Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
16-8,10-3Big Sky
Northern Arizona
3-17,2-11Big Sky
Wildcats Come From Behind, Beat 'Jacks in Four
11/10/2022 9:04:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FLAGSTAFF, Arizona – After dropping the opening set, Weber State volleyball responded emphatically to come from behind and beat the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-21) in Flagstaff on Thursday evening.
The Wildcats had several large leads in the opening set but weren't able to close things out in the first. Northern Arizona scored on three of the final four points of the set to take the first 25-23.
The Weber State offense kicked into gear in the second set, largely due to All-American Dani Richins just doing her thing. Richins had six of her match-high 17 kills in the second – including four kills in a row – to go along with a pair of service aces. Her dominating performance and effort carried the Wildcats to a dominating 25-19 set victory in which the Wildcats outhit NAU .244-.088.
Kate Standifird was able to spread out the Lumberjack defense in the third, and was setting the ball to a destruction of Wildcats. Six of WSU's 15 kills in the set came from Baylee Bodily and Saane Katoa, four more from Richins, and three from senior opposite Emma Mangum. Weber State's fluid offense along with a strong defensive effort aided the 'Cats as they won the third set to take a 2-1 lead.
NAU's offense recovered in the fourth, but the Wildcats countered with their strongest offensive set of the match. Weber State started the set with a 7-3 lead that was highlighted by three kills from Richins and a couple more from Katoa, and the Wildcats never relinquished that lead. NAU fought back to shave the lead to a single point at 20-19, but Weber State scored on five of the last seven points of the match to close it out.
In its pursuit of another Big Sky Conference championship, Weber State (16-8, 10-3) has now won 10 of its last 12 matches.
NOTABLES
-Weber State sweeps the season series against NAU and extends its winning streak against the Lumberjacks to six consecutive matches.
-Makayla Sorensen shored up the back line and had a season high of 25 digs. Her career high (26) also came against NAU in 2021.
-Four Wildcats (Richins, Mangum, Bodily, Katoa) notched double-digit kills on the evening.
-Richins (17 kills, 16 digs) and Standifird (44 assists, 13 digs) were the members of Thursday's double-double club.
-With 16 digs, Richins now has 986 career digs and continues to inch closer to joining the exclusive 1,000 dig club.
QUOTABLES
"I thought NAU played a solid game and made us uncomfortable. I think we got better as the game progressed." - Jeremiah Larsen
UP NEXT
The Wildcats continue one of the toughest road trips in the Big Sky Conference and will be playing for first place against Northern Colorado on Saturday at 6:00.
All regular season and postseason home and Big Sky Conference matches can be seen on ESPN+.
TICKETS
Season and single match tickets are on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the Weber State ticket office at 801-626-8500.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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