from the service line, delivering three service aces during a pivotal NAU run that pushed the Lumberjacks' lead to 9-1. Coyle added two service aces of her own as NAU took advantage of CBU errors and was a force to be reckoned with at the net, thanks to key blocks from Stoddard, Gottschalk, Greenlee and Perez. The Lumberjacks closed the set on a 5-0 run to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Lumberjacks posted their most efficient hitting performance of the match in this set, recording a .429 hitting percentage.
NAU battled through a back-and-forth final set, trading points with the Lancers throughout. Northern Arizona kept ahead for most of the set before the Lancers took a late 23-21 lead. NAU scored on the next two possessions to force extra points. CBU faced set points five times in extra points but ultimately came up short, as the Lumberjacks secured the 30-28 victory. A kill by Perez sealed the final two points and gave NAU the dramatic set win.

Northern Arizona improves to 6-4, 0-0 (Big Sky) on its season, while CBU falls to 2-7, 0-0 (Big West).

The Lumberjacks will face the tournament host, San Francisco, tomorrow at 5 p.m. MST. The match will be available to stream on ESPN+, and live stats will be available via StatBroadcast.
Stay up to date with the Northern Arizona women's volleyball team by following the 'Jacks on Instagram and X.
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