Box Score SAN FRANCISCO – Slight adjustments and refocus many times can mean the difference in a loss and getting back into the win column.
 
Humboldt State's head coach Kelly Wood made the right slight adjustment and refocused her squad on Friday night.  The first-year director saw her squad turn up its defensive effort and battle back from rough opening set to take the next three tight sets to prevail at San Francisco State, 3-1.
 
"After a bad start, and losing set one, 14-25, the team turned things around in set two with some tough defense," noted Wood.  "After a huge comeback in the third, we had confidence and momentum and with strong serving we were able to finish the match in four."
 
Following the slow start, which has been somewhat of a trademark of the 2013 Jacks team, the visitors captured three close wins by tallies of 25-23, 27-25 and 25-23.
 
The four set victory helps HSU (8-7/3-5 California Collegiate Athletic Association) get back into the win column to halt its longest losing streak at three matches and put it back over the .500 mark overall.
 
"Our goal tonight was to step up our defense and we did that after the first set," added Wood.
 
The stepping up of the HSU defensive effort started with the Kelci Renshaw, Symone Hayden and Kaitlyn Dunaway, who produced 23, 21 and 21 digs.  The freshmen middle blocker duo of Courtney Debrunner and Alex Hasenstab added their blocking to the defensive mix with six and two total blocks.
 
Along with her dig effort, Hayden pounded 16 kills and had one assist.  Dunaway contributed a team-high three service aces, nine kills and two assists.
 
Outside hitter Ashley Owen produced her own quality night with 17 kills and four solo blocks.
 
Debrunner added five kills and two digs to her six blocks, while Hasenstab had seven kills and three digs.
 
Renshaw lined an ace and dished out three assists.  Sam Siebert recorded 44 assists and five digs.
 
Both Colleen Noonan and Danielle Carlson dug two attacks and laced an ace.  Rounding out the win, Jacquelyn Callaway had two digs and Erin Mitchell and ace.
 
Leading 16-14 in the first set, San Francisco State (8-8/3-5 CCAA) rattled off what would be the final nine points for the 25-14 win.
 
HSU started the second affair with the opening six points only to see SFSU answer with a 6-2 spurt to tie the set at eight.  The second game stayed tight at 23-23 until Hayden made it a set apiece with a pair of kills and 25-23 final.
 
After intermission, the Gators went ahead 7-2, 16-10 and eventually held a 22-15 advantage.
 
The Jacks went on the most important run of the night.  Behind two Dunaway aces, HSU put the next seven points on the board for a 22-22 deadlock.  Siebert and Owen gave HSU a 2-1 set lead with kills to end the contest, 27-25.
 
The home club opened with an early lead again in the fourth set.
 
San Francisco State led 13-10 before Hayden and Dunaway posted kills for a tie at 15.  Shortly later, Debrunner killed a swing and a home error gave HSU a lead, 21-19, it would not give up.  Hayden made sure of it with two final point kills, 25-23.
 
HSU's prize for winning will be traveling a little ways back up Route 101 for a 7 p.m. Saturday night match with 12^th-ranked Sonoma State squad.
 
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