ARCATA, Calif. – While the Humboldt State volleyball team knew that the conference tournament was not a possibility, the Lumberjacks still came out Saturday night with the goal of winning their final match for the four members of the senior class. Despite an opening set win, Humboldt (9-15, 7-13) lost to Stanislaus State (16-10, 10-10) in four games (25-19, 16-25, 23-25, 24-26).
 
"Tonight pretty much exemplified the season for us with all of the inconsistencies," said Head Coach Kelly Wood. "We always play hard, we always give it our all, but we just weren't always able to execute on a consistent level all year, and the same thing happened tonight."
 
The Jacks jumped out to an early 7-4 lead, which became a 17-12 advantage, forcing a Warriors timeout. Stanislaus claimed five of the next six points, cutting its deficit to just one. The Green and Gold responded with five consecutive points, capped off by back-to-back service aces by Katherine Rifilato, to put HSU up 23-17. After allowing two Stanislaus points, Humboldt State won the serve back with a Kaitlyn Dunaway kill, and put the set away on Dunaway's ensuing serve, 25-19.
 
In the early parts of the second set, the score remained within two points until a 5-1 Warriors run broke the tie and gave the visitors a 13-8 advantage. Stanislaus was able to build its lead up to nine points, which was the difference at the end of the set.
 
After going into the locker rooms even at one set apiece, HSU jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the third game. The advantage was erased courtesy of five unanswered from the visitors. Down 12-10 in the set, the Green and Gold rattled off six unanswered with a pair of kills by Symone Hayden and Alex Hasenstab highlighting the run. Despite the four-point cushion, the Jacks were not able to stop a set-winning 6-1 run by the Warriors.
 
Aware that the fourth set may be their final of the season, the Jacks showed great determination early, jumping out to a hefty 8-1 lead, forcing Stanislaus State to use both of its timeouts. HSU held an eight-point edge midway through the set at 17-9, but the Warriors were able to hang around and chip away at the difference, eventually coming back to win the set and the match, 26-24.
 
The loss officially concluded the Lumberjacks season. Stanislaus State will continue on as the seventh seed in the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, which will be played in San Diego this upcoming week.
 
"We obviously need a little time off, but there is something about the end of the season that always motivates and excites me to get started right away for the following season," said Wood. "I'm sad about the seniors leaving. We had a nice crop of seniors, both really good kids as well as talented. We had some quality redshirts for us this fall, and that is exciting for us."
 
Prior to the match, Humboldt State recognized the four members of the HSU senior class. Haley Biles, Nicole Bewley, Dunaway, and Heather Williams all were met on the court prior to the match with members of their families.