ARCATA — San Francisco State emerged from a tight match victorious, defeating Humboldt State 25-19, 17-25, 30-28, 25-21 in a California Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball contest Friday.

Well-matched squads saw the Gators dominate on the attack, putting away 62 kills to HSU's 44. But the Lumberjacks again were the superior blocking team, with 12 blocks to six by the Gators. In the end, it was the offensive thurst of hitter Beth Perkins that overcame, her match-high 29 kills helping put the Jacks away.

San Francisco State improved its record to 16-6 with the win, and is now 9-5 in CCAA matches. Humboldt State dropped to 7-16 overall and 3-12 in league.

"We didn't give up. We didn't leave points out there," HSU head coach Sue Woodstra said. "Sometimes its just where the ball lands."

Oceana Matsubu again paced HSU with 10 killls, while Lesley Kalbernner had nine and Callan Finney eight. The Jacks were again playing short-handed, missing hitter Danielle Wells due to illness, while Finney played despite just coming back off her own bout of sickness.

San Francisco State gained the lead by winning the long rallies in the opening set. Neither team hit particurly well at the outset, the Gators posting a .091 percentage and the Jacks dipping to -.088.

Set two featured Matsubu, who put down four kills without an error. Humboldt State's block also cam alive, Jo Arzadon and Allison Drobish both blocking down two Gators' attacks.

San Francisco State found a weapon in Robyn Hall, who came in to contribute sucessive kills. But following a timeout, the Jacks answered again at the net, putting the way the set.

Long rallies characterized the third set, the teams exchanging the lead at set point six times. Perkins' kill finally ended it in the Gators' favor.

Humboldt State trailed by four points three times in the final set, rallying to tie it at 12 and again rallying to pull within one point at 19-18. Perkins put away the final three kills to finish off the match.

The Lumberjacks return to the court Saturday for a 7 p.m. match against CSU Monterey Bay in Lumberjack Arena.

  San Francisco State def. Humboldt State 25-19,17-25,30-28,25-21

  San Francisco State (16-6, 9-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - PERKINS,Beth
  29-1-0; LAMET,Kyle 9-0-1; OSWALD,Halimah 8-0-3; WALSH,Lauren 6-0-1;
  HALL,Robyn 6-0-0; BRENNAN,Kelsie 3-1-2; LEWIS,Sarah 1-0-1;
  TOLENADA,Iris 0-2-2; SHAW,Vanessa 0-3-0; CUTNER,Riley 0-2-0; Totals
  62-9-6.0. (Assists) - TOLENADA,Iris 47. (Dig leaders) - SHAW,Vanessa
  21; PERKINS,Beth 17; TOLENADA,Iris 16; CUTNER,Riley 15

  Humboldt State (7-16, 3-12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - MATSUBU, Oceana
  10-3-1; KALBRENER, Lesley 9-0-7; FINNEY, Callan 8-1-1; ARZADON,
  Joliann 6-0-5; NELSON, Dani 6-0-1; DROBISH, Allison 4-1-3; NUSS, Emily
  1-0-0; Totals 44-5-12.0. (Assists) - ARZADON, Joliann 31. (Dig
  leaders) - MATSUBU, Oceana 19; NELSON, Dani 14; NUSS, Emily 13;
  ARZADON, Joliann 11; DROBISH, Allison 8; KALBRENER, Lesley 8; FINNEY,
  Callan 8

  Site: Arcata, Calif. (Lumberjack Arena)
  Date: Oct 23, 2009   Attend: 193   Time: 1:58