ARCATA, Calif. - Cal Poly Humboldt volleyball delivered a dominant deciding set to defeat UC Merced 3-2 Thursday night during the Dig Pink Match inside Lumberjack Arena. The Lumberjacks earned the victory by set scores of 23-25, 30-28, 25-23, 20-25 and 15-10.
The opening set featured 10 ties and seven lead changes. Humboldt held a 10-4 advantage before UC Merced responded to level the frame. The Lumberjacks remained within one late, but the Bobcats secured the final two points for a 25-23 win.
Humboldt answered in an extended second set. After UC Merced erased a 24-21 deficit,
Graysen Trupp delivered kills to give the Lumberjacks set-point opportunities at 25-24 and 26-25. The teams continued trading points until
Isabella Hartwig helped Humboldt draw level at 28-28. Consecutive UC Merced attacking errors then completed the 30-28 victory.
The third set was tied eight times before Humboldt created separation with a late run.
Emma Fauth recorded an ace and
Avary Spoja contributed a block as the Lumberjacks moved ahead 23-20. After UC Merced tied the frame at 23, Trupp helped close the 25-23 win as Humboldt took a two-sets-to-one lead.
UC Merced forced a fifth set with a 25-20 victory in the fourth, but Humboldt quickly regained control in the deciding frame.
The Lumberjacks turned a 2-2 tie into a 10-4 advantage behind kills from Hartwig and Spoja, two Spoja service aces and several Bobcat attacking errors. UC Merced closed within two at 12-10 before Humboldt scored the final three points. Trupp delivered consecutive kills, and a UC Merced error secured the 15-10 victory.
Trupp led the Lumberjacks with 15 kills while hitting .414 and added six digs and two total blocks.
Tatyana Jennings finished with 11 kills, while
Addison Bookstaber contributed eight.
Spoja produced a match-high 17 points behind seven kills, six service aces and four solo blocks. Hartwig added four kills on eight attacks and four total blocks, while
Phoebe Bland recorded four solo blocks.
Claire Crawford directed the offense with 23 assists and nine digs, while
Brielle Wilson added 18 assists and two aces.
Elizabeth Jade Andrade anchored the back row with a match-high 21 digs.
Humboldt finished with 47 kills, 62 digs, 13 total blocks and 11 service aces. The Lumberjacks hit .438 with nine kills and only two errors during the deciding set.
The victory improved Humboldt to 9-7 overall and 4-4 in CCAA play.
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The Lumberjacks will conclude their homestand Saturday, Oct. 17, when they host undefeated Fresno Pacific at 1 p.m. inside Lumberjack Arena for Hometown Heroes and Faculty and Staff Appreciation.
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