Main Story

Northern Arizona takes a four-match Big Sky winning streak on the road for pivotal matchups with Montana and Montana State. The Lumberjacks are tied for second in the standings and will lean on a strong defense and Hanah Stoddard’s scoring as they pursue a strong finish before hosting the conference tournament.

By the Numbers
  • NAU is 15-9 overall and 8-4 in Big Sky play; six regular-season matches remain.
  • The Lumberjacks rank second in the conference in digs (16.09 per set) and opponent hitting percentage (.152).
  • Stoddard averages 3.71 kills per set; Gigi Greenlee averages 1.26 blocks per set.
  • Utah Tech leads the Big Sky at 12-0; NAU, Montana State and Northern Colorado are tied for second at 8-4.
Yes, But

NAU swept Montana and defeated Montana State in their first meetings this season, but both opponents arrive with momentum. Montana State has won two straight and ranks third in conference kills per set, while Montana is coming off its first road win and is a dangerous serving team.

State of Play
  • NAU visits Montana on Nov. 5 and Montana State on Nov. 7; both matches start at 7 p.m. MST and stream on ESPN+.
  • Montana is 7-16 overall and 3-9 in conference play; Montana State is 8-4 in the league.
  • NAU closes its regular season at home Nov. 12 and 14, then hosts the Big Sky tournament Nov. 23-25.
Bottom Line

These road matches could shape NAU’s position in a tight race for second. The Lumberjacks’ defensive edge has carried them through recent wins; sustaining it against two improving opponents is key to keeping their tournament momentum.