The eyes across the California Collegiate Athletic Association were opened a little bit in the opening weekend of games.  

     Despite splitting the pair of contests, Humboldt State volleyball was able to get some attention by the fashion and who they played.

     The Jacks had a heart-breaking late 3-2 loss to Cal State Los Angeles, before maybe their best game of the fall to this point in a 3-1 victory over CSU Dominguez Hills last Saturday night.

     HSU will head down to the Bay Area for matches at Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday evening and Cal State East Bay the next night on Saturday.

Jacks double win total

     Over the first month of the fall, HSU has been able to produce three quality weekends on the volleyball court.  Even though none have been perfect, the Jacks' results have been enough to already double last year's victory total.  

     HSU has amounted a 6-3 mark which double the three victory amount of last season.

    Golden Eagles soar back to clip Jacks

     In a highly-competitive affair, the young Humboldt State spikers found out you have to finish the match in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

     After leading 2-1, HSU lost its momentum. 

     The Cal State Los Angeles frontline picked up their games to soar back to clip the HSU, 3-2.  

     After tying the match at two sets, the Golden Eagles rattled off the first eight points on its way to a convincing 15-6 game-deciding victory.

   Owen pounds Jacks past Toros

    When one option is working well, you continue to go to it and Humboldt State held true to the theory on last Saturday night.

     HSU's 6-3 outside hitter Ashley Owen pounded her way to 28 kills to help secure the first California Collegiate Athletic Association win of the fall in a 3-1 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills.

     For the fifth time in six wins, the Lumberjacks fell behind by a game, 21-25, before putting things together to take the next three sets (25-21, 25-21 and 25-23) from the Toros.

     The win is only the second conference victory in the last two years.  The Jacks did not secure its one and only CCAA win until the 17th league affair on Nov. 3 in a 3-2 win over Cal State Monterey Bay.  

    Owen paces HSU frontline

    Ashley Owen continued to pace the HSU frontline efforts over last weekend's two matches.  The junior lined 40 kills in the two matches in 97 attacks for a .268 hitting percentage.  She also added seven digs, an assist and a block assist.

    Owen's best game of the year came against CSU Dominguez Hills where she finished with 28 kills and a .345 swing percentage.   

     Noonan and Callaway aiding the defense

     Two Jacks newcomers, Colleen Noonan and Jacquelyn Callaway, are providing key help to the team's defense.

    Noonan, a sophomore from Santa Rosa Junior College, has adjusted to the NCAA Division II level and it is starting to show.  The second-year player recorded 14 digs in both of HSU's last weekend matches along with being a regular in the serving rotation.

    True freshman Callaway provided a key spark off the Jacks bench on last Thursday night.  She laced a pair of serving aces to go with five digs and a kill.  The Great Oak High product added seven digs and an ace in the Dominguez Hills bout.

     CCAA action 2nd weekend...

     at Cal State Monterey Bay (Fri. at 7 p.m.)

     2013 Record: 6-4 Overall/0-2 CCAA
     Series History: CSUMB leads 6-4
     Last meeting: HSU won 3-2 in Arcata on Nov. 3, 2012
     CCAA Preseason Poll: 10th

     *Coached by Jody Garry in her 7th year

     *Lost 2-3 to both Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus at home last weekend

     *Won first 5 of 6 matches of season before winning only one of last 5

     *Three top hitters:
         -Jessica Malcolm (5-11 OH) - 170 kills, .258, 14 blocks

        -Julia Ashen (6-1 OH) - 169 kills and .305 attack percentage

        -Victoria Clardy (6-1 MB) - 103 kills and 30 blocks

     at Cal State East Bay (Sat. at 7 p.m.)

     2013 Record: 6-4 Overall/0-2 CCAA
     Series History: HSU leads 37-16
     Last meeting: CSUEB won 3-1 in Arcata on Nov. 1, 2012
    CCAA Preseason Poll: 7th

     *Last HSU win: 1st meeting of team in the 1997 season

     *Coached by Jim Spagle in his 18th-year

     *Split the opening weekend of matches: defeated Cal State Stanislaus, 3-0, before losing, 3-1, to Chico State

    *Top Pioneer players:
        -Suzy Ni Xu - 99 kills and .254 hitting percentage

        -Kltona Offord - 70 kills, .265 and 21 blocks

       -Katie Allen - 69 kills

      -Veronica Sanchez - 14 aces and 189 digs