MOSCOW, Idaho - Idaho Volleyball fell in four sets to Northern Arizona on Saturday night at Memorial Gym during the Vandals' annual Spike Out Cancer night. The Vandals took a strong opening frame before the Lumberjacks bounced back to win the final three, 19-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-23.
Despite the hard-fought battle, several Vandals put up standout individual performances: Kiana Greer led Idaho with a match-high in kills (ranking 4th in the conference) and added two service aces, tying her for second in the Big Sky Conference while also climbing the ranks in the conference's top 10 in points. Setter Csenge Krakoczki dominated the floor with 36 assists—nearly double NAU's match leader, who finished with 19—propelling Krakoczki to 6th in the conference for assists. Krakoczki also had two service aces. At the net, Koen Makaula contributed three blocks, anchoring her own spot at #6 in the conference.
Idaho set the tone early in front of the home crowd on Spike Out Cancer night, taking the opening frame 25-19 against Northern Arizona with only one tie and zero lead changes, sparked by Alaina Armstrong's five kills and a steady offensive rhythm that outhit the Lumberjacks.
Northern Arizona answered in the second set, 25-21, in a frame that featured 12 ties. A pair of NAU errors gave Idaho an early 2-0 lead, but the Lumberjacks pulled even at 4-4. Kiana Greer caught fire with three straight kills to help build a 10-7 Vandal advantage, accompanied by a pair of kills from Gabi Smith. NAU responded with a 3-0 run to take a 14-12 lead, but Greer tied it up again at 14 and added kills at 16-all and 17-all. An ace then pushed the Vandals ahead 18-17. The set stayed tight until Sophie Danielson tied it at 20 and Alaina Armstrong put Idaho in front 21-20, before the Lumberjacks closed out on a 5-0 run to take the set.
The Vandals started the third set strong, using kills from Danielson, Smith, and Greer to go up 7-2. Armstrong added a kill, and a block from Csenge Krakoczki and Smith extended the lead to 11-5. Northern Arizona mounted a 7-1 run to tie it at 12, and the teams traded points at 13, 14, and 15 before NAU took its first lead of the set. Koen Makaula put away a kill to knot it at 15-15, but the Lumberjacks caught momentum down the stretch, rattling off seven straight points - including an ace - to jump ahead 23-15 and ultimately close it out 25-16.
Â
The fourth set was the most tightly contested of the night, featuring 12 ties and nine lead changes. The battle remained neck-and-neck until Allie Ferrin came off the bench and delivered a pair of kills to cap a 3-0 Idaho run for an 8-5 lead. NAU fought back to tie it at 9-all, and Smith's kill knotted it at 11 before a Kailee Wakatake service ace pushed Idaho ahead 12-11. Back-to-back kills from Sarah Sullivan stretched the margin to 14-12, but Northern Arizona managed to edge ahead late to secure the 25-23 set win and the match.
Â
UP NEXT
Idaho hits the road on Thursday, Oct. 22, to face the conference's top undefeated team, Utah Tech, in St. George, Utah. The Vandals will then travel to take on Southern Utah on Saturday, Oct. 24.
FOLLOW THE VANDALS
To stay up to date, follow the Vandals on Instagram (@vandalvolleyball)
