ARCATA — A series of close sets ended on the wrong side of the ledger again for Humboldt State in a 25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 loss to Sonoma State on Wednesday.

With the loss, HSU's frustrating season continues, dropping the Jacks to 1-21 overall and 1-17 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Sonoma State improved its record to 14-8 in all games and 11-7 in conference.

Despite a season-high 20 kills from Oceana Matsubu, the Lumberjacks managed to claim only the third set. Matsubu posted a .310 hitting percentage, while teammate Toni Kroeker was also outstanding, hitting at a .600 clip with 13 kills.

Sonoma State was paced by three players in double digits for kills. Keala Peterson led the way with 18, Allyson Sather had 17 and Brooke Moore contributed 10 for the Seawolves.

Neither team led by more than three points at any time during the opening set, but Sonoma State managed to finish strong and earn the victory. The Seawolves' managed a five-point advantage at 24-16 advantage in the second set, before HSU made it interesting, but Peterson's kill finally ended it in SSU's favor.

Kills by Matsubu and Kroeker punctuated a 5-point Lumberjack surge in the third set, helping them gain a 9-2 lead. Sonoma State eventually rallied to tie the set at 20-20 on Lindsay Lytle's service ace, but kills by Ashley Neale and Taylor Manuel allowed the Jacks to pull out the 25-22 win.

The fourth set was the tightest, neither team gaining more than a two-point lead until the final outcome. Kills by Lytle and Sather finished the set and match.

Humboldt State won the blocking battle, finishing with 10 block assists and three block solos to only four block assists posted by the Seawolves. Kroeker and Manuel each contributed three block assists for HSU.

Back on the road this weekend, the Lumberjacks face San Francisco State on Friday and Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday. They'll end the season with a pair of home matches next week, playing Cal State Dominguez Hills on Thursday, Nov. 11 and Cal State L.A. on Saturday, Nov. 13.

Sonoma State def. Humboldt State 25-22,25-20,22-25,25-22

Sonoma State (14-8, 11-7) (Kills-aces-blocks) - PETERSON, Keala
18-1-0; SATHER, Allyson 17-0-0; MOORE, Brooke 10-1-0; BATISTE, Kendahl
6-0-2; LYTLE, Lindsay 5-1-0; JOHNSON, Devynne 2-0-2; VANOVER, Amanda
0-2-0; ROSS, Hayley 0-1-0; Totals 58-6-2.0. (Assists) - LYTLE, Lindsay
27; ROSS, Hayley 18. (Dig leaders) - KRENWINKEL, Taylor 21; LYTLE,
Lindsay 14; PETERSON, Keala 13; VANOVER, Amanda 8; ROSS, Hayley 8

Humboldt State (1-21, 1-17) (Kills-aces-blocks) - MATSUBU,
Oceana 20-1-1; KROEKER, Toni 13-0-3; MANUEL, Taylor 7-0-3; ARZADON,
Joliann 6-0-2; DROBISH, Allison 4-2-3; EATON, Noel 2-1-0; WASHINGTON,
Channel 2-2-0; NEALE, Ashley 2-0-1; Totals 56-6-8.0. (Assists) -
ARZADON, Joliann 41. (Dig leaders) - FERGUSON, Brooke 23; MANUEL,
Taylor 9; ARZADON, Joliann 8; MATSUBU, Oceana 8; NEALE, Ashley 8

Site: Arcata, Calif. (Lumberjack Arena)

Date: Nov 03, 2010   Attend: 82   Time: