(Flagstaff, Ariz. - Sept. 21, 2024) - The Trailblazer volleyball team took a 2-1 set lead at Northern Arizona on Saturday afternoon, but dropped a heartbreaker in five sets to the Lumberjacks at Rolle Activity Center.

Utah Tech (6-4) dropped the opening set, 12-25, won the next two sets, 25-22, 25-22, before Northern Arizona (7-4) was able to win the final two sets, 25-21, 15-11 to complete the comeback win over the Trailblazers.

Redshirt freshman opposite hitter Nana Asiata had a standout performance leading the Trailblazers with 18 kills while hitting .419 and added three digs and a block.

Sophomore setter Marley Roe added a season-high 33 assists while junior middle blocker Casidy Fried tallied a team-leading seven blocks.

After dropping the opening set, 25-12, the Trailblazers came back in the second set to jump out to an 11-7 lead after blocks by Fried and Hannah Howard. A 6-1 run for NAU gave the Lumberjacks a one-point lead at 13-12. After a kill by Tessa Treanor put the Blazers ahead 21-19, the Trailblazers sealed the set win thanks to a kill by Asiata.

The third set saw another back-and-forth tussle with the Trailblazers leading 17-13 after a kill by Kennedi Knudsen. A 6-1 run for the Lumberjacks pushed NAU In front, 19-18, but a 4-1 run for UT put the Blazers ahead 22-20. Two points for NAU locked up the set at 22 apiece, but the final three points of the set went the Trailblazers way getting a kill, block and attack error to take a 2-1 set lead.

The fourth set belonged to the Lumberjacks as the Blazers fell behind 7-3 early on and were never able to recover as the Trailblazers went to a fifth set for a fourth time this season.

Winning all three previous five-set battles, the Trailblazers were on the losing end of this one. A kill by Treanor tied the deciding set at nine, but a 6-2 run for NAU closed out the win for the Lumberjacks' second win over the Trailblazers in three days.

The Trailblazers open WAC play on Thursday hosting Abilene Christian (5-6) at 6 p.m. at Burns Arena.