NAU Volleyball Falls to San Francisco Dons
A white ball rests on the polished wood, the net post casting a long shadow. The match is over, but the tension lingers in the air.
The wooden floor of the San Francisco arena still hums with the echo of impact. A white volleyball sits motionless near the base of the net post, a silent witness to the three-set sweep that ended Northern Arizona’s evening. The Lumberjacks fought with grit, trading blows in a contest that stretched to the limit of endurance, but the San Francisco Dons held the final edge. The scoreboard tells a story of resilience and defeat, with NAU dropping the match 31-29, 25-20, and 25-22.
Quincey Coyle led the charge, her 12 kills cutting through the Dons' defense like a blade through silk. Yet, individual brilliance could not bridge the gap. Hanah Stoddard and Gigi Greenlee added their own sparks, but the Dons’ consistency proved too rigid to break. The Lumberjacks now sit at 6-5 on the season, a record that reflects their ability to compete but also their struggle to close out high-pressure moments. The Dons, meanwhile, improved to 7-5, their efficiency a stark contrast to the 'Jacks' effort.
Traded Points and Tight Ropes
The opening set was a rollercoaster of momentum. NAU stayed glued to the game, with Stoddard, Gottschalk, Coyle, and Federico driving the offense. But the Dons struck hard in the middle, a 10-1 run that swung the lead to 18-11. The Lumberjacks did not flinch. Trailing 22-17, they answered with a 7-2 surge to tie it at 24-24. The points flew back and forth, the crowd holding its breath as the set bled into extra points. NAU took a 28-27 lead, then tied it at 29-29, only to see San Francisco close with two consecutive points. The 31-29 loss stung, a reminder that near-misses are the hardest to swallow.
Set two saw a similar pattern. NAU kept it close, with Kate Federico’s ace helping to even the score at 10-10. But the Dons extended their lead with a 5-0 run, taking a 15-10 advantage. Coyle and Gottschalk kept the Lumberjacks within striking distance, Coyle’s late ace bringing them to 23-19. Yet, San Francisco pulled away late, closing the frame 25-20. NAU’s offensive efficiency improved, hitting .241 in the set, but it was not enough to shift the match’s trajectory. The Dons’ control was absolute, their rhythm unbroken.
Final Push Before Big Sky
The third set began with energy. A Devlin service ace put NAU on the board, and they battled back from a 9-6 deficit with a 7-2 run to regain the lead. Devlin’s three consecutive kills and key plays from Wilson and Gottschalk fueled the offense. Hosfeld’s ace gave the Lumberjacks a 13-11 lead, but the Dons responded with a 6-0 run. NAU fought back, using blocks from Gottschalk and Coyle to cut the deficit to 17-16. They pulled to 24-22, but the Dons closed it out on the next point. The 25-22 loss sealed the sweep, a final note of determination in a tough night.
The Lumberjacks will close play at the USF Challenge tomorrow at 9 a.m. MST against Texas Southern. It is their final tune-up before Big Sky Conference play begins on September 24. The match will not be streamed, but live stats are available via StatBroadcast. As the team packs up, the white ball on the floor remains a symbol of what was and what could be. The road ahead is long, and the Lumberjacks will need to find the closing punch they lacked tonight.
