ARCATA, Calif. – Looking to close out its season with a pair of victories at Lumberjack Arena, Humboldt State volleyball claimed a five-set victory over Cal State Monterey Bay (16-25, 25-20, 25-19, 27-29, 15-9) in California Collegiate Athletic Association action.
 
With the win, the Lumberjacks finish the season 13-13 overall and 8-10 in the CCAA. The Otters fall to 10-15 overall and 5-13.
 
"Tonight was another hard-fought, five-set battle," said Head Coach Kelly Wood. "We didn't let the loss in the fourth set bring us down. I'm definitely happy to have finished our season at home with two very exciting wins."
 
Nicole Bewley led Humboldt with a team-high 16 kills and hit .483, while the tandem of Jessica Lammers (30) and Rachel Tostberg (23) dished out 53 assists for the Lumberjacks. On the defensive side of the net, Symone Hayden notched 27 digs while Alondra Haro added 5 blocks for the Green and Gold.
 
In the opening set, Cal State Monterey Bay started off the game on a 15-5 run forcing the Lumberjacks to use both of their timeouts. The Otters held on and claimed a 25-16 win. The Lumberjacks were led by three kills by Bewley, while Lammers contributed four assists and Tostberg chipped in with three.
 
In the second set, HSU jumped out to an early 9-4 lead, but the Otters battled back and forced a Lumberjack time out at 18-17.  On the back of a .459 team hitting percentage and 19 assists from the duo of Lammers and Tostberg, the Green and Gold survived the Otters onslaught and entered the intermission with the match tied at 1-1.
 
The third set was a back and forth affair until the Lumberjacks embarked on a 7-1 run to finish off the Otters. Hayden recorded three kills and nine digs in the set to lead HSU, while Lammers chipped in with six assists.
 
In the fourth, Cal State Monterey Bay jumped out to a 17-9 lead but the Jacks stormed back. With the score tied at 27 apiece the Otters rallied and forced a fifth set with a 29-27 victory.
 
In the final set, Humboldt State once again jumped out to an early advantage, only to have the Otters claw their way back to within two points at 11-9. The Green and Gold went on a 4-2 run, and an Alex Hasenstab kill closed out the match 15-11.
                                                                                                          
For the match, Humboldt State hit .238 and recorded 64 kills. The defense recorded 9.5 blocks and 70 digs.

The victory served as the final appearance for seniors Bewley, Hayden, Haro, Hasenstab and Katherine Rifilato.
 
"We have five great seniors," said Wood. "They deserve so much credit for putting our program in a competitive state. They have laid the foundation, and I wish nothing but the best for them."