FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Thunderbirds fell to Northern Arizona in straight sets (15-25, 20-25, 19-25) to conclude their weekend at the Lumberjack Classic. Southern Utah (1-8) showed fight and resilience, but couldn't sustain the momentum created to come out with the win.

Game Recap

Southern Utah opened the first set with energy, taking advantage of early Northern Arizona miscues to grant a quick lead. A strong service and early offensive pressure kept the Thunderbirds competitive in the early part of the set, tying things up at 6-6 before NAU responded with a momentum-shifting run. SUU struggled to regain control as Northern Arizona's serve and block game took over down the stretch. The Thunderbirds fought but ultimately lost the first set 15-25.

Southern Utah bounced back with determination in the second set, going point-for-point with Northern Arizona in one of the most competitive stretches of the match. Steady contributions from Kaitlyn Aleshire, Addyson McArthur, and Victoria Zibecchi allowed the Thunderbirds to remain deadlocked at 19-19. A late Northern Arizona run saw them take down the Thunderbirds 20-25.

The Thunderbirds took an early lead, 2-1, on a great block by Kaitlyn Hoelker and Kaitlyn Aleshire. A service ace from Swayzee Mason helped SUU stay within striking distance. The Thunderbirds continued to battle using balanced offense and defensive touches to keep it close midway through the frame. Late errors and a final push by the Lumberjacks shifted the momentum, and the Thunderbirds lost the third and final set 19-25.

Southern Utah Standouts

• Kaitlyn Aleshire delivered a well-rounded performance, tallying six kills, two assists, three blocks, and an ace, while hitting .143—impacting all areas of the court to lead SUU with 8.5 points.
• Addyson McArthur was efficient on offense, posting five kills on 12 swings with a .250 hitting percentage, and added solid back-row contributions with five digs.
•  Asya Akbulut set the tone as SUU's primary setter, recording 10 assists and hitting a perfect 1.000 on her single attack—highlighting her clean decision-making and smart play execution.

Coach Jensen Said

"Today didn't go as we wanted, but the growth and execution we saw this weekend is something we are proud of."

Up Next

The Thunderbirds head to Las Vegas next weekend as they face UC Riverside on Friday, September 19th, at 4 PM MT. This will be the second time the Thunderbirds will go against UC Riverside this season.

Tickets

Tickets are on sale now! Get your tickets today by visiting tbirdtickets.com! 

Follow Us

Stay up to date on the Thunderbirds Volleyball program by following @SUUVolleyball on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Volleyball page on Facebook.

Donate

To help support Thunderbirds athletics, consider donating today! To learn more about how you can support, click here.