SEASIDE, Calif. – Cal Poly Humboldt (7-12, 3-8 CCAA) fought valiantly in a four-set showdown but ultimately fell to Cal State Monterey Bay (5-13, 4-7 CCAA) on Friday evening at the Otter Sports Center. Despite a strong effort from the 'Jacks, the Otters emerged victorious, capturing the match with scores of 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, and 26-24.

Match Summary
The Jacks faced early struggles in the opening set, posting a .059 hitting percentage to the Otters' .281, leading to a 25-18 setback. Humboldt roared back in the second set, improving its hitting to .267 and outscoring Monterey Bay 25-18 to even the match at one set apiece. The third set saw another close contest, but the Otters pulled ahead with a .313 attack percentage to Humboldt's .179, taking the set 25-23. In a dramatic fourth set, Humboldt pushed to the very end, but Monterey Bay edged out the victory with a 26-24 score.

Notable Performances
- Awelina Fakalata led all players with an impressive 20 kills, supported by Graysen Trupp with 12 kills.
- Shanaley Iakopo led from the service line with three aces, with Sophia Spoja and Brielle Wilson each adding two.
- Humboldt's defense was anchored by **Spoja**, who led with 20 digs, while Madyn Cervellera and Fakalata contributed nine and seven digs, respectively.
- Wilson distributed 27 assists in the match, setting up Humboldt's offense alongside Kyra Slavik and Spoja, who combined for 11 assists.

Statistical Highlights
The Jacks tallied a total of 49 kills to the Otters' 54 and posted a .175 hitting percentage compared to the Otters' .269. Humboldt's aggressive serving game yielded nine aces, while Cal State Monterey Bay managed four. In digs, Monterey Bay narrowly led with 60 to Humboldt's 53, highlighting the defensive tenacity displayed by both squads.

The 'Jacks will look to rebound and build on the positives from this hard-fought match as they continue their road series, seeking to make gains in the CCAA standings.

Up Next
Cal Poly Humboldt returns to action tomorrow (Oct. 26), facing Cal State East Bay from Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward at 5:00 PM to close out this week's road trip. The match will be available for streaming on FloVolleyball. For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt Volleyball, please visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app, and follow us on all social media platforms.