A coach never knows what they will get in the first game action with a young team. Humboldt State first-year coach Kelly Wood could not have received a much better result in her volleyball team's first weekend of play.

     The Lumberjack spikers produced a strong opening showing in their three matches at the Nanook Classic hosted by the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. 

    HSU claimed the runner-up placing of the four-team field. The Jacks captured victories in two of its three matches by defeating the University of Alaska and Colorado Christian by identical 3-1 scores, while falling to 12th-ranked Fresno Pacific, 3-2, in between the two wins as they fell, 15-12, in the final set to fall just shy of the sweep.

Coach Wood comments on opening weekend performance:

     "Overall we played well with how we ended up. You go up there not sure what to expect with the team or opponents. The team came out nervous, but we settled down and played quite well. It helped our overall confidence as a team to go 2-1."

Dunaway and Hayden selected to Nanook Classic All-Tournament team

     Outside hitters Kaitlyn Dunaway and Symone Hayden both garnered Nanook Classic All-Tournament team acclaim.

     Dunaway downed 14, 16 and 16 kills on the HSU fronline. The sophomore transfer added a team-high 49 digs over the three matches.

  Hayden produced at a high level in her first collegiate action. The redshirt freshman lined a HSU high 48 kills including 23 against Colorado Christian. She also dug 34 balls and blocked eight attacks.

Owen solid first quality opening HSU action

    Junior outside hitter transfer Ashley Owen recorded a solid opening three contests of HSU volleyball action. The 6-3 former Indiana State player hit .306 with 43 kills and a pair of blocks along the frontline.  She spearheaded the opening night victory over the University of Alaska with 16 kills and a .500 hitting percentage.

HSU heads south for four-game Route 92 Tournament

    After traveling north of the border to start the fall campaign, HSU will make its first trip south of Humboldt County for four matches this Friday and Saturday.

    The Jacks will face the Academy of Art (9 a.m.) and Northwest Nazarene (3 p.m.) on Friday at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif. HSU will move over to Belmont, Calif. for a Saturday pair of matches. On the second day, HSU will face host Notre Dame de Namur (1 p.m.) before wrapping up the weekend contests against Holy Names University (5 p.m.).

Coach Wood comments on upcoming weekend at Route 92 Tournament:

      "The schedule only gets tougher and more challenging for us.  The amount of depth right now is a concern with four matches in two days. The girls have shown to be resilient so far and the entire weekend will be a challenge for us."

Head-to-Head Notes

Following Matched Played at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif.

Live Stats for Friday games link
 
Academy of Art (2-2)

• Series history: Tied at 1-1
• Last meeting: Sep 8, 2012 at Route 92 Tournament (match played at Cal State Eastbay) - AA win  3-2 (23-25,25-21,25-22,16-25,15-12)
• Urban Knights split four games last weekend at the Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Classic with a pair of 3-2 wins coming over host Cal State Monterey Bay and San Francisco State

Northwest Nazarene University (1-1)

• Series history: NNU leads 14-1
• Last meeting: NNU won 3-0 in 2012 Route 92 Tournament 
• The Crusaders split a pair of contests at Dixie State last weekend as they lost 3-1 before winning 3-0 in the rematch

 
Saturday matches played at Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont, Calif. 

Live Stats for Saturday games link
 
Notre Dame de Namur University (1-3)

• Series history: HSU leads 3-1
• Last meeting: Sep 7, 2012 at Route 92 Tournament - HSU won 3-2 (25-20,28-26,22-25,22-25,15-12)
• The Argonauts claimed only a 3-1 win over Claflin in last weekend's tournament in Anchorage, Alaska -- losses came to American International (0-3), Alaska Anchorage (1-3) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (1-3)

Holy Names University (0-4)

• Series history: HSU leads 5-1
• Last meeting: Sep 1, 2012 in Arcata - HSU won 3-2 (25-20,25-21,21-25,13-25,16-14)
• The Hawks have lost all four of their matches by 0-3 scores to Western Oregon, Western Washington, Minnesota Mankato and Metro State at the Western Oregon Tournament