Arcata, CA – Senior Sophia Lopes led three Toros in double figures with her eighth double-double of the season of 19 kills and 20 digs, but host Humboldt State chopped down CSUDH in a close four-game match, 27-30, 32-30, 27-30, 26-30. With the loss CSUDH falls to 2-17, 1-7 CCAA and HSU improves to 7-10, 3-6 CCAA.
The 'Jacks were cruising along in the opener with a 20-14 lead and looked to be on their way to taking game one until back-to-back kills by Ashley Clark, followed by four-consecutive services from Lauren Wells, put the Toros back in the game and cut the deficit to just one at 20-19.
CSUDH kept its momentum going and took the lead at 23-22 after a pair of HSU attacking errors, but the 'Jacks fought their way back and regained their lead at 25-24 on a Toro blocking error.
Southpaw freshman Marissa Anderson re-knotted the game at 25-25 on a kill off a set from senior Tiffany Bull, but after another tie four points later, HSU's Olivia Solomon finished off the Toros with a pair of kills.
With game two knotted at 8-8, the Toros capitalized on a pair of attacking errors by the 'Jacks in between two kills by Anderson to build a 12-8 lead.
After a tie at 16-16, the Toros began to pull away, building a 23-17 lead on Lopes' 10th kill of the afternoon.
The 'Jacks inched their way back into the game on back-to-back kills by Mallory Briney and Danielle Wells, and a CSUDH hitting error to cut the Toro lead to just one at 27-26.
The Toros regrouped after the strong charge by the 'Jacks and after Bull dropped an ace, Travette Pettigrew sent back the HSU attack attempt with a solo block for the game two win.
Game three was a tight battle early on with ties at 1-1, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 9-9, and 10-10 before a kill by Poerava Gantt gave the 'Jacks the lead, which they would never relinquish in taking game three.
HSU jumped all over the Toros to start game four, building a 7-0 lead behind the serving of Liz Shannon.
With CSUDH down 13-8, Clark stepped behind the service line and, after kills by Anderson and Lopes, recorded a pair of aces to bring the Toros within two at 13-11.
Megan Berndt ended the Toro run with a kill and HSU pushed its lead to 19-13, but again the Toros rallied and came within one at 23-22 on a kill by Bull.
However, that seemed to be the last gasp for the Toros as the 'Jacks held off CSUDH to take game four and the match.
In addition to Lopes' double-double, Clark and Bull added their own double-doubles of 11 kills and 11 digs, and 37 assists and 13 digs, respectively. Anderson was the last Toro in double figures with 14 kills, while libero Jenise Espindola chipped in 19 digs in the effort.
The Toros are next in action on Tuesday, October 9, when they host Bentley College at a special 4:00 pm start time in the Torodome.
