LOS ANGELES – Despite a determined effort, the Cal Poly Humboldt volleyball team fell in straight sets to Cal State LA, 23-25, 24-26, 19-25, on Thursday evening at University Gym. The Golden Eagles, who received votes in the national poll and are ranked fifth in the West Region, leveraged efficient hitting and balanced play to secure the victory in front of a crowd of 157.

The Lumberjacks (8-17, 4-13 CCAA) demonstrated resilience in the opening two sets, narrowly missing opportunities to claim a win against the Golden Eagles (15-9, 10-7 CCAA). Cal State LA's sharp offensive execution proved pivotal, finishing with a .286 hitting percentage compared to Humboldt's .167.

Match Highlights
- Set 1: Humboldt opened with a competitive showing, hitting .185 and tallying nine kills, but Cal State LA's .275 hitting percentage and 19 kills gave the home team a 25-23 edge.  
- Set 2: The Lumberjacks responded with their best offensive set, hitting .244 with 16 kills. However, the Golden Eagles edged them out 26-24 behind a .289 hitting percentage.  
- Set 3: Cal State LA closed the match with a .296 hitting percentage in the third set, holding the Jacks to .059.  

Lumberjack Leaders 
- Kills: Awelina Fakalata paced the attack with nine kills, followed by Graysen Trupp with seven.  
- Aces: Fakalata and Kyra Slavik each served two aces to lead the team.  
- Blocks: Aurora Meneghetti stood tall at the net with four blocks.  
- Assists: Slavik dished out a team-high 17 assists, while Brielle Wilson added 11.  
- Digs: Sophia Spoja led all players with 15 digs, while Slavik added 12 for a double-double.  

Golden Eagle Standouts
Cal State LA's Emily Elliott led all players with 15 kills, while Zuhal Cetin posted a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs. Setter Ashlyn Beaver contributed 14 assists and two blocks, aiding the Golden Eagles' strong defensive and offensive performances.

The Lumberjacks will look to rebound and finish the season as they continue their Southern California road trip.

Up Next
Humboldt will look for revenge in the final match of the season against Cal State Dominguez Hills (6-18, 3-13 CCAA) at 5:00 PM from the Torodome. 

All games 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.