HAYWARD, Calif. –Humboldt State volleyball jumped ahead early, winning its first two sets of the season, before ultimately taking Friday's morning match in five sets over Academy of Art.
 
"Today's first match definitely looked like our first match of the season," said Head Coach Kelly Wood. "There was a lot of nervous energy and our play showed it. We never really settled into a good rhythm until the final set."
 
Neither team was able to establish a significant edge early in the match, with the score staying within two points through 11-9. The Green and Gold then went on a run to push it to a five-point advantage at 17-11, courtesy of one of Symone Hayden's game-high 16 kills. Despite Academy of Art pulling back within two at 18-16, HSU finished the opening set strong, claiming the 25-17 win.
 
HSU continued its momentum into the second game, jumping ahead 4-1. The Urban Knights pulled even at 5-5, and kept the game tied a total of 16 times in the set. Knotted at 25 apiece, Humboldt State capitalized on a ball handling error before taking the set, 27-25, on a combined block by seniors Alex Hasenstab and Alondra Haro.
 
Academy of Art took the third and fourth games, 25-17 and 25-16, respectively.
 
HSU jumped ahead in the fifth set, 3-1, but the Urban Knights were able to tie it at three apiece. The Jacks saved a point that went deep down the back of the court, and ultimately closed the play with a Nicole Bewley kill to make it 4-3. The Green and Gold capitalized on a Hasenstab kill following Katherine Rifilato's 20^th assist of the game, and forced Academy of Art to take a timeout at 7-4. HSU took the next three points as well, forcing Art to take its final timeout. The Jacks closed out the set on a 10-1 run.
 
Jessica Lammers finished with a game-high 23 assists and Rifilato added 22 of her own to go along with 10 assists. Sarah Shively (21) and Morgan Psalmonds (20) led the Jacks in digs.
 
"We will take a lot from this match as we move forward," said Wood. "We are happy to have started the year out with a win, and we are looking forward to tonight's match against Notre Dame."
 
Humboldt State returns to action later Friday with a 7 p.m. game against Notre Dame de Namur.