Sept. 10, 2011
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Northern Arizona snapped Utah Valley's five-match win streak Saturday afternoon as it pulled out a hard fought five set win over the Wolverines 3-2 at the Falcon Invitational (18-25, 25-17, 25-18, 22-25, 8-15). The loss drops UVU to 7-3 while the win keeps the Lumberjacks undefeated at 8-0.
Despite the loss UVU's Erica Nish had a stellar match as she finished with career-high 15 kills and 12 block assists. She also added a solo block a service ace and hit .344 for the match. Lindsay Barker and Sarah Clement also topped double figures in kills by finishing with 10 apiece.
The opening set stayed close in the beginning as both teams matched each other point for point. The Lumberjacks eventually used a 5-0 spurt to take a 20-15 advantage. UVU tried to come back but the late deficit was too much. Despite dropping the set by seven points, Nish put up five kills and two block assists for the Wolverines.
UVU bounced back in the second set as it went on to win it by eight points. The Wolverines used a 7-1 run down the stretch to pull it out. Nish once again led her squad with four kills and five block assists. Brookelyn Campbell and Barker both added two kills apiece, while Campbell also handed out nine assists.
The Wolverines' momentum carried over into the third set as they opened up an early 13-6 lead over NAU following a Barker kill. UVU later extended its lead to nine at 17-8 after back-to-back kills from Kalani Norris and Clement. The Wolverines went up by 10 at 24-14 and held on to win the set by seven. Clement led the UVU attack with three kills and two blocks, and as a team UVU outhit the Lumberjacks .387 to .028.
The fourth set stayed close until NAU went up 16-12 after four unanswered points. Late in the set UVU got within one at 23-22 following a Jaicee Kuresa service ace but Northern Arizona forced a fifth set by scoring the next two points.
In the fifth and decisive set the Lumberjacks jumped out to an early 7-2 lead. After two Clement kills the Wolverines got within four at 8-4 but NAU responded with three points of its own to take an 11-4 advantage. UVU fought back late but the Lumberjacks put the match away on a Kobi Christensen kill.
UVU's Campbell added her fourth double-double of the season in the match with 45 assists and 11 digs. She also recorded seven block assists as well. Libero Patti Flagg also added a career-best 28 digs from the back row for the Wolverines.
The Wolverines will conclude play at the Falcon Invitational tonight at 5:00 p.m. when they take on South Carolina Upstate.
