SAN MARCOS, Calif---   The Humboldt State Lumberjacks started their weekend road trip with a three-set loss (9-25, 19-25, 21-25) to the Cal State San Marcos Cougars in a CCAA match-up at The Sports Center in San Marcos.  Hannah Cantrell and Lindsey McLaughlin each had five kills to lead the 'Jacks while Nicole Yakushenok had 10 assists and Kaitlyn Patterson recorded 15 digs.
 
FIRST SET:  Cal State San Marcos (7-6, 4-3 CCAA) scored the first five points of the first set before Hannah Cantrell recorded a kill off a ball from Riley White to stop the Cougars' hot start.  The hosts increased their lead to 14-5 on a kill by Stephanie Adams.  The Cougars kept their strong start rolling as they took the first set 25-9.
 
SECOND SET: In the second set, the Cougars took a 5-1 lead, but the 'Jacks cut their deficit to 5-4 on back to back kills by Nora Thompson and Lenox Loving off assists from Nicole Yakushenok. CSUSM increased its lead to 9-5, but the 'Jacks did not crumble as they cut the Cougar lead to 9-8.  The hosts came right back and increased their lead to 20-11 on a kill by Kelsy Rasmussen.  The 'Jacks scored six of the next eight points capped by back to back service aces by Gianna Giacomotto. Cal State San Marcos finished the set off taking three of the final points to take set two, 25-19, and a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
THIRD SET: The hosts took a 6-2 in the third set, but the Lumberjacks' Kaitlyn Patterson recorded a service ace to cut the Cougar lead to 6-4. a kill by Kassy Doering increased the hosts' lead to 10-7, but a kill by Lindsey McLaughlin off an assist from Riley Tishlarich cut the deficit to just two (10-8).  Once again, CSUSM increased its lead to 17-12, but the 'Jacks would not go away in the third set as they cut the hosts' lead to 17-15.  The Cougars came right back and scored seven of the next nine points to take a 24-17 lead.  A kill by Anna Hospodar started a 'Jack rally as they cut their deficit to 24-21 lead.  But, it was a little too late as a kill by Kelsy Rasmussen finished off the set for the Cougars, 25-21, and the match 3-0.
 
LEADERS:  Humboldt State (3-7, 2-5 CCAA) was led by Hannah Cantrell and Lindsey McLaughlin each with five kills.  HSU had seven service aces on the evening with Nicole Yakushenok, Gianna Giacomotto and Nora Thompson each recording two and Kaitlyn Patterson having one service ace.  Yakushenok had 10 assists and Patterson had 15 digs to lead the 'Jacks.
 
UP NEXT: The Lumberjacks will continue their two-match road trip this Saturday, October 9 in Hayward, California, as they will take on Cal State East Bay in another CCAA match-up beginning at 3pm.  The Pioneers faced Sonoma State this evening in Hayward in which the Seawolves won in five (25-20, 21-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-11).