PORTLAND, Ore. — (Aug. 26) Showing continued improvement prior to opening conference play next week, Humboldt State's volleyball team (3-1) claimed a straight sets win over Evergreen State before falling in a five-set thriller to Point Loma Nazarene Saturday in Portland, Ore.

“I sure would have liked to win it, but (Point Loma) is good,” said HSU head coach Sue Woodstra. “They're comparable to a lot of the teams in the CCAA.”

Point Loma, ranked No. 23 in the preseason NAIA national poll, started strong, claiming the first two games 30-21 and 30-22.

The Lumberjacks battled back, winning the third and fourth games 30-24 and 30-22 to force a fifth game. However, the surge it took to get back into the match wore off by the final game and the Sea Lions won 15-6.

“This was a really good test for us,” said Woodstra. “In the third and fourth games we really stepped up. We had fewer errors, we were more aggressive and had good ball control.”

Mallory Briney led the Jacks with 11 kills while Katie Norkunas and Kristen Kinzer added 10 apiece. Maya Domoto recorded 34 digs, three shy of her career record.

In their earlier 30-15, 30-15, 30-25 win over Evergreen State, the Lumberjacks used a balanced attack that featured a .275 team hitting percentage. Norkunas, Lynsey Adams and Briney had nine kills apiece while Olivia Solomon added eight.

Danielle Wells was HSU's force at the net for the second straight day, collecting one solo block and three block assists. In the back row, Maya Domoto had a match-high 20 digs.

“We got to play a lot of people and see some different things,” said Woodstra. “We played a pretty efficient game.”

Humboldt State, beginning its first season competing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, opens conference play Wednesday when it hosts travel partner Sonoma State. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the East Gym.

Humboldt State def. Evergreen State 30-15, 30-15, 30-25

Humboldt State (3-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - NORKUNAS, Katie 9-1-0; SOLOMON, Olivia 8-2-1; ADAMS, Lynsey 9-0-2; BRINEY, Mallory 9-0-1; KINZER, Kristen 4-0-1; WELLS, Danielle 4-1-4; DOMOTO, Maya 0-1-0; SHANNON, Liz 2-1-0; GALLETLY, Marissa 0-0-1; Jucksch Ashley 1-1-0; BERNDT, Megahn 1-0-0; KROEKER, Toni 1-0-0; Totals 48-7-6.0. (Assists) - JUCKSCH, Ashley 19; SHANNON, Liz 17. (Dig leaders) - DOMOTO, Maya 20

Evergreen State (0-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - PETERSON, Emily 7-1-1; ALLEN, Lauren 0-1-0; GLEAVES, Kandice 2-0-1; JACOBSON, Chelsea 4-1-0; BLEVENS, Madeline 4-0-1; EATON, Alysse 3-1-0; FORMAN 1-0-0; CALDWELL, Erin 4-0-2; CARVER, Ashley 6-0-0; Totals 31-4-3.0. (Assists) - CARVER, Ashley 13. (Dig leaders) - JACOBSON, Chelsea 9

Site: Portland, OR (C.C. Perry Gym)
Date: Aug 26, 2006 Attend: 35 Time: 1:17

Point Loma Nazarene def. Humboldt State 30-21, 30-22, 24-30, 22-30, 15-6

Point Loma Nazarene (4-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - ALDERSON, Kate 14-2-1; IRWIN, Connie 11-0-1; RENTZ, Natalie 5-2-2; BOER, Melissa 11-3-4; ACKLIN, Natalie 16-0-3; DUECK, Christy 11-0-6; KONDERIK, Jill 0-1-0; Totals 68-8-9.0. (Assists) - RENTz, Natalie 40. (Dig leaders) - KONDERIK, Chelsea 29; RENTZ, Natalie 20.

Humboldt State (3-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - BRINEY, Mallory 11-0-4; NORKUNAS, Katie 10-0-0; KINZER, Kristen 10-0-4; ADAMS, Lynsey 5-0-0; WELLS, Danielle 8-0-2; SOLOMON, Olivia 4-4-2; DOMOTO, Maya 0-2-0; JUCKSCH, Ashley 2-2-0; NUSS, Emily 1-0-0; Totals 51-8-7.0. (Assists) - JUCKSCH, Ashley 19. (Dig leaders) - DOMOTO, Maya 34

Site: Portland, OR (C.C. Perry Gym)
Date: Aug 26, 2006 Attend: 35 Time: 1:17