CARSON, Calif. – After going the distance on Saturday night, Humboldt State volleyball has now played more sets in California Collegiate Athletic Conference games than any other conference team through 18 matches. The Lumberjacks (9-13, 7-11) were defeated by Cal State Dominguez Hills (8-17, 6-11) in five sets (16-25, 25-21, 14-25, 25-19, 11-15) to finish the final road trip of the regular season.
"We took too long to make the necessary adjustments against their hitters," said Head Coach
Kelly Wood. "Dominguez played very well tonight, and we played another up and down match. We were better offensively tonight than last night, but our serve receive let us down again."
The Toros claimed the odd sets, beginning with a quick 8-2 opening to the match. The HSU deficit in the opening set grew as high as 10, before finishing at 25-16.
The second set started slowly for the Green and Gold as well. The Jacks did not see a lead until 12-11, and then not again until it was 20-19. One of
Symone Hayden's game-high 23 kills gave Humboldt its first set point of the night. Two points later, and the match was knotted at one game apiece heading into intermission.
A slow third set put the Jacks in a must-win position for the remainder of the night. Humboldt State responded in the fourth game, overcoming a three-point deficit at 14-17. The Jacks put together an 8-1 run, three of which came from Hayden kills, to put themselves in a position to force a decisive fifth-set.
Doubled up early in the final set at 8-4, the Jacks put together three straight points to climb back into the set. Dominguez Hills built the lead back up to four points, at 8-12, but the Green and Gold would not go away. HSU brought it to within a point once again, but after trailing 11-12 could not score again.
"Viri went in and did a nice job in the setting position on a positive note," said Wood. "After seeing that Stanislaus upset San Bernardino tonight, it makes the loss even more devastating for our team."
Viridiana Serrano more than tripled her previous career high with 20 assists.
The Jacks will return to Arcata for two final matches on Nov. 12 and 14. The members of the senior class will be honored prior to the Stanislaus State match on Saturday.
