Northern Arizona rallied from an early deficit to force a fifth set but fell to Portland State, 3-2, at home. Hanah Stoddard led the Lumberjacks with 23 kills, while NAU finished with a 14-9 edge in blocks. The loss leaves NAU 13-8 overall and 6-3 in Big Sky play.

By the Numbers
  • Match score: 21-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-22, 12-15.
  • Stoddard: 23 kills, 3 aces and 13 digs.
  • NAU: 14 blocks to Portland State’s 9.
  • NAU record: 13-8 overall, 6-3 in the Big Sky; Portland State: 8-12, 4-5.
Yes, But

NAU hit .156 to Portland State’s .146 and controlled the net, but the Vikings limited the Lumberjacks to a .062 hitting percentage in the deciding set and finished the match with a late surge.

What’s Next

NAU visits Northern Colorado in Greeley on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m. MST. The Lumberjacks return home for matches Oct. 29 and Oct. 31.

Bottom Line

NAU showed resilience by recovering from an eight-point fourth-set deficit, but couldn’t sustain its offense in the fifth. The comeback earned a chance to win—not the finish needed to close it out.