ARCATA, Calif.---- Cal Poly Humboldt women's volleyball team will begin a new era in Lumberjack Volleyball as first-year head coach
Angela Spoja takes over the the Jacks' program. The Jacks returns 13 letter-winners from last-year's team including All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) performer
Lindsey McLaughlin.
"The coaching staff is really excited to start the season against competitive teams at our pre-season opener," said Spoja. "We are eager to watch our team perform and compete and use the skills we are working on in a live match. We see them improving greatly at practice and look forward to the upcoming season."
Also returning for the Jacks are starters
Riley Tishlarich,
Kaitlyn Patterson and
Anna Hospodar. Also back is 2019 All-CCAA honoree
Lenox Loving after an injury sat her down after just 30 sets played during the 2021 season.
McLaughlin led Humboldt with her 166 kills and .176 hitting percentage to go with her team high 44 total blocks. Tishlarich had a team high 243 assists last season in 57 sets played.
The Jacks begin their 2022 campaign with three matches in the Green Chile Classic in Silver City, New Mexico, August 25-26. They will face hosts, Western New Mexico, on August 25 at 6pm (MT) to begin the classic. The Jacks will finish off the classic against Holy Names and Wisconsin-Parkside on August 26 at 9am (MT) and 11am (MT) respectively.
Humboldt will have a week off to prepare to begin the CCAA season. The Jacks will begin their conference schedule at home facing Cal State East Bay (Sept. 8) and Cal State San Marcos (Sept. 10. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 5pm.
The Jacks will be on the road for their next four matches beginning in Southern California against Cal Poly Pomona (Sept. 16, 5pm) and defending CCAA champion Cal State San Bernardino (Sept. 17, 7pm). Humboldt finishes off its road trip at Cal State Monterey Bay (Sept. 23, 5pm) and San Francisco State (Sept. 24, 5pm).
Cal Poly Humboldt returns to Lumberjack Arena on Sept. 29 at 7pm when the Jacks host Stanislaus State. The Jacks will host Chico State on Oct. 1 at 5pm.
Humboldt will face its road partner, Sonoma State, in a home-away series the following week. The two teams will face each other in Rohnert Park on Oct. 6 at 5pm. They will finish off the home-away series on Oct. 8 also at 5pm.
The Jacks will return to Southern California for a pair of 5pm starting matches, Oct. 14-15. They will be at Cal State Los Angeles on Oct. 14 and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Oct. 15.
Humboldt will return to Lumberjack Arena for its final four home matches of the regular season. The Jacks will host San Francisco State on Oct. 20 at 7pm and Cal State Monterey Bay on Oct. 22 at 4pm. they will finish off its home stand on Oct. 27 at 7pm versus Cal State San Bernardino and Oct. 29 at 5pm versus Cal Poly Pomona. The Jacks' Oct. 29, Humboldt will recognize its seniors prior to the match.
They will return to the road for their final matches of the regular season, Nov. 3-5. Humboldt will face Cal State San Marcos on Nov. 3 at 5pm in San Marcos. The Jacks will conclude their season on Nov. 5 at 5pm in Hayward against Cal State East Bay.
Humboldt looks to qualify for the 2022 CCAA Championships, which are set for Nov. 10-12 at Cal State San Marcos. The top six teams at the end of the regular season will receive a bid to the championships. The top seeds will receive a first-round bye. The winner of the championship will receive the conference's bid to the NCAA Division II Championships.
The NCAA Division II West Regionals are set for Nov. 17-19 at a site to be announced. The nationals are set for Dec. 1-3 in Seattle, Wash., as part of the NCAA Division II Fall Festival.
