Volleyball notebook: 9/9, 9/11, 9/17

in NAU Sports Sports by Travis Guy — September 19, 2011 at 9:43 pm | no comments

Season Best

The Lady Jacks are 11-0, and have played three tournament championships in as many weeks. In the past season, NAU only recorded four wins in their first nine matches. Because of their victories this past weekend against Montana State and Montana, they have matched the record for best start in the program’s history. The 1991 women’s volleyball team set the 11-0 record.

Senior Leadership

A quick glance at the Lumberjacks’ roster shows one important factor for competition: experience. The team consists of nine upperclassmen: six juniors and three seniors. Senior outside hitters Sam Hodgkins and Kobi Christensen, along with senior middle blocker Katie Bailey, have been with the program since head coach Craig Choate began his stint at NAU. Most of the starters have been playing together for the past two years, helping each other grow into the team they are today.

Big Sky Powerhouse

NAU currently sits at the top of the Big Sky Conference (BSC) rankings, the only team to remain undefeated. Northern Colorado is currently ranked second with an overall record of 5-4. The Lumberjacks had two consecutive athletes named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week, junior setter Kelli Dallmann and Christensen. Bailey was named the co-Big Sky volleyball player of the week, and is ranked third in the Big Sky for both blocks (1.09 per set) and hitting percentage (.278.)