Coconino News

Northern Arizona University Athletics issued the following announcement on Oct. 14.

The 3-0 sweep will tell one story, but might not completely illustrate the Northern Arizona volleyball team's resolve on Thursday. Facing sizeable deficits in the first two sets only to rally back, the Lumberjacks enjoyed a successful start to Homecoming Week with a 25-18, 25-21, 25-21 victory over Idaho State, notching their fourth consecutive victory in the Rolle Activity Center.

"I give credit to Idaho State. They played really well," said head coach Ken Murphy. "Those first two sets we get behind by a big margin, and we don't want to be in those situations but I was proud of our composure. We talk a lot about keeping our composure throughout a match, not worried about the scoreboard and that was probably the best we've done that all year."

The Lumberjacks improved to 5-2 in conference play and 7-9 overall behind timely service pressure, which led often to plays at the net, specifically nine blocks on the evening. Junior Jasmine West tallied two of NAU's six aces, compared to just three by Idaho State, and the Lumberjacks' defense limited the Bengals to .112 hitting.

West provided a huge spark in the night's opening set, serving the Lumberjacks on a tide-turning 9-0 run to erase the Bengals' early advantage. Idaho State scored the match's first four points and led 8-2 before NAU slowly started to chip away.

Senior Ryann Davis, who recorded seven kills on 10 swings for a career-best .700 hitting percentage on Thursday, provided the side out at 14-11 that brought West to the service line. Once there, West served eight straight points that moved NAU in front, 19-14, in what was ultimately part of a larger 15-4 run to close the game.

"Jasmine brings a lot of energy to our team," Murphy said. "She's a great server and defender and I'm glad we've been able to find a role for her because she's been working really hard. She's a great teammate, a team-first kind of player so I'm happy that she was able to make an impact for us today and give us a boost when our team needed a boost."

After the Lumberjacks hit .429 and hammered down 18 kills in the first set, their defense took over the rest of the way as the Bengals hit a combined .056 in the final two games.

NAU needed that defense to slow down an Idaho State attack that roared loudly during a 16-8 start to the second set. However, like its predecessor, the second set featured an emphatic Lumberjack comeback.

NAU methodically chopped away at the deficit trading two points for one until it trimmed the Idaho State lead down to 20-16. Freshman Sophia Wadsworth split the defense for a kill to side out and igniting an 8-0 run that once again shifted the momentum way in the Lumberjacks' favor.

Sophomore Savannah Bloom played a starring role in the run, combining for three blocks – two with Wadsworth and one with Jacobsen – and slamming down an overpass to reach set point at 24-20. After an NAU service error halted the run temporarily, Bloom, who hit a career-high .626, completed the comeback with yet another kill.

With momentum on their side, the Lumberjacks led for the majority of the third set and by as much as six, but the Bengals did not go away quietly. Idaho State cut an 18-12 deficit down to 20-19 and got as close as 22-21 once more before NAU put away the match with the final three points.

Jacobsen led the 'Jacks with nine kills, while redshirt junior Morgan Gappmayer had eight. Both of NAU's setters had big nights with senior Aubrea Bandfield totaling her highest three-set assist total of the season (20) and sophomore Kate Hatch posting her first double-double of the season with 16 assists and 11 digs. The pair set NAU to a .270 hitting percentage.

Defensively, Bloom and Wadsworth each recorded four blocks apiece to pace NAU's efforts. Speaking of blocks, Thursday was the first time an NAU opponent was shut out of the block column since Portland State on Nov. 17, 2016, spanning 129 matches.

Having taken care of business at the start of the week, NAU will now focus in on Saturday's showdown with Weber State, the defending Big Sky champions. The Wildcats improved to 7-0 in Big Sky play following a sweep on Thursday over Southern Utah.

NAU and Weber State will play at 6 p.m. Saturday night in the Rolle Activity Center. All fans who show their mobile ticket from Saturday's Homecoming football game will receive free admission to the volleyball match.

Original source can be found here.