The Northern Arizona swimming and diving team won 14 of 16 events in a win over Idaho in the team's season-opening dual meet.
NAU juniors Kristy Ardavanis and Fi Connell and sophomores Jordan Burnes, Emma Lowther, and Rachel Palmer each won two events in the 155.5-133.5 win at the Wall Aquatic Center.
NAU had a 155.50-70.50 lead through 12 events, clinching the meet and not scoring in the four remaining events. The Lumberjacks improved to 7-0 all-time against fellow WAC member Idaho.
Ardavanis dominated on the diving board, taking both the 1-meter and 3-meter events with NCAA Zone qualifying scores. She scored a 300.60, a Wall Aquatic Center diving record that surpassed the previous record of 294.15 set by NAU's Danielle Borth in 2007. In the 3-meter competition, Ardavanis received a 291.53 score, topping Idaho's Paige Hunt to sweep the diving events.
The Lumberjacks will compete on three-consecutive days next weekend in Colorado.
VOLLEYBALL
Northern Arizona won the first game and had a 19-11 lead in the second game, but Portland State rallied back to win the second as well as games three and four to post a 3-1 victory on Saturday night in Rolle Activity Center (23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-20). The Lumberjacks dropped to 6-7 in the Big Sky and 15-7 overall, while Portland State kept pace atop the Big Sky standings and improved to 10-4 in conference play and 14-12 overall.
The Lumberjacks opened the match strong, hitting a match-best .200 in the opening set. Junior Lexi Sullivan hit .500 with five kills and junior Lauren Campbell had four kills in the first stanza, as NAU led for most of the game.
Portland State totaled 16 team blocks, with Big Sky blocks leader Katie O'Brien recording 11, while NAU had 11 blocks for the match. The Vikings outhit the Lumberjacks .147 to .132, recording 57 kills to 48 for NAU. Sullivan finished with 18 kills and four blocks, while freshman Sydney Kemper finished with 10 kills and four blocks. Junior setter Kelli Dallmann had 42 assists, 11 digs, seven blocks, three kills, and a service ace. Junior libero Anna Gott led all players with 18 digs, while NAU junior Jen Wilson and freshman Kalee Kirby also reached double-digits in digs.
NAU plays its final regular season road matches next weekend.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Freshman Hannah Stone and junior Nicole Perez split their respective singles matches for the second-straight day at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational on Saturday with the victim in both victories being Ohio State's Kelsey Becker.
After Perez defeated Becker on Friday, Stone handed Becker her second loss in as many days, 6-2, 6-2, at the Whiteman Tennis Center.
However, as the Lumberjacks proved to be doubly successful against Becker, they were doubly unsuccessful against Cal's Stephany Chang. Chang defeated Stone on Friday, and then returned to the court and beat Perez in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1.
In doubles play, Stone and Perez could not earn their first win at the tournament, falling 8-4 to the Buckeyes' pair of Gabby Steele and Fidan Manashirova.
Stone and Perez will conclude play at the Thunderbird Invitational in Tempe today. Results for the four NAU players at the UC Irvine Fall Invitational were unavailable.
Editor's Note: Information in this report was provided by the Northern Arizona University Sports Information Department.
