ARCATA, Calif---  Humboldt State's volleyball team will begin their season this weekend with four-matches at the Seawolf/Gator Classic on the campus of Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, Calif.  This will be the beginning of a season long six-match road trip for the 'Jacks.  HSU will begin its season this Friday, September 10 against Chico State at 10am and Dominican at 5pm.  The 'Jacks will end their play in the Classic on September 11 against Holy Names at 10am and Academy of Art at 5pm.  All four matches will take place in The Wolves Den on the campus of Sonoma State University.
 
COACHING STAFF:  The 'Jacks are coached by eighth-year head coach Kelly Wood.  Coach Wood is assisted by Paul Castillo who is in his third season on Coach Wood's staff.
 
FIRST TIME SINCE 2019:  Humboldt State's match against Chico State this Friday will be the Lumberjacks' first match since November 15, 2019, when they lost a five-set match to Cal State Monterey Bay in Seaside. 
 
2019:  The Lumberjacks went 5-20 during the 2019 campaign as they elected to take the 2020-21 season off due to the pandemic.  Lenox Loving paced the 'Jacks with her 272 kills while she added 230 digs.  Riley Tishlarich had a team high 415 assists and Carla Crespo recorded 33 service aces.  Leading returner with her 58 blocks is Malia Coyle. 
 
ALL-CCAA:  Lenox Loving was named to the 2019 All-CCAA Team for the 'Jacks. 
 
FOUR NEWCOMERS:  Coach Wood brings in four newcomers in Riley White, Anna Hospodor, Lindsey McLaughlin and Jillian Fairchild to the 15 Lumberjacks that practiced during the pandemic year last year.
 
SCHOLARS OFF THE COURT:  Humboldt State's volleyball team had several members of its team during the 2020-21 academic year achieve academic honors.  Four were named to the D2ADA Academic Achievement Team, 11 to the CCAA All-Academic Team, six to HSU's Presidential Scholar List, four to the HSU's Dean's List and eight to the Fall CCAA All-Academic Honor Roll. 
 
LIVE STATS/VIDEO:  You can view the live stats for all four matches go to http://sidearmstats.com/sonoma/wvball/  For the video stream, go to www.ccaanetwork.com/hsu.
 
CHICO STATE:  Chico State is 3-1 after its four matches in the NorCal Kickoff in San Rafael this past weekend.  The Wildcats began with a three-set win over Dominican, but came back to lose in four to Academy of Art.  Chico State won its final two matches in three to Holy Names and in four to Fresno Pacific.  Makaela Keeves leads Chico with her 52 kills and 13 blocks while Kennedy Greenwood has a team high 35 digs followed by Zoe DiNardo's 34 digs.  Brooke Ono has a team high 142 assists.  Greenwood leads Chico with her seven saves.  This match with Chico State on Friday will be a rare non-conference between the two teams.  Chico leads the all-time series with the 'Jacks 23-3 with the Wildcats winning the last seven matches.  HSU's last win was a four-set win on September 24, 2016 in Arcata.
 
DOMINICAN:  Dominican is 0-5 after losing its five-matches at home in the NorCal Kickoff.  The Penguins lost in three sets to Chico State, Cal State East Bay, Cal State San Marcos and Stanislaus State while they lost in four to Cal State Monterey Bay.  Mariah Ahid leads Dominican with her 25 kills followed by Ella Jimenez's 23 kills.  Jimenez has a team leading 12 blocks with Haley Frederking leading DU with 71 assists.  Samantha Brown has a team high 40 digs.  Dominican leads the all-time series with HSU 3-2 with the 'Jacks winning the last meeting in three in 2019 in San Francisco.  DU's last win was in four in 2016 in Hayward.
 
HOLY NAMES:  Holy Names is 1-3 after its four matches in the NorCal Classic.  The Hawks defeated Stanislaus State in five sets, but lost their final three matches all in three to Chico State and Cal State East Bay and in five to Cal State Monterey Bay.  Lauren Sera leads HNU with her 36 kills while Jasmine Yun has a team leading 47 assists.  Rein Bocage has team high 37 digs and Saupuni Mavaega has recorded a team high 17 blocks.  HSU leads the all-time series with Hawks 4-0 including winning in three in Oakland in 2018.
 
ACADEMY OF ART:  Academy of Art is 2-2 after its four matches in San Rafael in the NorCal Classic.  The Urban Knights started the classic with two four-sets victories over Cal State East Bay and Chico State while they lost in four to Cal State Monterey Bay and in five to Stanislaus State.  Katherine Van Kraut leads Art with her 55 kills while Pacob Reinhold has 168 assists to lead the Urban Knights.  Ashley Mechan has recorded a team leading 46 digs and Jillian Wheaton has 14 blocks.  HSU leads the all-time series with the Urban Knights 7-3 with the 'Jacks winning three of the last four matches including 3-0 in 2019 in Carson.  Academy of Art last defeated the 'Jacks in five in 2017 in Arcata.
 
UP NEXT:  Humboldt State will continue its season long six-match road trip when the 'Jacks begin conference play with a pair of matches in Los Angeles.  The 'Jacks will face Cal State Los Angeles on September 17 at 4pm and Cal State Dominguez Hills at noon on September 18.
 
HOME OPENER:  HSU's home opener will be on September 24 at 5pm against Stanislaus State.  This will be the beginning of a four-match home stand for the 'Jacks.