HILO, HI — The Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks (3-1, 0-0 CCAA) secured their third consecutive victory with a thrilling five-set win over Saint Martin's (1-3, 0-0 GNAC), 3-2 (25-16, 22-25, 22-25, 25-18, 17-15) on Saturday night at Vulcan Gym in Hilo, Hawaii. This marks the Lumberjacks' best start through four games since 2016 and their first three-match winning streak since 2019.

The match culminated in a dramatic finish as Aurora Meneghetti delivered a service ace on the final point to clinch a 17-15 victory in the deciding set, sending the Lumberjacks into celebration.

"This team has some serious grit and they showed that tonight in our five set match," stated head coach Angela Spoja. "We needed to be tested in five so I'm glad this opportunity presented itself. This forst tournament was only a small testament of what this team will accomplish this season. Very proud of our overall success and performance."

Cal Poly Humboldt began the match with a commanding 25-16 win in the first set, fueled by a scorching .474 hitting percentage while holding Saint Martin's to just .036. However, the Saints rebounded, taking the next two sets (25-22, 25-22) behind the efforts of Jennifer Soha (14 kills) and Emily Garten (13 kills).

Down 2-1, the Lumberjacks showed resilience in the fourth set, securing a 25-18 win with contributions from Awelina Fakalata, who led all players with 25 kills and added 2 aces. In a tense fifth set, Cal Poly Humboldt held firm, with Meneghetti's ace providing the match-winning point.

Fakalata's stellar performance was bolstered by Graysen Trupp (11 kills) and Madyn Cervellera (10 kills), while Kyra Slavik directed the offense with 39 assists. Defensively, Sophia Spoja and Mackenzie Gilchrist each recorded 18 digs, and Allaina Houk contributed a match-high 7 blocks to anchor the front line.

Saint Martin's put up a strong fight, with Soha and Garten combining for 27 kills and Tiffany Lam and Aundrea Oxentine tallying 12 assists each. Abigail Halstead and Lam led the Saints' defense with 9 and 8 digs, respectively.

The Lumberjacks' slight edge in key areas—kills (55-54), hitting percentage (.210 to .162), aces (10-6), and blocks (12-5)—proved decisive in this hard-fought contest.

Cal Poly Humboldt's strong start is reflected in their standing atop multiple CCAA statistical categories. Awelina Fakalata is currently second in the conference in both kills and total points. Kyra Slavik leads all players in assists, Allaina Houk ranks first in total blocks, and Sophia Spoja is at the top of the leaderboard in digs, underscoring the Lumberjacks' balanced and dominant play.

Looking to extend their winning streak to four, Cal Poly Humboldt will head to Grand Junction, Colorado next weekend to compete in the Maverick Fall Classic that is hosted by Colorado Mesa University. 

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.