HILO, HI -- Cal Poly Humboldt Women's Volleyball opened their season at the Hawai'i Fall Classic in Hilo, Hawai'i taking on Western Oregon in the morning and the host school, UH Hilo, in the evening. After dropping the first match to Western Oregon (1-3), the 'Jacks responded with a big win over UH Hilo (3-1) to split the day. 

"Success is not just about winning; it's about learning and improving with each game," stated head coach Angela Spoja. "Today, we faced challenges in our early match, but worked those out to take a win off Hilo tonight. It was a hard fought match and our team showed a lot of grit, never giving up. We will let both experiences fuel our growth and drive us to be better in the next match against Hawai'i Pacific tomorrow. We are excited to be here and be back on the court!" 

Game 1 recap vs. Western Oregon
Cal Poly Humboldt Volleyball opened their 2024 season with a hard-fought 3-1 loss to Western Oregon at the Vulcan Gym in Hilo, Hawaii. The Jacks battled throughout but ultimately fell to the Wolves with set scores of 21-25, 25-15, 24-26, and 23-25.

The match saw standout performances from several Jacks players. Freshman outside hitter Madyn Cervellera led the way with an impressive 20 kills and 12 digs, notching a double-double in her career debut, while Graysen Trupp added 13 kills. The team's defense was anchored by libero Sophia Spoja, who tallied 18 digs, and setter Kyra Slavik, who dished out 35 assists and added 5 digs of her own.

Despite losing the first set 25-21, the Jacks bounced back in the second set, taking control with a dominant 25-15 win. They continued to challenge Western Oregon, pushing the third set to the wire before falling 26-24. The fourth set was another tight contest, but Cal Poly Humboldt was unable to overcome the Wolves, losing 25-23.

Western Oregon was led by Maela Honma, who recorded 14 kills and 10 digs, while Chloe Asciutto added 5 service aces and 4 blocks. 

Game 2 recap vs. Hawai'i Hilo
Cal Poly Humboldt Volleyball captured their first win of the season with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Hawaii Hilo in the evening match at Vulcan Gym. The 'Jacks fought through four tightly contested sets, emerging with scores of 25-23, 15-25, 29-27, and 25-23.

Sophomore outside hitter Awelina Fakalata shined for the Jacks, posting a match-high 22 kills and 10 digs, while Graysen Trupp contributed 14 kills and 3 blocks. Madyn Cervellera added 8 kills to the Jacks' offensive effort. Kyra Slavik led the team's distribution with 37 assists, and Sophia Spoja anchored the defense with 15 digs.

Cal Poly Humboldt started strong, taking a close first set 25-23. After dropping the second set 25-15, the Jacks responded in a dramatic third set, winning 29-27 in extra points. The fourth set was another nail-biter, with the Jacks holding off Hawai'i Hilo to secure a 25-23 victory and the match.

Hawaii Hilo was led by Taylor Tullo, who recorded 13 kills, and Kamryn Childs, who added 10 kills and 4 blocks. Maya Imoto-Eakin and Emerson Reinke shared setting duties, combining for 41 assists.

With this win, Cal Poly Humboldt split the day and improves to 1-1 on the season, looking to build their momentum as they continue tournament play in Hilo, Hawaii.

Next Up
Humboldt will take on Hawai'i Pacific on Friday evening at 7 PM PT. Streaming is available here.

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