ARCATA, Calif. – In a highly anticipated matchup that marked the start of the Cal Poly Clash rivalry series, Cal Poly Humboldt volleyball put up a strong fight before falling to No. 7 Cal Poly Pomona in a thrilling four-set match (26-24, 18-25, 20-25, 29-31) on Thursday night at Lumberjack Arena. 

With an attendance of 561 fans, the inaugural Cal Poly Clash saw Humboldt (6-7, 2-3 CCAA) push Pomona (11-1, 5-0 CCAA) to the limit, particularly in a gritty fourth set that went into extra points before the Broncos ultimately closed out the match 31-29.

"It was a tough battle and we know that Pomona is at the top of our conference," said head coach Angela Spoja. "We matched them dig-for-dig and out-blocked them, but we needed a little more offense tonight. We are playing pretty good volleyball right now and we will adjust for San Marcos on Saturday."

The Lumberjacks got off to a strong start, taking the first set 26-24, led by a dominant performance from Awelina Fakalata, who posted a match-high 21 kills and 24 digs, earning her sixth double-double and sixth 20-kill match of the season. Humboldt outhit Pomona in the first set with a hitting percentage of .212 to the Broncos' .113, and Madyn Cervellera added 14 kills and 6 blocks, proving a key presence both offensively and defensively.

Pomona responded by claiming the next three sets, including a decisive 25-18 second set where the Broncos' offense, led by Samantha Campion's 21 kills and 15 digs, found their rhythm. Cal Poly Pomona's defense, anchored by Sarah Ybarra's 24 digs, also proved challenging for the Lumberjacks.

Despite the momentum shift, Humboldt refused to back down. The fourth set was a back-and-forth battle, with the Lumberjacks fighting off multiple match points to extend the set into extra points. Key plays from Fakalata, Cervellera, and setter Kyra Slavik, who tallied 36 assists and 19 digs, kept Humboldt within striking distance until Pomona narrowly escaped with a 31-29 win.

The overall team statistics highlighted the tight battle of the contest. Humboldt and Pomona were tied in digs with 93 apiece, and while Pomona had an edge in kills (65-50), Humboldt recorded more blocks, finishing with 13 to Pomona's 7.

Key Statistics:
- Kills: Cal Poly Humboldt – 50 (Fakalata 21, Cervellera 14); Cal Poly Pomona – 65 (Campion 21, Ybarra 18)
- Blocks: Cal Poly Humboldt – 13 (Cervellera 6, Slavik 4); Cal Poly Pomona – 7 (Campion 3, Athans 3)
- Digs: Both teams – 93
- Assists: Cal Poly Humboldt – 43 (Slavik 36); Cal Poly Pomona – 53 (Mueller 48)

The loss puts Humboldt at 6-7 overall and 2-3 in CCAA play, while the No. 7 ranked Broncos improve to 11-1 and remains unbeaten in conference action. Humboldt will look to bounce back on Saturday, as they host Cal State San Marcos (2-9, 0-4 CCAA) at 2:00 PM in Lumberjack Arena. 

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt Volleyball, please visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app, and follow us on all social media platforms. 

Free Regular Season Home Matches in Lumberjack Arena
Thanks to a sponsorship from Mortages with Oceana, Cal Poly Humboldt will have free admission to all 2024 regular-season home matches this fall.