Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Arizona
Wildcats Swept by NAU
10/25/2013 2:34:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
OGDEN, Utah -- The Weber State volleyball team came out strong against Northern Arizona on Thursday night at Swenson Gym, but a late rally by the Lumberjacks stole set one, and led to a 3-0 loss for WSU.
The Wildcats outhit NAU in the match's opener .171 to .158, but trailed for the majority of the set.
NAU took a 14-9 lead midway through the set, but a 7-1 run capped by a Rebecca Fuchs kill, put WSU ahead 16-15. The Lumberjacks responded with four straight to lead 19-16, but the Wildcats would fight back once again.
After trailing 21-19, Weber State would run off five of the next six points to serve set point at 24-22, but a service error gave NAU life, and the Lumberjacks took the final three points of the stanza to win the set 26-24.
The set-ending run would seem to be a huge turning point in the match, and Weber State was never able to regain any momentum. The Lumberjacks got steadily better, hitting .280 in a 25-17 set two win, and .367 in a 25-13 third set to end the match. WSU meanwhile, hit a bit better in set two with a .194 mark, but hit .000 in the finale.
Fuchs and Audrey Biggs each recorded 10 kills for WSU to tie for match-high honors, while McKay Tarbox led all players with 21 digs, Whitney Hunt posted a match-high 31 assists, and Katie Harvey recorded a match-high five blocks.
NAU (14-6 overall; 8-3 Big Sky) was led by Janae Vander Ploeg, who had nine kills. Jensen Barton posted 22 assists for the 'Jacks, while Trianna Henry recorded 10 digs.
The Wildcats (5-20 overall, 1-10 Big Sky) will host Southern Utah at Swenson Gym on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.
