SAN BERNARDINO – Humboldt State offered several brief challenges, but it wasn't enough to overcome the the No. 17 nationally ranked Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles, who defeated HSU 30-22, 30-24, 30-26 in a California Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball match played Friday.

The loss dropped Humboldt State to 6-9 overall and 2-9 in the CCAA heading into Saturday's match against No. 20 ranked UC San Diego. Cal State L.A. improved its record to 10-4 and 6-1 in league games.

Facing another one of the four CCAA teams ranked among the top 25, the Lumberjacks prevented the Eagles from pulling away with rallies in each game. After coming back from seven points down to tie the opening game at 19-19 behind Mallory Briney's serve, the Jacks fell victim to four CSLA service aces and their own attack errors down the stretch.

""We played well tonight, and definitely did some very good things," HSU interim head coach James Kealalio said. "They're a strong team that hits the ball hard and doesn't make many mistakes."

The middle of the second game featured an even battle, with ties forged at 11, 12 and 13 points. Humboldt State was never able to gain the lead, but trailed by only one at 25-24 after an Eagles' service error before CSLA scored the final five points.

In the third game, the Eagles led throughout, but the Jacks closed within two at 23-21 on a kill by Danielle Wells. Two errors by CSLA allowed HSU to stay close at 29-26 before Lindsay Laasko finished  the game with a kill.

Briney helped the Lumberjacks keep each game in contention, equalling teammate Lynsey Adams with a team-high eight kills. Briney also added two block solos and a block assist to go along with six digs in a well-rounded performance.

Bianca Gorospe led Cal State L.A. with 15 kills and only four attack errors in 32 attempts, good for a .344 hitting percentage. Airess Padda and Lindsay Laakso contributed 11 kills each, and Lindsey Spainhour added a team-high 13 digs.

"We feel positive about most of tonight's match," Kealalio said. "We're getting better as we progress through the season. We played well tonight against a very tough team, and once we take care of our little errors here and there we'll be right there with them."

Humboldt State vs Cal State L.A. (Sep 28, 2007 at Cal State L.A.)

  Cal State L.A. def. Humboldt State 30-22,30-24,30-26

  Humboldt State ((6-9) (2-5 CCAA)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - ADAMS,
  Lynsey 8-0-0; BRINEY, Mallory 8-1-3; WELLS, Danielle 7-0-3; BERNDT,
  Megahn 3-1-3; SOLOMON, Olivia 2-0-0; GANTT, Poerava 2-0-1; SHANNON,
  Liz 0-0-2; CATHERINA, Kelly 0-1-0; Totals 30-3-8.0. (Assists) -
  SHANNON, Liz 24. (Dig leaders) - CATHERINA, Kelly 11; SHANNON, Liz 7

  Cal State L.A. ((10-4) (6-1 CCAA)) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  GOROSPE, Bianca 15-1-0; LAAKSO, Lindsay 11-2-0; PADDA, Airess 11-0-0;
  VIEIRA, Ursula 8-0-0; GORMAN, Kristin 6-1-0; HIBBARD, Makinna 5-1-0;
  BROWN, Keslie 2-0-0; LAGUNA, Nancy 0-2-0; Totals 58-7-0.0. (Assists) -
  BROWN, Keslie 36; RODRIGUEZ, Andrea 16. (Dig leaders) - SPAINHOUR,
  Lindsey 13; LAAKSO, Lindsay 12; GOROSPE, Bianca 11; BROWN, Keslie 10

  Site: Cal State L.A. (Eagles Nest)
  Date: Sep 28, 2007   Attend: 210   Time: 1h 30m
  Referees: Earl Varquez, Vigen Abrahamian