Throughout the 2011 volleyball season, opposing coaches have gradually come to realize that Alex Shurtz is not the only offensive weapon the Chico State volleyball team possesses. Sophomore Ellie Larronde has established herself as an extremely dangerous hitter, and her impressive season stat line more than backs up that claim. The Salinas native turned in one her most productive weekends of the season, and her “killer” performance has earned Larronde Wildcat of the Week honors.
Though Chico State dropped a pair of tough road matches, Larronde provided the Wildcats with plenty of offense. She collected a total of 36 kills over the weekend, averaging four winners per set, while posting an excellent .284 hitting percentage. She also contributed defensively with her seventh solo block of the season.
Larronde registered 16 kills Friday in Chico State’s match against San Francisco State, then bettered her performance Saturday versus Sonoma State, hammering home a career-best 20 kills in a five-set loss to the Seawolves.
Larronde is currently ranked second among Wildcat players in kills (219) and kills per set (2.81), and is tied for second on the team in solo blocks. She has registered double-digit kills in her last three matches and has produced 10 or more kills 13 times this season.
Larronde and the Wildcats return home this weekend to face Cal State San Bernardino on Friday and UC San Diego Saturday.
