ARCATA, Calif. – The SF State women's volleyball team took down host Humboldt State in five sets in a thrilling match on Saturday evening.  The key to the Gators win was the depth of SF State's attack, four players had at least 10 kills.

SF State (11-12/9-7 CCAA) was led by senior outside hitter Jaclyn Clark led the way with a team-high 19 kills.  Freshman opposite Chantelle Williams tied her career-high with 14 kills, Samantha Krakower had 11, while Taylor Brownlee had 10.

Defensively, the Gators were relentless, five players had 10 or more digs, including three who had more than 20.  Jessica Nicerio led the way with a match-high 28 digs.  Sophomore setter Catherine Feathers was outstanding, recording 59 assists and a career-high 25 digs. Clark also had a double-double recording 20 digs.  Marisa Rojo had a career-high 10 digs, Ariana Cruz also had 10 digs.  

In the opening set, with the Lumberjacks (9-11/7-9 CCAA) leading 14-10, the Gators went on a 7-0 run to take a 17-14 lead from there, they never looked back.  The Gators had incredible balance in the opening set with five players tallying two or more kills.  SF State hit .387, throwing down 15 kills.  The Jacks responded hitting .250, the difference in the set was that the Gators hit into just three attack errors while the Jacks hit into six.  Brownlee's third kill of the set gave the Gators the 25-22 win in the set.

The second set was the polar opposite of the first.  The Gators hit into 11 errors in the fame and tallied just 11 kills.  The Jacks took the lead early in the frame and maintained it all the way through the set.  The Gators trailed by as much as six early, they managed to cut the lead to two at 15-13 but the Jacks held on to take the frame 25-19.

In the third set the Gators jumped out to a 9-8 lead following back-to-back kills by Brownlee.  The Gators eventually increased their lead to four, 15-11.  Following a timeout by the Lumberjacks, Humboldt State proceeded to go on a 6-0 run to take a 17-15 lead midway through the third.  The Gators went on a run of their own and retook the lead 20-18.  The two sides battled to several ties with the Gators eventually taking the lead and the set 26-24.  The Gators hit just four attack errors in the frame, while the Lumberjacks tallied 10.

The fourth set followed a similar script to the third.  The Gators once again kept the attack errors in check and the frame was dictated by long runs from both squads.  With the set knotted up at 8-8 the Gators went on a 4-0 run to take a 12-8 lead.  The Jacks responded going on a 7-2 run to retake the lead 15-14.  With the Gators leading 18-16, the Jacks closed out the set going on an 8-2 run to take a 24-20 lead.  The Gators cut that lead to one, 24-23 before the Jacks took the frame 25-23.

In the fifth and final set the Gators raced out to a 6-2 lead.  At the turn the Gators found themselves up 8-5.  The jacks cut that least to once, 8-7.  The Gators rallied going up 12-8 after another huge kill by Williams.  The Jacks cut that lead to one once again, 13-12, however, two-straight kills by Clark gave the Gators the set and the match, 15-13.

The Gators return home starting next Friday, Nov. 6 when they host Cal Poly Pomona at the Main Gymnasium at the Don Nasser Family Plaza. 

Complete Box Score (PDF)

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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.

Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments.  For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.