ARCATA — Too little, much too late proved the undoing of Humboldt State, which waited until the final set of a 12-25, 19-25, 23-25 loss to Cal State Los Angeles to get competitive in both teams' California Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball opener Thursday.

Gabriela Bulawczyk's seven kills and 10 digs led a balanced CSLA squad, which improved to 4-4 overall and 1-0 in league. Ocana Matsubu had nine kills and 10 digs for the Lumberjacks, now 4-5 on the season and 0-1 heading into Saturday's 4 p.m. home matinee against Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The Golden Eagles never trailed in the opening set, gaining momentum behind three service aces from Mary Laupepa. The Lumberjacks struggled throughout the match with Laupepa's serve.

Humboldt State hurt itself with eight service errors, including three in the second set. The Jacks also found a formidable Eagles' block awaiting their attacks, as the visitors finished with nine team blocks, including five block assists by Kassie Faulkner.

Humboldt State gained its lone advantage of the evening in the third set when Emily Nuss served an ace to put the Jacks ahead, 22-20. The Jacks managed only one point the rest of the way, however, and Laupepa added a pair of aces to help seal the win.

"Our serve was better in the third set, and we made some progress," HSU head coach Sue Woodstra said. "We still need to develop that sense of presence, and that individual focus that it takes to be successful."

 CSULA def. Humboldt State 25-12,25-19,25-23

  CSULA (4-4, 1-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - BULAWCZYK, Gabriela 7-1-2;
  CIZOVA, Zuzana 6-1-3; HAMILTON, Chelsea 6-0-0; FAULKNER, Kassie 5-0-5;
  MORA, Marquis 3-1-4; LAUPEPA, Mary 2-6-4; NGO, Bianca 1-0-0; BROWN,
  Keslie 0-2-0; Totals 30-11-9.0. (Assists) - DE LA ROSA, Kaylynne 14;
  BROWN, Keslie 10. (Dig leaders) - BULAWCZYK, Gabriela 10; DE LA ROSA,
  Kaylynne 9; CIZOVA, Zuzana 8

  Humboldt State (4-5, 0-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - MATSUBU, Oceana 9-0-1;
  NELSON, Dani 6-0-0; DUGAN, Caitlin 4-0-2; WELLS, Danielle 3-0-3;
  ARZADON, Joliann 1-2-1; DROBISH, Allison 0-0-2; FINNEY, Callan 0-0-1;
  NUSS, Emily 0-1-0; Totals 23-3-6.0. (Assists) - ARZADON, Joliann 17.
  (Dig leaders) - MATSUBU, Oceana 10; NELSON, Dani 8

  Site: Arcata, Calif. (Lumberjack Arena)
  Date: Sep 09, 2009   Attend: 373   Time: 1:24
  Referees: Rick McGowan, Jan Filip