Thursday, November 5
Missoula, Mont.
7:00 PM
Montana
7-17,3-10Big Sky
1
vs
3
Northern Arizona
16-9,9-4Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Ariz. | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Montana | 25 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 1 |
Photo by: Ryan Brennecke / University of Montana
11/5/2026 10:37:00 PM | Volleyball
The Montana volleyball team got a career night from Alex Stone with 18 kills and took the opening set against Northern Arizona, but the Lumberjacks were able to battle back and take the next three to remain tied for second in the league standings.
The Grizzlies (7-17, 3-10 Big Sky) pulled out a 25-23 win in the opener, but Northern Arizona responded by winning 25-17, 25-15, 25-19 to close out the Griz.
"I feel like a broken record because there were parts of that match that I think showed a lot of pieces that we've added over the last month and showed how we are capable of playing," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "We were just inconsistent where we had to do it for longer. Credit is due big time to NAU, their floor defense is really good and after the first set when they started digging us well they got into a good rhythm."
Things looked great for the Griz early as they hit .226 in the first set to get the win and started the second set with an 8-2 lead out of the gates. But after a Northern Arizona timeout, it would be all Lumberjacks the rest of the way as they came back in the second and dominated the final stretch.
Errors caught up with Montana as they committed 31 total on the night, including multiple sets with double-digit errors. The Grizzlies are now 1-15 this year when committing more errors than their opponent.
Stone recorded a match-high 18 kills on .297 hitting. She has now reached double figures in four straight matches and six of the previous eight overall. It's the second-most kills in a match by a Grizzly this season.
"It's been really fun to see Alex bring such pace from the right," Lawrence said. "We go to her a lot and she's been a way to, especially when our middles aren't scoring, get us pin to pin and allow us to spread out the offense along the net. She's been so consistent over the last four matches."
Delaney Russell just missed out on a double-double with nine kills and 16 digs. Madeline Sanderson had a team-high 23 digs and Gracie Cagle led with 29 assists.
The biggest advantage on the night for Northern Arizona came in the blocking category. The Lumberjacks finished the night with 14 blocks to just three for Montana, forcing the Grizzlies into plenty of errors with a physical net presence.
Montana started the match with a hot streak, scoring the first three points with two kills from Stone and one from Russell with Cagle at the service line. Northern Arizona tied the match up at 4-all, but the Griz then ran off four straight points to retake control.
The Grizzlies didn't trail until very late in the set when Northern Arizona went ahead for the first time in the match at 23-22. In Flagstaff earlier this year, the Lumberjacks swept Montana with two of the sets being decided by the minimum of two points.
This time it was the Griz who would pull out the close set. Cagle delivered a kill to tie it at 23 and then an error from Northern Arizona gave the Griz set point. Josie Blazina rose up for a massive stuff block with Cagle on the final point, giving the opening set to the Griz 25-23.
The momentum was fully on Montana's side in the second set as they raced ahead to an 8-2 lead to force a timeout by the Lumberjacks. The match flipped on its head after that break as Northern Arizona came out a different team defensively.
The Lumberjacks scored three straight and eight of the next nine points overall to take the lead at 10-9. They didn't stop there, putting together a 5-0 run moments later to go up 15-10.
The Griz were only able to get back within four points before Northern Arizona ended it on a 3-0 scoring run to win 25-17.
The Lumberjacks rank 11th in the entire NCAA in opponent hitting percentage and they proved why with a brilliant defensive display in the second set, forcing Montana into a negative hitting percentage.
Once they went on a large run thanks to their defensive adjustments, it became tougher on Montana.
"You could just feel the stress after that between serve-receive and not being able to find the floor," Lawrence said. "You get stuck in certain rotations for a long time and it's just stressful to find any sort of rhythm and get yourself back on track."
The Lumberjacks led the entire way in the third set, winning 25-15.
In the fourth, Montana was able to open with a 4-1 lead and hold it for long stretches. Madeline Sanderson recorded back-to-back service aces as part of a 3-0 run that gave the Griz a 13-9 lead.
They extended the advantage out to 18-14 after the 18th kill of the night from Stone. Northern Arizona scored four straight to tie the match. Isa Taylor put Montana back in front at 19-18, but the Lumberjacks finished it off on a 7-0 run to win 3-1.
"I felt like in that fourth set we had some chances," Lawrence said. "It felt like we were stabilizing, but then we kind of fell apart. Northern Arizona served really well and defended really well and we freaked out, so it was disappointing to see our lack of toughness and competitiveness in the fact that we didn't respond to those adjustments."
Montana remains in a tie for 8th in the league standings with the top eight teams qualifying for the Big Sky Tournament in Flagstaff at the end of the month. There is plenty to play for as Portland State comes to town on Saturday for Senior Day.
The Grizzlies then have the biggest week of the season ahead of them when they hit the road to play Idaho and Eastern Washington, the two teams they are currently battling with for the final postseason spot.
"The lesson remains that we are doing good things. We just need to do them more consistently and for longer," Lawrence said. "We are going to keep fighting and clawing to do that. I know the group is not giving up and we still have so much to play for. This time of year it's very simple, it's just about who has the toughest team and is your team willing to be tough when everyone is tired and is in their story. If we're willing to be tough enough to keep evolving, I think we can do anything we want to."
The Grizzlies (7-17, 3-10 Big Sky) pulled out a 25-23 win in the opener, but Northern Arizona responded by winning 25-17, 25-15, 25-19 to close out the Griz.
"I feel like a broken record because there were parts of that match that I think showed a lot of pieces that we've added over the last month and showed how we are capable of playing," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "We were just inconsistent where we had to do it for longer. Credit is due big time to NAU, their floor defense is really good and after the first set when they started digging us well they got into a good rhythm."
Things looked great for the Griz early as they hit .226 in the first set to get the win and started the second set with an 8-2 lead out of the gates. But after a Northern Arizona timeout, it would be all Lumberjacks the rest of the way as they came back in the second and dominated the final stretch.
Errors caught up with Montana as they committed 31 total on the night, including multiple sets with double-digit errors. The Grizzlies are now 1-15 this year when committing more errors than their opponent.
Stone recorded a match-high 18 kills on .297 hitting. She has now reached double figures in four straight matches and six of the previous eight overall. It's the second-most kills in a match by a Grizzly this season.
"It's been really fun to see Alex bring such pace from the right," Lawrence said. "We go to her a lot and she's been a way to, especially when our middles aren't scoring, get us pin to pin and allow us to spread out the offense along the net. She's been so consistent over the last four matches."
Delaney Russell just missed out on a double-double with nine kills and 16 digs. Madeline Sanderson had a team-high 23 digs and Gracie Cagle led with 29 assists.
The biggest advantage on the night for Northern Arizona came in the blocking category. The Lumberjacks finished the night with 14 blocks to just three for Montana, forcing the Grizzlies into plenty of errors with a physical net presence.
Montana started the match with a hot streak, scoring the first three points with two kills from Stone and one from Russell with Cagle at the service line. Northern Arizona tied the match up at 4-all, but the Griz then ran off four straight points to retake control.
The Grizzlies didn't trail until very late in the set when Northern Arizona went ahead for the first time in the match at 23-22. In Flagstaff earlier this year, the Lumberjacks swept Montana with two of the sets being decided by the minimum of two points.
This time it was the Griz who would pull out the close set. Cagle delivered a kill to tie it at 23 and then an error from Northern Arizona gave the Griz set point. Josie Blazina rose up for a massive stuff block with Cagle on the final point, giving the opening set to the Griz 25-23.
The momentum was fully on Montana's side in the second set as they raced ahead to an 8-2 lead to force a timeout by the Lumberjacks. The match flipped on its head after that break as Northern Arizona came out a different team defensively.
The Lumberjacks scored three straight and eight of the next nine points overall to take the lead at 10-9. They didn't stop there, putting together a 5-0 run moments later to go up 15-10.
The Griz were only able to get back within four points before Northern Arizona ended it on a 3-0 scoring run to win 25-17.
The Lumberjacks rank 11th in the entire NCAA in opponent hitting percentage and they proved why with a brilliant defensive display in the second set, forcing Montana into a negative hitting percentage.
Once they went on a large run thanks to their defensive adjustments, it became tougher on Montana.
"You could just feel the stress after that between serve-receive and not being able to find the floor," Lawrence said. "You get stuck in certain rotations for a long time and it's just stressful to find any sort of rhythm and get yourself back on track."
The Lumberjacks led the entire way in the third set, winning 25-15.
In the fourth, Montana was able to open with a 4-1 lead and hold it for long stretches. Madeline Sanderson recorded back-to-back service aces as part of a 3-0 run that gave the Griz a 13-9 lead.
They extended the advantage out to 18-14 after the 18th kill of the night from Stone. Northern Arizona scored four straight to tie the match. Isa Taylor put Montana back in front at 19-18, but the Lumberjacks finished it off on a 7-0 run to win 3-1.
"I felt like in that fourth set we had some chances," Lawrence said. "It felt like we were stabilizing, but then we kind of fell apart. Northern Arizona served really well and defended really well and we freaked out, so it was disappointing to see our lack of toughness and competitiveness in the fact that we didn't respond to those adjustments."
Montana remains in a tie for 8th in the league standings with the top eight teams qualifying for the Big Sky Tournament in Flagstaff at the end of the month. There is plenty to play for as Portland State comes to town on Saturday for Senior Day.
The Grizzlies then have the biggest week of the season ahead of them when they hit the road to play Idaho and Eastern Washington, the two teams they are currently battling with for the final postseason spot.
"The lesson remains that we are doing good things. We just need to do them more consistently and for longer," Lawrence said. "We are going to keep fighting and clawing to do that. I know the group is not giving up and we still have so much to play for. This time of year it's very simple, it's just about who has the toughest team and is your team willing to be tough when everyone is tired and is in their story. If we're willing to be tough enough to keep evolving, I think we can do anything we want to."
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
NAU
Mont
Kills
51
51
Errors
13
31
Attempts
149
176
Hitting %
.255
.114
Points
72.0
60.0
Assists
49
46
Aces
7
6
Blocks
14
3
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
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