The Northern Arizona volleyball broke away late in its second match of the day at the UTPA Tournament in Edinburg, Texas, on Friday.
The Lumberjacks earned a four-set victory -- 25-21, 25-27, 25-12, 25-19 -- over Lamar to improve to 5-0 this season and 2-0 at the tournament heading into their final match of the tourney on Saturday.
The third set proved to be key Friday afternoon. Tied at three points apiece, the Lumberjacks won nine consecutive points and 13 of the next 14 to take command. The outburst set the tone for what would be the clinching fourth set.
"(The third set) was good because we got back into our own flow," said coach Ken Murphy. "We played much better defense and that's where we get our energy. It was good to see us turn it on in that set and carry that momentum into the last set."
The fourth set was tied at 6 before NAU won five of the next six points, capped by freshman Kayla Guerrero's first career ace in her collegiate debut.
Down as much as five points, the Lady Cardinals got within 22-19, but consecutive block assists by sophomore Isabelle Gosar, first with sophomore Lauren Jacobsen and them with sophomore Jensen Barton, secured the win.
Barton finished with 48 assists. Janae Vander Ploeg had a season-best 19 kills and was one of three Lumberjacks with double-digit kills, the others being Jacobsen (15) and Sydney Kemper (11).
Junior Stacia Williams continued her strong play, equaling her career-high with 23 digs. Gosar hit a match-best .583 with seven kills in her first career start.
NAU defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in four sets earlier Friday. Kemper had 16 kills. Barton had 47 assists.
NAU plays host Texas-Pan American on Saturday.
