Despite an ankle injury that has hounded her for a good part of the 2013 season, Alex Shurtz continues to be the offensive centerpiece of the Chico State volleyball team. As if there was any doubt, the senior from Moraga displayed her All-America form in the Wildcats’ recent matches against Cal Poly Pomona and Humboldt State, averaging well over five kills a set and helping lead the ’Cats to a split of their weekend road series. Her on-court efforts make Shurtz a killer choice for Wildcat of the Week.
Shurtz amassed 42 kills in just eight sets, posting an hitting percentage of .255. She contributed to the Wildcat cause in several other areas as well, collecting 17 digs, three blocks and a service ace as Chico State moved to 9-9 on the season and 6-5 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play.
In Thursday’s four-set loss against Cal Poly Pomona, Shurtz collected a match-high 19 kills while delivering six digs and two solo blocks. Saturday versus Humboldt State, Shurtz hammered home a season-high 23 kills (boasting a .333 hitting percentage during the match) and added 11 digs, one block and one ace in the Wildcats’ four-set victory over the Lumberjacks.
Her success comes as absolutely no surprise – Shurtz has long been prominently featured in the Wildcat record books. She currently ranks second on Chico State’s career top 10 list in kills, and needs 219 to pass Lindsay Macias (1,475) as the program’s all-time kills leader. Shurtz is also third in ’Cats history in solo blocks (70) and tied for seventh in kills per set (3.50).
Shurtz and the Chico State volleyball team returns home this weekend to host Cal State East Bay Friday and Cal State Monterey Bay Saturday at Acker Gym.
