ARCATA, Calif. – Despite a rough early part of October, a pair of wins last week have turned the tides for Humboldt State volleyball. Humboldt (8-10, 6-8) returns to Lumberjack Arena in back-to-back weeks, for just the first time this season, to play Cal State East Bay (4-18, 2-12) and San Francisco State (10-11, 8-6) on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
 
"I was very pleased with the attitudes, focus, and perseverance that the team brought starting last week going into practice," said Head Coach Kelly Wood. "We are taking it one match at a time, but we have that ultimate goal in the back of our minds. We know what we are playing for right now and we know that we have control of our own destiny. We can get into the postseason if we keep playing like we did last weekend.
 
The Green and Gold snapped a five-game losing streak after defeating Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Los Angeles at home. Although the Pioneers sit at the bottom of the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings, East Bay defeated HSU in four sets just two weeks ago.
 
San Francisco State is looking to remain in a tight CCAA playoff race, but if the Jacks plan to make a late season push, this game may prove to be pivotal. With just three weekends remaining in the conference standings, the race for eighth or better is heating up.
 
Symone Hayden fueled the Jacks in the two wins last weekend. The junior hit a season best .431, and recorded a career-high 26 kills and 29 total points in the win over Cal St. L.A. She tallied back-to-back 20+ kill matches for the second time in her career and her 47 kills last week were the most in a two-match span in her career. Hayden moved to third in conference points (229) and conference service aces (18), and fourth in conference kills (201) and conference points per set (4.2).
 
The matchup to watch for both Thursday and Saturday will be Hayden against East Bay's defensive specialist Angie Maina and SF State's libero Jessica Nicerio. Maina ranks second in the CCAA in digs per set with 5.39 and Nicerio is just behind her at fourth in the conference at 4.75.
 
"Everything is so tightly congested in the conference right now," said Wood. "After this weekend, teams can shift in the standings three spots one way or another. We're going to come ready ready to play this weekend.

Both matches will begin at 7 p.m. at Lumberjack Arena, with Thursday's match designated at the annual "Dig Pink Game" to raise Breast Cancer Awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink attire to the match.