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By Samuel Ganczaruk
State Press
FLAGSTAFF -- As the theme from Jaws echoed throughout NAU's Joseph C. Rolle activity center, the ASU volleyball team couldn't find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, losing to NAU in five games.
The Lumberjacks proved why they were Big Sky Champions, beating ASU 16-14, 6-15, 15-6, 4-15 and 15-9.
"There was a communication breakdown," said Patti Snyder-Park, ASU's head coach. "We were playing scared."
ASU hit .213 for the match and NAU hit .221. The Sun Devils had 61 kills and 24 errors while the 'Jacks had 79 and 35, respectively. Serving was also a big problem for both teams as ASU made eight errors and NAU committed 21.
The games went back and forth but after NAU jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the fifth game and began trading points, the Devils just couldn't catch up.
"Our goal tonight was to stop their middles and make their outsides beat us," Snyder-Park said. "And we didn't stop their middles."
The loss all but eliminates ASU from a chance at postseason play.
"If we make it," Snyder-Park said, "it will be an absolute gift."
