SAN FRANCISCO — Struggling again with its serving and passing, Humboldt State was unable to counter a formidable San Francisco State attack in the Lumberjacks' 3-1 volleyball loss to the Gators on Saturday.

Beth Perkins carried the bulk of the Gators' attack, registering a match-high 16 kills on 54 attempts, accounting for slightly more than 34 percent of the SFSU total hits. The Lumberjacks received a team-high 9 kills from Oceana Matsubu, but it wasn't enough to prevent them from falling, 25-20, 15-25, 16-25, 15-25.

Humboldt State comes home from the week's three-match roadswing with a 6-7 overall record and 2-3 record in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. San Francisco State improved its mark to 11-2, and is now 4-1 in league.

Breaking away with four-straight points, Humboldt State gained a 17-12 lead in the opening set. The Jacks maintained an advantage the rest of the way, finishing it off with a kill from Matsubu and two Gator hitting errors.

After HSU opened an early lead in the second set, Perkins heated up for three straight kills to put the Gators on top. Service, receiving and attack errors plagued the Jacks, who gave away five straight points and the advantage.

San Francisco State stopped short any Jacks' rally attempts, evening the match at 1-1 with Mackenzie Wells serving consecutive aces to cap a 5-0 run.

The Lumberjacks briefly challenged early in the third set, but the Gators found a variety of weapons in stringing together a 6-0 surge that included kills by Kyle Lamet and Lauren Walsh.  Humboldt State again helped the Gators' cause, contributing two service errors, a ball handling error and an attack error that finished off the set.

San Francisco State maintained its momentum into the fourth set, rolling to a 16-2 lead. Perkins added four straight kills to the outburst.

A bright spot for HSU was its 10-5 edge in team blocks. Allison Drobish had six block assists and Dani Nelson added five for the Jacks.

Humboldt State is on the road again this week, heading to Southern California for Friday's match at Cal State San Bernardino and Saturday's encounter with Cal Poly Pomona.

 San Francisco State def. Humboldt State 20-25,25-15,25-16,25-15

  Humboldt State (6-7 (2-3 CCAA)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - MATSUBU, Oceana
  9-1-1; WELLS, Danielle 5-1-4; NELSON, Dani 5-1-5; DUGAN, Caitlin
  4-0-2; ARZADON, Joliann 4-3-2; DROBISH, Allison 2-0-6; FINNEY, Callan
  0-1-0; Totals 29-7-10.0. (Assists) - ARZADON, Joliann 22. (Dig
  leaders) - NUSS, Emily 24; MATSUBU, Oceana 8; ARZADON, Joliann 8

  San Francisco State (11-2 (4-1 CCAA)) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  PERKINS,Beth 16-0-0; WALSH,Lauren 12-0-0; OSWALD,Halimah 10-0-1;
  HALL,Robyn 8-0-4; LAMET,Kyle 8-1-2; TOLENADA,Iris 2-2-1; SHAW,Vanessa
  0-1-0; PIKE,Mackenzie 0-3-0; Totals 56-7-5.0. (Assists) -
  TOLENADA,Iris 48. (Dig leaders) - PIKE,Mackenzie 17; LAMET,Kyle 12;
  TOLENADA,Iris 10; PERKINS,Beth 8

  Site: San Francisco, CA (Main Gymnasium)
  Date: Sep 19, 2009   Attend: 147   Time: 1:43
  Referees: Rick McQuown, Darlene Taylor, Beth Chlopek