SEASIDE, Calif. – The Humboldt State volleyball team (3-4, 1-2) will appreciate the opportunity to play in front of its home fans next week. In the final game of its season-long seven-match road swing, the Lumberjacks lost to Cal State Monterey Bay in straight sets (24-26, 22-25, 27-29).
 
"We had another tough night at the net, hitting .131," said Head Coach Kelly Wood. "We have a lot to work on when we get back to practice."
 
Before the Jacks realized it, they found themselves in a quick 6-1 hole in the first set to the Otters (3-5, 2-1). Rather than backing down and conceding the game, HSU began to chip away at the deficit. Before too long a 3-9 hole became a 13-14 game and the Lumberjacks were back in it. Humboldt first tied the game at 16-16, and again at 24-24 to fend of set point for the fourth consecutive time. Once extra points were needed to determine the set, the Otters rattled off back-to-back kills to win it 26-24.
 
 The Jacks made sure to keep the second game closer at the start, taking the first point of the set and using consecutive Symone Hayden kills and an Alex Hasenstab block to lead 10-7. Monterey Bay responded by tying it at 11-11, and took the lead back at 13-12. The cushion was enough to keep, and CSUMB took the game 25-22.
 
The final set looked like it would be the one the Jacks would take. HSU was up early, 9-5 and again at 11-6, before the Otters climbed back into it. With Humboldt leading 14-10, Monterey Bay scored four straight to tie it. The Jacks recovered, going back up 19-16, but again Monterey Bay went on a mini-run to tie the score at 19 apiece. After HSU led 21-19, the game was either tied or one-point either way until the Otters claimed the game's final two points and win the set 29-27.
 
Hasenstab (12), Nicole Bewley (10), and Hayden (10) each recorded double-digit kills for the Jacks, while Katherine Rifilato (19) and Jessica Lammers (18) led the way in assists.
 
For the lone time this month, the team will play at Lumberjack Arena on Tuesday night in front of its home crowd. One bright part about the heavy travel schedule to start the year is that the Lumberjacks will have 10 of their final 17 matches in Arcata.