ARCATA, Calif. –The Humboldt State volleyball team matched up with a Chico State (17-12, 9-10) program that was waiting to snap a six-game losing streak. The Lumberjacks' (9-14, 7-12) return to campus was not enough to fuel the home side on Thursday night, as the Jacks fell in four sets (15-25, 27-25, 17-25, 23-25).
 
"Getting behind has been an issue for this team all year long," said Head Coach Kelly Wood. "We don't come out strong, and seem to always be digging ourselves out of a hole.  That's not what you aim for, so we don't have to put ourselves in those predicaments."
 
The first set started off with a quick 8-1 advantage to the visitors, after Chico State scored the match's first five points. The Green and Gold showed a response, claiming six of the next seven to cut the deficit to two. The difference hovered around two points through 15-17, but eight unanswered Wildcat points closed out the set, 15-25.
 
The Jacks needed to play from behind again in the second set, forcing a timeout after being doubled-up, 10-5. The timeout fueled and 8-3 run to even the score at 13 apiece. HSU stretched the lead to three, its largest of the match, but a Chico State quickly answered to retake the lead, 23-22. Humboldt fought back and used three straight points to take the set, 27-25.
 
HSU was again down early in the third set, 5-2, before again showing that patented determination to claw back into and jump ahead, 9-7. Down a point at 13-12, the Wildcats strung together six straight and eight of the next nine points to build a cushion. Chico State closed out the set on a 13-4 run.
 
The Jacks did see an early lead in the fourth set, going up 3-1 and maintaining the edge through 10-8. After losing the advantage at 10-12, Humboldt took six of the next seven points to go back on top, 16-13. Chico responded with an 8-2 run of its own to jump ahead 21-18. The Green and Gold fought back once again to tie the score at 22-22, before eventually falling 25-23.
 
"I think that us and Chico are very even, and that was obvious with the 192 digs tonight," said Wood. "The final thing that we talked about tonight before the girls left was that we want to win this Saturday for our seniors. They put in a lot of time and a lot of hard work, and we really want to send them out with a victory over Stanislaus."
 
Senior Haley Biles recorded a season-high 28 kills against the Wildcats. Biles, along with Nicole Bewley, Kaitlyn Dunaway, and Heather Williams, will be recognized prior to their final home match at Lumberjack Arena prior to Saturday night's game. The match against Stanislaus State will follow the ceremony at 7 p.m.