Northern Arizona Defeats Montana in Competitive Four-Set Volleyball Match

Flagstaff, Ariz. — Northern Arizona University defeated the University of Montana in a tightly contested four-set match Thursday night, snapping the Grizzlies’ three-match winning streak. The Lumberjacks improve to 18-5 overall and remain undefeated at home this season.

The Grizzlies came out strong, winning the first set 25-23 despite a fierce back-and-forth that featured 17 tied scores. Montana recorded 18 kills in the opening set, hitting an impressive .389 while committing only four errors. This performance gave them an early edge in what was expected to be a tough matchup.

“It was point-for-point, both teams siding out almost at 100 percent from 15-on, and so that was fun,” said head coach of Montana, who praised her team’s strong start. “We felt in rhythm, we were ball handling well, and I think that’s exactly how we wanted to come out.”

However, Northern Arizona adjusted, rallying to win the second set 25-17. The Lumberjacks capitalized on Montana’s struggles with serving, scoring 12 of the last 16 points in the second set. This shift in momentum proved critical as they headed into the third set evenly tied.

In the third set, the Lumberjacks managed to maintain their lead with crucial performances from their key players. Montana fought back to even things up at 12-all but could not sustain the momentum, ultimately losing the set 25-22.

“I think Northern Arizona executed really well. They played and served well, and when you’re in your own gym, that can open things up,” the Montana coach remarked.

Northern Arizona carried their momentum into the fourth set, quickly building a 7-1 lead before closing out the match with a decisive 25-15 victory.

For Montana, while the loss was disappointing, there were positives to build on, including the solid defensive efforts led by a senior libero who contributed 20 digs. The Grizzlies now look ahead as they prepare for an upcoming match against Northern Colorado, needing to break a 21-match losing streak against the Bears.

“I love that every time we called a timeout and asked for a response, the team provided it,” Montana’s head coach said. “We have to bring our A-game in Greeley.”