ARCATA – It had to take extra serves, but the Chico State volleyball team dug out of a deep hole at the start of the deciding set and claim the match 20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 20-25, 17-19 over Cal Poly Humboldt Thursday evening.
 
The Wildcats snap 10-match losing skid and sweeps the season series with the Lumberjacks, improving to 5-14 overall and 2-13 in the CCAA.
 
After Humboldt regrouped to win the fourth set and force a game 5, the Lumberjacks carried that momentum over and built a 9-2 lead. Chico regrouped and went on a 7-1 run to get to within one point. Humboldt was two points away from the match win but Chico got crucial kills from Zoe Dinardo, Lauryn Osendorf and Brooke Ono, along with an attack error, to tie the game at 13. It took the Wildcats three times to get across the finish line and secure the match.
 
Editor's note: the statistics were being edited at the time of the release. Personal stats are subject to change.
 
Lexi Carpenter had a career-night on defense, making 29 digs for the most in her time at Chico State. DiNardo had a busy night of 17 kills and 15 digs for a double-double, Taylor Whyte had 10 kills, her first double-digit mark in a month. Brooke Ono broke the 40-assist barrier for the second straight match, tallying 43 tonight.
 
The Wildcats collectively hit .140 on the attack while making a dozen total blocks. The Lumberjacks, meanwhile, hit .081 in the front but made up a lot of their points on service aces, making 14 of them.
 
Following Humboldt's match-opening set win, Chico responded and opened the second round of the bout with a 15-3 lead. The Wildcats would maintain that comfortable lead to even the match.
 
Humboldt led for most of the third set but not by more than five points. Chico was down 20-21 when it rallied and won six straight serves, including back-to-back kills from DiNardo, to take the third game.
 
The Wildcats will drive south of Highway 101 through the beautiful California Redwoods to Rohnert Park, where they will play Sonoma State Saturday for the season's road finale. First serve is at 1 p.m.