Lumberjacks overcome Grizzlies in 5 sets

Saturday, October 7

Flagstaff, Ariz.

1 PM (MT)

Montana

6-11,2-3Big Sky

Northern Arizona

5-11,2-3Big Sky

Montana

Northern Ariz.

Redshirt Junior Madi Chuhlantseff spikes the ball against the BYU Cougars at the Ellesyn Invitational at Dahlberg Arena on Aug. 26, 2023.

Photo by: Tanner Ecker/UM Photo

10/7/2023 4:39:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

For the third straight match in the series – and the sixth time in the past seven meetings – Montana and Northern Arizona went a full five sets. The Grizzlies had their chances to win on Saturday, but Northern Arizona prevailed on its home court, winning the final set, 16-14 (25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 22-25, 16-14).

Set up by Carly Anderson's 46 assists, Montana had three players in double figures for kills. Madi Chuhlantseff had a strong showing in the middle, totaling 12 kills on .290 hitting, in addition to seven blocks. Her kills and blocks were both season highs.

"She had a good day offensively, and we found her fast in transition," head coach Allison Lawrence said of Chuhlantseff. "She was scoring really well and doing some nice things for us."

Joining Chuhlantseff in double figures offensively was Paige Clark (17 kills) and Catie Semadeni (13). Clark, who also added 16 digs, has been in double figures for kills in all five Big Sky matches this season. Semadeni's 13 kills were her second-most of the season. Anderson recorded a double-double with 46 assists (second-most of the season) and 15 digs (most), to go along with four kills and three blocks.

As a team, Montana had 102 digs, crossing triple digits for the first time since 2021 and just the second time in the past seven years. Five players were in double figures for digs, including season highs for Sarah Ashley (16), Clark (16) and Anderson (15), and the second-most of their careers for libero Alexis Batezel (24) and outside hitter Maddie Kremer (19).

While Montana narrowly out-attacked, out-dug, and out-blocked Northern Arizona, the Grizzlies' two service aces and inability to close out sets proved to be the difference.

"We rarely scored on a first-ball swing, and that's a result of NAU playing really good floor defense," said Lawrence of NAU, which totaled 95 digs. "It took us multiple possession to get kills and end rallies.

"We had to score in transition, and at times we did; but I feel like that wore us down over time and – at least mentally – forced some of those errors down the stretch."

Montana led the opening set by as many as six points, 16-10, but the Lumberjacks scored 14 of the next 17 points, including a 6-0 run at one point, to take the early advantage.

While NAU led for the majority of Set 3, Montana briefly took leads at 18-17 – on a kill from Chuhlantseff – and 19-18 – on a kill from Clark. NAU, though, scored the next five points – three on UM errors – to take control of the set.

The deciding fifth set was back-and-forth, with the two teams playing to nine ties and three lead changes in the shortened stanza. Montana looked to take control of the set – and the match – after scoring five straight points to take a 10-7 advantage. Senior middle blocker Ellie Scherffius had back-to-back kills during the stretch and also added a block, as NAU burned a timeout.

The Lumberjacks, though, scored six of the next seven points to take a 13-11 lead, and after Montana fought off one set point to tie the frame at 14-14 on a Semadeni kill, NAU scored the next two points to win the match.

"NAU passed really well," Lawrence said. "They ball-handled well enough where they were in rhythm frequently."

In Montana's set wins, Lawrence felt like the Grizzlies played as the aggressors.

Montana scored the first three points of Set 2 – all on Clark kills – and never trailed in the frame, leading by as many as six. The Lumberjacks chipped away to get within a point, 20-19, but Montana responded with the next three points.

Montana started a few points behind of NAU in the fourth set, but took its first lead at 12-11, getting back-to-back blocks from Chuhlantseff and three kills and a block early in the frame from Semadeni. Semadeni then picked up her fourth kill of the set to give Montana a 14-13 advantage, the start of a 4-0 scoring run that also included a Kremer ace and Chuhlantseff kill.

Montana led by scores of 21-17 and 22-19 before NAU tied set at 22-22 and was three points away from winning the match. Montana, though, got a kill from Semadeni out of the timeout to go back in front, before winning the next two points, as well, to finish the set on a 3-0 scoring run.

"When we were holding our structure, we were playing well," Lawrence said. "When we were physical and at a fast gear, good things happened."

Northern Arizona, which is the winningest program in the Big Sky Conference over the past 11 years, earned its 300^th league win all-time on Saturday.

Montana won both meetings vs. NAU in 2022, including a five-set reverse sweep in Flagstaff, which was the program's first win at the Rolle Activity Center since 2010. Montana was trying to win back-to-back matches in Flagstaff for the first time since winning four in a row from 2007-10.

After a challenging road trip, the Grizzlies will return home with the chance to get back on track. Montana hosts Idaho on Thursday in a match being promoted as Taylor Swift Eras Night, with fans encourage to dress up, compete in Taylor-Swift-themed contests and make friendship bracelets. On Saturday afternoon, the Grizzlies will host Eastern Washington, with a free youth clinic being held after the match.

"We need to bounce back and get back to playing in our rhythm, and there's no better place to do that than at home," Lawrence said. "We need to find our terminating gear again and be really physical and loose at home."