After two solid opening weekends on the road, the Humboldt State volleyball team will look to continue the success in the friendly confines of Lumberjack Arena when it opens California Collegiate Athletic Association play by hosting Cal State Los Angeles and CSU Dominguez Hills.

Jacks surpass win total in two weekends

     Over the first seven matches of the 2013 season, the Lumberjacks have prevailed in five of the contests.  The five HSU wins surpasses last year's total of only three in a tough 3-26 season.

     The Jacks stand at 5-2 and will next start to work on reaching the eight-win mark, which the 2011 squad wrapped up its year at 8-18.

 Coach Wood comments on last weekend:

     "After going 3-1 last weekend at the Route 92 Tournament, the coaches and players are still not satisfied with where we are at.  Although we won three out of four, we never really finished a match feeling satisfied with how we performed.  We have a tendency to start out slow, and we are always having to fight back from behind.  We want to do a better job of coming out strong, and putting the pressure on our opponents early."

Dunaway's 20 kills helps pound Academy of Art

    Sophomore Kaitlyn Dunaway's 20-kill outing helped the Lumberjacks begin their four matches of the Route 92 Tournament off in fine fashion with a 3-1 victory over the Urban Knights of the Academy of Art.

     After her team dropped the first set, Dunaway made her presence known the rest of the way starting in the second set. The second-year player pounded four kills in the final six points for a 25-20 HSU win.

     In the third set with the Jacks trailing by 10 points, Dunaway sparked a 7-0 run with three kills in the first five points on the way to a 25-22 come from behind 

victory. The outside hitter finished the match with punctuating kills for the third win in a row, 25-22, to give HSU the match in four games.

     Along with her match-best 20 kills, Dunaway added 21 digs and a pair of block assists.

Siebert makes mark in first action

     Upon taking the court in her first action, senior setter Sam Siebert made her mark at the Route 92 Tournament.

     In 16 sets, the experienced player averaged over 10.25 assists per set while adding 37 digs and 11 kills.  Siebert produced 49 assists, six kills, 12 digs and three blocks in leading the Jacks in their 3-1 win at Notre Dame de Namur.

Debrunner manning the middle  

     Middle hitter Courtney Debrunner showed growth in her second collegiate weekend from her first.

     The true freshman recorded 38 kills and blocked 13 attacks in the four Route 92 bouts. She finished the weekend with her best 12-kill efforts and hit .375 on Saturday. 

 Coach Wood comments on this week:

     "This week we start conference, and we were able to watch our first opponent, Cal State LA, last weekend at the (Route 92) tournament.  They are very athletic, and very good defensively, and we will have our hands full.  We need more balance with our offense, and our serve receive passing will need to be much better than it was last weekend.  We know we can compete if we ball handle, and we remain consistent. 

CCAA action opens...

     vs. Cal State Los Angeles (Thurs. at 7 p.m.)

     Series History: CSULA leads 17-3
     Last meeting: CSULA won 3-0 at LA on Nov. 9, 2012
    CCAA Preseason Poll: 4th

     *Last HSU win: 3-1 win @Arcata (Sept. 20, 2008)

     *Coached by Randi Smart in her 5th-year with a 69-46 record.

     *Program has 16 consecutive winning seasons

     *Split four matches in the Route 92 Tournament - defeated St. Martin's and Alaska

     *Lost to Northwest Nazarene (0-3) by the same score as HSU

     *Two hitters - Iona Lofrano (120) and Kymberly Silveyra (105) - with over 100 kills in 8 matches

     vs. CSU Dominguez Hills (Sat. at 7 p.m.)

     Series History: HSU leads 17-5
    Last meeting: CSUDH won 3-1 at Carson on Nov. 17, 2012
   CCAA Preseason Poll: 6th but received one 1st place vote

     *Last HSU win: swept 2011 two meetings

     *Coached by Jennifer Adeva in her 2nd-year after posting a 12-17 mark last year

     *Swept four matches last weekend in the UCSD Triton Invitational including shutting out #10 Fresno Pacific (3-0) [HSU lost 3-2 to Fresno Pacific the first weekend after leading 2-1]

     *The Toros are hitting .255 and have 49.5 team blocks in winning seven of eight contests.

     *Alijah Gunsaulus leads with 94 kills/3.03 per game

     *Has five players with 50-plus kills and at least 11 blocks.