ARCATA, Calif. — Once the engine revved up, the Humboldt State volleyball team took over Thursday night's home opening match and swept past Cal State Stanislaus in three sets.
 
The Lumberjacks' (6-3/3-2 California Collegiate Athletic Association) balanced attack was too much for the visiting Warriors (1-8/1-4 CCAA) with set scores of 25-18, 25-12 and 25-18.
 
"We're happy with our performance. It was a total team effort, after a shaky first set to start," said Head Coach Kelly Wood. "It was a great way to start our home schedule. I am very proud of the girls tonight."
 
The HSU coach saw all her frontline players post at least six kills each. Ashley Owen was the lone double figure kill producer with 11 kills on 30 total attacks and only one error.
 
Nicole Bewley and Symone Hayden produced the top hitting percentages. Bewley downed nine kills on 15 attempts with one error for a .533 attack percent and added three block assists.
 
Hayden was almost as brilliant hitting. The sophomore hit nine kills on 15 swings with two errors for a .467 hitting percentage.
 
Kaitlyn Dunaway added eight kills, nine digs, three block assists and an ace. Alex Hasenstab had six kills and three block assists.
 
All-around player Kat Rifilato contributed seven kills, 24 assists, six digs and a block assist. Erin Mitchell finished with 19 assists, seven digs and an ace, while Haley Biles tallied 23 digs. Kelci Renshaw recorded three aces to go with 10 digs.
 
Tied at 17 in the first set, Rifilato served five-straight HSU points with Owen and Hayden killing two of the points apiece to open a 22-17 advantage. Hasenstab provided the final point, 25-18, minutes later.
 
The home team jumped on Cal State Stanislaus from the start in the second set. After the opening Warriors' point, the Jacks ran off 10 points in a row with Renshaw serving to open a 10-1 lead. HSU never let the visitors back in the set and coasted to a 25-12 final.
 
The Warriors put up their biggest fight in the third set. The visitors led by five points, 9-4, early on before the Jacks would tie the set five times until an 18-18 score. Following a Cal State Stanislaus attack error, Mitchell served the final six points capped by a Bewley kill to seal the match win and set, 25-18.
 
"We hope to carry this momentum into Saturday," said Wood. "We will face a much different team with a faster offense in Chico State."
 
HSU will host Chico State in Lumberjack Arena starting at 7 p.m.