Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Arizona
WSU's strong efforts not enough; fall 3-1 to NAU
11/1/2015 3:02:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State volleyball dropped its 11th consecutive match to Northern Arizona in four sets Saturday night.
"Overall I'm pleased with our effort tonight," head coach Jeremiah Larsen said. "The first two sets we hung in well with the best team in our conference. They just made plays to put them over the top. In the third set we've played some of the best volleyball we've played all year. Which is encouraging. We just have to learn to do it for longer periods of time."
Weber State started the first set with a 7-3 lead over the Lumberjacks. Â NAU tied the game at 8-8 with a kill by Lauren Jacobsen. A kill by Tanisha Langston and two NAU errors gave Weber State the lead back at 12-9. The Lumberjacks then went on a 9-1 run to claim the lead at 17-13. Â Several Lumberjack errors and two kills by Andrea Hale kept the Wildcats in the game but NAU claimed the set 25-18. Weber State hit a .229 percentage in the first set, 16 digs and three team blocks. Amanda Varley led the Wildcats with four kills. There were three tied scores and one lead change in the first set.
In the second set Weber State had a 7-5 lead. NAU tied the match at 7-7 but a kill by Audrey Hunter kept the advantage in favor of the Wildcats. NAU took a two point lead for the first time in the set off a Wildcat attack error and an ace by Lauren Jacobsen that sparked a 7-2 run bringing the score to 19-14. The Wildcats weren't giving up easily and fought until NAU claimed the set 25-18.
The third set started similar to the first two with the Wildcats in the lead. Weber State had a 9-3 lead early in the third set thanks to several NAU errors and a kill from Samantha Staker and two by Varley. The Wildcats had a six point lead at one point in the third set and maintained at least a four point lead. A kill by Ciera Borho gave the WSU a seven point lead bringing the score to 20-13. Megan Thompson went on two have two kills to bring the match point. NAU held off match point with a kill by Addy Lofstedt and an Ace by Jordan Letter.
Weber State claimed the third set with a kill by Thompson. The Wildcats still trailed two sets to one going into the fourth. Weber State hit a .321 percentage in the third set best of the night.
For the first time in the match Northern Arizona started the fourth set with an 8-3 lead. The Wildcats struggled to find any footing and NAU advanced their lead to 12-4. Hunter and Varley each had big blocks to give WSU some momentum that fueled a 6-3. Weber State couldn't get catch up and NAU advanced its lead to 20-12. NAU claimed the fourth and final set 25-14.
The Wildcats were led by Varley who had 15 kills and 31 attacks for a .290 percentage. Thompson added six for WSU. Taylor Christensen-Kinikini had 37 assists on the night. Thamires Cavalcanti had 18 digs while Christensen-Kinikini and Jesse Hover each added seven. The Wildcats had eight team blocks to NAU's 12. Hunter and Varley each had four blocks on the night.
Weber State held NAU to a .188 hitting percentage. Â
Weber State dropped its 11th consecutive match falling to 5-19 overall and 1-11 in conference play. The Wildcats hit the road for the final time this season taking on Sacramento State and Portland State before returning home for its final matches of the season against Montana State and Idaho State.
