ARCATA, Calif. – The San Francisco State women's volleyball team received double-digit kills from three players to help defeat a pesky Humboldt State squad in four sets Saturday (25-13, 24-26, 25-20, 25-12) in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match at Lumberjack Arena.
Halimah Oswald led a balanced offense with 11 kills, while Lauren Walsh and Robyn Hall added 10 non-returnables of their own to help the Gators improve to 8-6 overall and 5-4 in league action. Conversely, Lumberjacks remain winless on the year at 0-13 and 0-9 in the CCAA, despite Oceana Matsubu's match-high 14 kills.
Sarah Lewis also figured in SF State's good fortune with nine kills and personal-best four block solos, while Iris Tolenada dished out a match-high 41 assists and added six kills on eight attempts with no errors (.750). With her assist total, Tolenada now ranks third in school history with 1,830 helpers for her career, surpassing Angie Hart's total of 1,791.
As a team, the Gators limited HSU to a .054 hitting percentage on the evening and maintained a 57-32 advantage in kills and a 63-57 edge in digs, including Walsh's team-high 16 scoops. The Purple and Gold also served up a season-high 11 aces, including three each by Tolenada and Sarah Kurfess.
SF State took advantage of 11 Lumberjack attack errors in the opening set, as the host school hit negatively at -.161 on six just kills in 31 attempts. The Gators built a 6-1 lead on a Tolenada service ace and an errant HSU attack attempt, but the Jacks were soon able to trim the deficit to three at 9-6, following an SF State's own miscue. The Purple and Gold quickly gave itself some breathing room, however, crafting a 9-4 run, capped by a Katie Judd kill and another Jacks attack error. Moments later, a Lewis kill provided the clinching point.
The second stanza was much tighter as the two sides slugged it out through 18 ties and 12 lead changes. With the score knotted at 12-12, HSU reeled off four straight points on two Matsubu kills and two SF State attack errors. The Gators promptly answered the Jacks run with an 8-2 surge of their own as Oswald and Walsh knocked down kills, while Tolenada served up an ace to put the visitors in front 21-18. HSU stole SF State's momentum at this juncture, eventually pulling ahead 23-22, following back-to-back kills by Taylor Manuel and Matsubu. The Gators went out in front 24-23 on an Oswald service ace; however, the Jacks tallied three straight points on a pair of Matsubu kills sandwiched around an SF State attack error to escape with the set.
The Gators got off to a wobbly start in the third frame, falling behind 5-0, following a service ace by Channel Washington. SF State was able to pick itself off the mat, however, ultimately tying the score at 8-8, following an HSU attack error. Moments later, a kill by Hall gave the visitors a 14-11 advantage, until a 5-0 spurt put the Jacks in front once again at 16-14. Undaunted, the Gators responded with seven consecutive points of their own, punctuated by a Lewis kill, to build a 21-16 bulge it would not relinquish. The Jacks closed to within 23-20 after a block by Toni Kroeker and Joliann Arzadon, but consecutive kills by Hall and Megan Larmour snuffed out any HSU comeback hopes.
SF State never trailed in the fourth set, but the Jacks remained in contention at 11-10, following a Gator attack error. The Purple and Gold effectively took control of the match at this juncture as another Larmour kill capped an 8-0 run, putting the visitors comfortably ahead at 19-10. Moments later, Oswald launched a kill, while HSU followed with an attack error to seal the win for the Gators.
SF State hits the road once again next weekend when it tangles with Chico State (Oct. 8) and Cal State Stanislaus (Oct. 9) on consecutive nights. First serve for both matches is slated for 7 p.m.
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