ARCATA, Calif.---  Despite Lexi Rigg's 20 kills, Humboldt State's rally fell short in five-set thriller (22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16, 11-15) to the visiting Cal State San Marcos Cougars (14-7, 8-4 CCAA).  Lenox Loving recorded another double-double with 18 kills and 12 digs while Summer Hansen had 13 kills and five total blocks.  Juliana Bertolucci added a match high 49 assists for the Lumberjacks.
 
QUOTES FROM THE COACH:  "I am proud of the team tonight for the effort they put out for five sets," added head coach Kelly Wood.  "Everyone contributed and stayed focused on their job, it was by far the most complete match we have played in conference against a very talented San Marcos team.  Lex, Lenox and Summer were getting it done at the net, JB was making decisions and locating and OD was anchoring the back line."
 
FIRST SET:  Humboldt State (5-12, 1-9 CCAA) came out strong to start the match as the Lumberjacks took a 5-0 lead capped by a combined block by Malia Coyle and Summer Hansen.  Cal State San Marcos scored nine of the next four points to tie the match at 9-9.  The match went back and forth until the Cougars took a 16-11 lead.   Three consecutive kills by (two by Hansen and one by Lexi Riggs) cut CSUSM's lead to 18-16.  The Cougars increased their lead to 22-17, but the hosts once again came back and cut the Cougar lead to 23-21 on a kill by Lenox Loving off an assist from Carla Crespo.  The guests finished the set off taking two of the final three points to take the first set, 25-21. 
 
SECOND SET:  Once again, the Lumberjacks came out strong and took a 4-0 lead in the second set.  They increased their lead to 8-1 on a kill by Riggs off an assist from Juliana Bertolucci.  Cal State San Marcos cut the 'Jack lead to 14-11, but the hosts built an 18-14 lead on a kill by Bertolucci off an assist from Loving.  The Cougars came back and cut the 'Jack lead to 22-20, but HSU finished the set off taking three of the final seven points to take the set 25-22 and even the set at 1-1.
 
THIRD SET:  Cal State San Marcos took a 6-4 lead on a kill by Kassy Doering in the third set.  HSU took a 13-9 lead on a kill by Riggs off an assist from Malia Coyle.  The Cougars scored five of the next six points to tie the set at 14-14.  The set went back and forth until CSUSM took a 24-20 lead.  A kill  by Riggs cut the deficit to 24-21, but a kill by Emily Vander Welde's kill gave CSUSM the third set 25-21 and gave the guests a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
FOURTH SET:  Humboldt State took a 10-3 lead in the fourth set capped by two kills by Riggs and two by Hansen.  The hosts increased their lead to 18-10 on back to back blocks by Coyle and Hansen.  The Cougars cut the 'Jack lead to 21-16 on a kill by Emily Vander Welde, but HSU finished the set off taking the final four points capped by back to back kills by Loving to force a fifth and final set.
 
FIFTH SET:  The fifth and final set went back and forth until the Cougars took a 9-6 lead.  HSU scored the next four points to take a 10-9 lead, but CSUSM recorded the six of the final eight points to take the set 15-11 and the match 3-2.
 
LUMBERJACK LEADERS:  Lexi Riggs had a match high 20 kills followed by Lenox Loving with 18 and Summer Hansen with 13.  Juliiana Bertolucci had a match high 49 assists.  Leading the way with three service aces was Emma Flewell.  Odelia Ryan had 26 digs to lead HSU and Malia Coyle and Hansen each had a team leading five combined blocks.
 
UP NEXT:  Humboldt State will continue its five-match home stand this Saturday, October 26 for a 7pm match with UC San Diego.  The Tritons lost in four sets at Sonoma State this evening.