SILVER CITY, NM—Cal Poly Humboldt's volleyball team started their 2022 season with an exciting four-set win over the hosts, Western New Mexico Mustangs this evening in the first match of the Green Chile Classic in Silver City, New Mexico.  The Jacks lost in the first set 25-15, but came back to win the match as they won the last three sets 25-18, 25-21 and 29-27.  Lindsey McLaughlin had nine kills and seven digs while Amanda Klotz added seven kills and nine digs.  Nicole Yakushenok had a match high 19 assists to lead the way for the Jacks.
 
COACHES COMMENTS:  :We are excited for the win and the fight we saw in our team in the fourth set," said head coach Angela Spoja.  "We know we still have a lot to work on while we figure out our lineups and team chemistry however, we did some really great things tonight. I thought we started off the first set slow and had to make some game time adjustments, and as we did that our serve receive and blocking improved. Nicole Yakushenok had a fantastic night leading the court and Lindsey McLaughlin showed a fight to win. Our freshman middle blockers, Kailie Flores and Avery McIntyre did a fantastic job and we are excited for their future. It took the whole team tonight and the energy from the bench was contagious! We have two tough matches tomorrow and we are really happy to be competing."
 
FIRST SET:  A kill by Avery McIntyre gave the Jacks an 8-7 lead in the first set, but the Mustangs scored seven of the next nine points to take a 14-10 lead.   Back-to-back service aces by Janey Ortiz gave the hosts a 18-11 lead.  Western New Mexico (0-1) increased its lead to 22-12 and held on for the 25-15 set one victory.
 
SECOND SET:  It was a different story in the next set as the Jacks came out on fire to take a 15-4 lead.  The Mustangs cut the Jack lead to 16-8 on block by Jazmyne Walker.  Humboldt took a 19-10 lead on a kill by McLaughlin and a bad set by WNMU.  The hosts scored the next four points to cut the Humboldt lead to 19-14.  The Jacks came right back with the next four points keyed by two service aces by Kailie Flores.
 
THIRD SET:  Once again, the Jacks came out on fire in the third set taking a 12-5 lead capped by a kill by Malia Coyle off a pass from Kaitlyn Patterson.  A service ace by the Mustangs cut the Jack lead to 14-10, but the Jacks took five of the next six points to take a 19-11 lead.  Western New Mexico didn't go away as the Mustangs cut the Jack lead to 20-18.  Humboldt finished the set off scoring five of the next seven points to take the third set 25-21 and to take a 2-1 lead.
 
FOURTH SET:  The fourth and final set went back and forth all the way through it with the Jacks taking a 25-24 lead on a block by McIntyre.  Cal Poly Humboldt (1-0) took the set, 29-27, and the match, 3-1, as the Jacks scored four of the final six points capped by a hitting error by the hosts.
 
LEADERS:  Lindsey McLaughlin had nine kills while Amanda Klotz added seven and Kailie Flores had six.  Flores led Humboldt with her four service with McLaughlin recording three and Macy Thomas two.  Avery McIntyre had three total blocks with Elyse McKinney recording two and McLaughlin also having two total blocks.  Nicole Yakushenok had 19 assists.  Leading Humboldt with nine digs was Klotz with McLaughlin adding seven and Thomas six.
 
UP NEXT:  The Jacks will finish off their play in the Green Chile Classic tomorrow morning.  They will face Hoiy Names at 9am (MT) and Wisconsin-Parkside at 11am (MT).