LA JOLLA – For the second night in a row, Humboldt State faced a Top 25 nationally ranked opponent, but this time the Jacks were able to hold their own in two of the three sets. After not getting into the 20-digits against No. 2-ranked Cal State San Bernardino Friday night, Humboldt State put up a fight against the No. 17-ranked UC San Diego squad. The Tritons still beat the Jacks in three sets (26-24, 25-14, 29-27), but the Jacks gave them a run for their money in the first and third sets.
HSU drops to 8-16 overall, 5-15 in California Collegiate Athletic Association, while UCSD improves to 19-4 overall, 15-4 in conference play. The game concludes the last road trip for Humboldt State as they finish up the season at home next weekend.
Oceana Matsubu collected a game-high 17 kills against the Tritons, helping the Jacks play a tight first set. HSU started with a 3-0 lead, but UCSD caught on and the play went back and forth between the two teams. After
Ashley Neale tied the set at 24-24, the Tritons answered with two points off a kill from Hillary Williamson and an attacking error by HSU to end the set at 26-24 in favor of UCSD.
The Jacks lost steam in the second set and found themselves trailing 9-2 early in the set. The closest Humboldt State came to UC San Diego was a four-point lead for the Tritons at 11-7. Three kills by Katie Condon and Sara McCutchan sealed the deal for UCSD with a 25-14 result.
Humboldt State rebounded in the third set and battled hard to try to get one set under the Jacks' belt. UCSD went ahead 9-4, but the Jacks never gave up and eventually tied the game at 12-12. The Tritons pulled ahead once again at 17-13, but HSU came from behind to tie it up once again at 22-22. Humboldt State was a point away from claiming its first set, but the Tritons rallied to put the score at 25-24 in their favor. The fight continued to go back and forth until the Tritons finally ended the match, winning the set 29-27.
Brooke Ferguson led the Jacks in digging with 23, while
Alexa Rosendale added 15 digs and nine kills for Humboldt State. The Jacks will be back in Arcata for their last two matches of the season Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12.
