ARCATA – After a slow start—starting the first set trailing 9-0—Humboldt State rallied to put up a fight in its second-to-last match of the season, but couldn't overcome the visiting Broncos and fell 3-0. Cal Poly Pomona took the first set 25-17, but had to battle against a determined Lumberjack squad, winning the second and third sets 25-23.

The Jacks enter their last game of the season on Saturday with an overall record of 8-17, 5-16 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal Poly Pomona improves to 14-12 overall, 11-10 in conference action with the win.

Oceana Matsubu led the attack for the Jacks with 14 kills and Brooke Ferguson had match-highs of 17 digs and three service aces for Humboldt State. Kristin McNeese led the Broncos' offensive efforts with a match-high 16 kills, while Karissa Lagmay and Kelly Bonja held down the defense for CPP with 12 and 13 digs, respectively.

Humboldt State out-performed the Broncos in the blocking game, getting nine collective team blocks compared to Cal Poly Pomona's five. Allison Drobish collected five block assists, while Matsubu, Merry Ellen Ackema and Ashley Neale each added an additional three. Alexa Rosendale had the only block solo for the Jacks and McNeese registered the only block solo for the Broncos.

The Broncos took the first set after they broke out with the highest lead of the match with nine points. HSU rallied back into the game to drop the lead to 13-11 with a pair of blocks from the Jacks, along with the help of Cal Poly Pomona who had a string of attacking errors. The hole proved to be too much for HSU to pull out of, however, as the Jacks fell 25-17.

Determined to have a better start, Humboldt State kept the second set closer and even got its first lead of the night at 5-4. However, the lead didn't last long and the Jacks soon saw themselves trailing again. Down seven points at 17-10, HSU collected four points off three kills and a Bronco attacking error to drop the lead to three. The Jacks continued to battle and tied the set at 23-23, but surrendered two points to concede the second set 25-23.

The third set was a battle for both teams—the score tied up 10 times, with the lead changing six times. Once again the Jacks started trailing, but they continued to fight. After HSU tied the set at 8-8, Cal Poly Pomona broke out ahead to put the score 14-8. The kills later from Matsubu, and another from Neale, put the Jacks within two points at 14-12. The Broncos went ahead again with 18-12, but once again HSU responded to keep the score close at 18-17 in slight favor of CPP.

The Jacks took the lead at 22-20 and looked to carry the momentum through to grab the set, but the Broncos were not ready to give up yet. With the set tied at 23 a piece, Cal Poly Pomona capitalized on two kills to end the set at 25-23, grabbing the victory in the process.

Humboldt State returns for its final match of the season Saturday night where the two seniors (Oceana Matsubu and Clara Bolster) will be honored. First serve is set for 7 p.m. in the Lumberjack Arena.