Facing a season-opening rematch, the SUU volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Northern Arizona on Tuesday night.
First set
Southern Utah began the first set hot out of the gate, taking an early 5-0 lead. Northern Arizona responded to the home team’s early run however, tallying six of the next seven points to tie the score at 6-6. The T-birds then scored the next two points, but the two sides split the next 9 points, and the SUU lead was just one (13-12). SUU once again put together a 5-0 spurt to jump ahead 18-12, and it seemed they were on their way to a set one victory. Instead, the Lumberjacks put together a 9-5 run to cut the deficit to two (23-21), before ending the set on a 4-0 spurt to come from behind for the set victory, 25-23.
Second set
Set two was tight early, with NAU taking a 3-2 advantage to start. The T-birds responded with a 6-0 run, jumping ahead 8-3. While momentum appeared to be once again favoring the home team, the Lumberjacks regained control by taking 9 of the next 10 points to go in front 12-9. SUU answered with a run of their own, notching six of the following eight points to take a one-point lead (15-14). Northern Arizona continued the theme of runs, scoring seven of the next eight points to make the score 21-16. With their backs against the wall, a 4-0 run by the T-birds cut the NAU lead to just one (21-20), but the visitors answered by tallying four of the final five set points to take the set 25-21 and go ahead 2-0 in the match.
Third set
It appeared that the Lumberjacks might run away with set three, as they jumped out to a 13-7 advantage. SUU answered by taking seven of the next nine points – which included a 3-0 spurt – cutting the deficit to 15-14. The momentum would once again swing the other way however, as NAU tallied 10 of the final 12 points, running away with the 25-16 and sealing a 3-0 match sweep.
Arianna Ross led SUU in digs in the defeat (11), while Teniyah Leuluai led the team in assists with 16.
The loss drops the T-birds to 4-5 on the season, which includes a pair of defeats to the Lumberjacks.
Up next
SUU (4-5) will now travel to Tucson, Arizona for a multi-team tournament this weekend.
The T-birds will first battle North Dakota State on Friday, September 20 before facing the University of Arizona on Saturday the 21st.
The match on Friday against the Bison will begin at 4 p.m. MT, while the faceoff with the Wildcats starts at 1 p.m. MT on Saturday. Friday’s match will air on Flo Volleyball, while Saturday’s match can be seen on ESPN+.
