ARCATA - The road gets slightly easier with no ranked team on this week's Humboldt State volleyball docket, but instead the schedule gets a trio of matches.
After playing the 16th and 12th-ranked teams in back-to-back matches, the Lumberjacks would hope for a bit of a breather to get their feet back under them. The prize is three matches by hosting California Collegiate Athletic Association travel partner Cal Poly Pomona on Wednesday night, before making another trip to the Bay Area for a Friday evening bout with San Francisco State and Saturday affair at #12 Sonoma State.
Jacks try to reverse fourtunes
For the first time this fall, HSU was unable to post at least one victory over a weekend.
The competition may have had something to do with it.
Despite being played at home, HSU could not overcome two of the top three volleyball squads of the CCAA.
The Jacks fell behind the 16th-ranked Coyotes of CSU San Bernardino by two games heading into intermission. The home squad fell short of converting four set point opportunities to allow CSUSB to finish out the match, 30-28, and shutout.
Two nights later, the matchup increased in difficulty, but so did the play of the Jacks.
The 11th-ranked UC San Diego Tritons presented even a bigger task and the night started out tough for HSU. The Tritons won the first set, 25-15, before the Jacks tied the match at one game. The home team had a set point to go ahead by a game but UCSD finished off the third set with three points in a row and went on for the 3-1 victory.
Coach Wood's Comments on last weekend:
"Last week was a huge challenge for us, and although we came away with two losses, we definitely showed that we can compete with the top teams in this conference, especially on Saturday vs. UC San Diego. We were just a couple miscues away from going up 2-1 against them. We do not have a lot of depth on our roster, and we really rely on everyone to contribute.
Owen continues to hit solidly
After sitting out last season transferring from Indiana State, junior outside hitter Ashley Owen has started to make her mark this fall.
The 6-3 frontline player has moved to the Jacks top hitter with 3.49 kills per set. Owen produced 29 kills with five errors in 66 total attacks for a .363 hitting percentage. She hit .407 with 12 kills vs. CSUSB and .333 with 17 kills vs. UCSD.
The third-year player has moved into the overall team lead with 185 kills, while third in total blocks (25). She has also thrown her efforts into the defensive side with four and five digs in the pair of matches last week.
Renshaw taking over defensive effort
Moving to a new position full-time is never easy but Kelci Renshaw has been making it look easier and easier for the HSU defense.
Renshaw has taken her average up to 3.42 digs per set and 181 digs over 53 sets on the year. She posted nine last Thursday against CSUSB, before having a season-high 23 versus UCSD.
Siebert moving up setter ranks
After a late start to her season, setter Sam Siebert is moving up the ranks of the CCAA's setting ranks. The lone senior HSU player added 80 assists in seven sets to her season total to bring it to 411 in 40 sets.
Siebert's 10.27 assists per set has allowed her to climb to fifth in the league in the stat category.
Coach Wood's Comments on this weekend:
"This week we have three tough matches, starting with Cal Poly Pomona tomorrow at home. We are continuing to make progress as a team, and we have confidence going into these matches. We are looking to get things started with a home victory against Pomona before we head south to face two very tough teams in San Francisco and Sonoma. Our defense let us down at times last weekend, and we expect more out of the team this week in that area.'
CCAA action 4th weekend...
vs. Cal Poly Pomona (3-11/1-5 CCAA)
(Wed. at 7 p.m. at Lumberjack Arena)
Series History: CPP leads 21-1
Last meeting: CPP won 3-0 at Pomona on Nov. 7, 2012
CCAA Preseason Poll: 9th
2012 Record: 13-16/9-13 CCAA
*Last HSU win: only win came in 3-0 victory in Arcata in 1st meeting of 2006 series
*Coached by Rosie Wegrich in her 22nd season ... She is 5th in active Division II coaches and 19th at all levels with 693 wins.
*Broncos are 0-3 against the same three ranked opponents as HSU.
*Lost last 5 matches -- dropped 15 of the last 18 sets played with three shutouts
*Middle blocker Alexa Hasen is third in CCAA with 1.19 blocks per set ... she has 96 kills and hits .245 for the year
*Jessica Doerner and Lauren Jones lead team with 170 and 130 kills
vs. San Francisco State (8-6/3-3 CCAA)
(Fri. at 7 p.m. in San Francisco)
Series History: SFSU leads 41-18
Last meeting: SFSU won 3-0 at Arcata on Nov. 17, 2012
CCAA Preseason Poll: 8th
2012 Record: 21-9/16-6 CCAA
*Last HSU win: 3-2 in 2nd meeting of 2008 season in San Francisco
*Coached by 1st year coach Julie Muhe, who coached last three years at Briar Cliff (IA) College
*Gators have won three of their last 4 matches by going 9-7 in the 16 sets.
*Setter Jacquie Brice is 4th in the CCAA with 10.75 assists per set and 570 in 53 sets.
*Key players are: Meagan Wright (149 K, 40 TB), Jaclyn Clark (130 K), Jessica Nicerio (18 aces, 218 digs)
vs. #12 Sonoma State (12-2/5-1 CCAA)
(Sat. at 7 p.m. in Sonoma)
Series History: SSU leads 37-22
Last meeting: SSU won 3-0 at Arcata on Nov. 15, 2012
CCAA Preseason Poll: 3rd
2012 Record: 22-9/16-6 CCAA
*Last HSU win: 3-2 at Sonoma in 1st meeting of 2007
*Coached by 12th-year Bear Grassl, who has a 198-127 overall record but a 120-43 mark in last five years
*Seawolves have won their last five matches by taking 15 of 17 sets
*SSU's only two losses came to ranked opponents in Regis (Colo.) and CSU San Bernardino
*Five players in the top 5 CCAA stat categories:
-Caylie Seitz is 5th with 3.57 kills/set (175 kills & .303 attack pct.)
-Nicole Gragnola is 5th at 4.63 digs/set and 5th in digs (227 digs in 49 sets)
-Rachel Andrews is 5th in blocks/set at 1.02 (50 total blocks in 49 sets)
-Devin Shaver and Hayley Ross are listed in the service aces leaders...Shaver leads at 0.51 aces/set and Ross is 5th at 0.35 aces/set.
