ARCATA —  Instead of fading, the Lumberjack volleyball team picked up steam when it got ahead Saturday, putting away Cal State Monterey Bay, 30-28, 30-26, 30-24 in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match.

Lynsey Adams put away a match-high 15 kills and Mallory Briney had 11 to help the Jacks quickly recover from Friday's heartbreaking five-game loss to Sonoma State. They were most impressive during the final game, keeping the Jacks on track and finishing the Otters.

"Last night we talked about how much better we play when we're having fun out there," HSU interim head coach James Kealalio said. "We weren't as tense tonight. We were playing as a team, and getting a good swing on the ball in those decisive situations."

Saturday's first game was tight throughout, with neither team gaining a comfortable advantage. But CSUMB forged ahead toward the end, and held a 28-26 advantage before Olivia Solomon's kill switched the momentum back to HSU. Briney added a kill and the Jacks took advantage of three Otters' errors to close out the game.

Improving to 9-14 overall and 5-10 in the CCAA, HSU gained an edge in the second game and kept the Otters at bay down the final stretch. Humboldt State setter Liz Shannon, who finished the night with 39 assists, ended the game with a kill of her own.

After an early tie, the Lumberjacks forged a lead they wouldn't relinquish in the final game. Poe Gantt and Danielle Wells attacked effectively as the game closed out on the Jack's side of the ledger again.

Wells had eight kills with an impressive .412 hitting percentage, while again leading the Jacks with four blocks. Gantt came off the bench to add several key kills, finishing with four.

Cal State Monterey Bay, now 9-17 overall and 6-8 in league, was led statistically by Courtney Taubert's 15 kills and 15 digs. Christina Ricketts contributed 13 kills and five block assists for the Otters.


  Humboldt State def. CSU Monterey Bay 30-28,30-26,30-24

  CSU Monterey Bay (9-17, 6-8) (Kills-aces-blocks) - TAUBERT, Courtney 15-2-1; RICKETTS, Christine 13-0-5; ETCHINGS, Brittany 6-1-0; MILLER,  Kendra 4-0-0; GRIMM, Dana 2-0-0; SORDELLO, Kimberly 1-1-4; STOUT,  Kiley 0-0-1; Totals 41-4-6.0. (Assists) - GRIMM, Dana 26. (Dig   leaders) - NICKAS, Melissa 16; TAUBERT, Courtney 15; ETCHINGS, Brittany 12; GRIMM, Dana 10

  Humboldt State (9-14, 5-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - ADAMS, Lynsey   15-1-1; BRINEY, Mallory 11-1-2; WELLS, Danielle 8-0-3; SOLOMON, Olivia   8-0-0; GANTT, Poerava 4-0-0; BERNDT, Megahn 4-1-0; SHANNON, Liz 1-1-0;   CATHERINA, Kelly 0-2-0; Totals 51-6-3.0. (Assists) - SHANNON, Liz 39.   (Dig leaders) - CATHERINA, Kelly 15; ADAMS, Lynsey 11; BRINEY, Mallory   9

  Site: Arcata, Calif. (East Gym)
  Date: Oct 27, 2007   Attend: 164   Time: 1:40
  Referees: Rick McCowan, Bob Parker