HAYWARD, Calif. – Humboldt State came out of the gates with an opening set victory for the first time since defeating Stanislaus State last month. Despite going up by a game early, the Lumberjacks (6-10, 4-8) could not defeat Cal State East Bay (4-16, 2-10) on the road, losing 3-1 (25-19, 15-25, 21-25, 20-25).
"We are shorthanded right now and it's really showing with our play," said Head Coach
Kelly Wood. "We are playing at a very low level."
With
Jessica Lammers serving, the Jacks scored the first four points of the match. Despite cutting the deficit down to one on three different occasions, East Bay was never able to tie up the set or claim the lead. The Jacks built up a six point advantage, at 14-8, following five consecutive points finished by a pair of service aces from
Jadira Espindola. Lammers again was at the service line for four straight points, as the lead grew to a set-high eight points, at 18-10. The Jacks won the opening game, 25-19, which was the first set that the Lumberjacks have won since knocking off UC San Diego on Oct. 1.
The Jacks could not build a lead greater than one point in either the second or third set, and needed to come from behind in the fourth set to change the match's outcome. In a must-win fourth set, HSU was able to double-up the Pioneers early, 8-4, before East Bay tied it back up at 8-8. The Green and Gold held the lead through 16-13, before the home side rattled off five straight points. Humboldt was able to tie it once more at 18-18, but was not able to pull out the set.
Lammers tallied 24 assists, her most since Sept. 17, and
Rachel Tostberg's 14 assists were her most since last month as well.
Symone Hayden led the team, and was one off the match-high, with 16 digs.
"We're relying too heavily on certain individuals, and we need others to rise to the occasion," said Wood. "That did not happen this weekend, and we are very disappointed with the outcome."
Humboldt returns to Lumberjack Arena for four games over the next two weeks. Matches begin this Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. against Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Los Angeles, respectively.
The Jacks are an even 2-2 at home this season.
