The “setting sophomore,” Sable Villaescusa, proved once again that the Chico State offense goes directly through her. Villaescusa racked up a total of 95 assists last week as the Wildcats sandwiched victories over William Jessup and California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) foe Cal State Dominguez Hills around a hard-fought four set defeat at the hands of No. 21 Cal State L.A. She also contributed seven kills, 14 digs, three service aces and four block assists, helping the Wildcats improve to 5-2 on the season. Villaescusa’s solid all-around play has earned the Rancho Cucamonga native “Wildcat of the Week” honors.
Tuesday against William Jessup, Villaescusa collected 32 assists, eight digs, three kills and a pair of aces in the ’Cats four-set win over the Warriors. In the conference opener against Cal State L.A., Villaescusa chalked up another 29 assists, two kills, three digs and three block assists, but it was not enough to keep Chico State from bowing to the Golden Eagles. Saturday Villaescusa helped get the Wildcats back on the winning track, dishing out 34 assists and adding two kills in a three-set victory over the Toros.
Villaescusa, an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) West Region honorable mention last year, is currently ranked second in the CCAA with 248 assists on the season and sixth in the conference in average assists per set (9.19). Though she’s just seven matches into her sophomore season, Villaescusa already has 1,443 assists as a Wildcat, placing her eighth on the all-time Chico State career assists list.
The Wildcats will travel to Redding Wednesday to take on NAIA opponent Simpson University, then return home to Acker Gymnasium to host CCAA rivals Humboldt State Friday and Sonoma State on Saturday. Both matches get underway at 7 p.m.
