ARCATA, Calif. – Humboldt State volleyball will play four games over two days to open its 2016 season. The Lumberjacks, picked fourth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association's Coaches' Poll released earlier this week, will face Academy of Art and Notre Dame de Namur on Friday, followed by games against Dominican and Holy Names on Saturday in the Route 92 Tournament.
"Our expectations for this season are high," said Head Coach
Kelly Wood. "We have a veteran group of girls, who are fit and highly motivated."
The Jacks return a senior-laden roster with all five expected to contribute considerably. The group, which includes the first four-year cycle player under Wood at HSU, features
Nicole Bewley,
Alondra Haro,
Alex Hasenstab,
Symone Hayden, and
Katherine Rifilato.
"These five seniors want to finish their careers at Humboldt State on a high note," said Wood. "They are complimented by a solid group of juniors and transfers, and with some returners who worked really hard in the summer and have come back ready. Our expectations are certainly to make the postseason. The conference tournament is in our sights and we expect to be there."
The Green and Gold have an opportunity to make their first CCAA tournament after missing the mark in its inaugural season of 2015. This year's field, which will include four teams from the north and four teams from the south, will compete for an automatic NCAA Tournament berth from Nov. 17-19 in San Bernardino, Calif.
Friday and Saturday's Route 92 Tournament is the first of two non-conference weekend tournaments for Humboldt State. The team will travel south for the CCAA-GNAC-PAC West Crossover Series. HSU has been grouped in the pod hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills and will play against Seattle Pacific, Azusa Pacific, Montana State, and Hawaii Hilo between Sept. 8-10.
The Jacks will return south as they open conference play. HSU visits Cal Poly Pomona on Sept. 16 and Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 17 in its first CCAA action of the year.
The home opener is scheduled for Sept. 23 against Stanislaus State, with Chico State scheduled to visit to Lumberjack Arena the following night.
