POMONA — Cal Poly Pomona withstood a brief challenge from Humboldt State to claim a four-set match, 25-18, 25-14, 21-25, 25-12 in California Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball action Friday.
A lack of consistency told the tale again for the Lumberjacks, who fell to 1-19 overall and 1-15 in the CCAA. The Broncos took their second four-set win of the season over the Jacks, improving to 10-12 in all games and 8-9 in conference.
Cal Poly Pomona quickly opened up a 9-1 lead in the first set behind the hitting duo of Kristin McNeese and Sinead Palmer. McNeese ended the evening with a match-high 18 kills and Palmer added 13.
Humboldt State closed to within one point at 17-16 on a kill from
Noel Eaton. But a service ace from Erin Noriega helped the Broncos regain momentum, and McNeese finished off the set with a kill.
The second set began in a similar fashion as the first, but this time HSU never found a way to climb back into contention.
HSU trailed, 20-15 in the third set before freshman
Channel Washington paced the Jacks through a 10-1 surge. Washington put down five kills, scoring half the Jacks' points to send the match to a fourth set.
Unfortunately, the Jacks couldn't carry the momentum over into the fourth. They fell behind 10-4 and were unable to come any closer than five points the rest of the way.
Washington and Jo Arzadon paced the Lumberjacks offensively with eight kills each.
Toni Kroeker contributed eight total blocks, two of them solo, and
Brooke Ferguson came up with a team-high 13 digs.
HSU continues its roadtrip Saturday with a 7 p.m. match against Cal State San Bernardino.
