In the final match of her freshman volleyball season, Olivia Mediano delivered a career-best 22 kills against San Francisco State. It turns out the performance was a tantalizing hint of things to come. Mediano picked up right where she left off to open the 2015 campaign, blasting 50 kills as Chico State opened the new season with four straight wins at the Route 92 Showdown. The Palm Springs native's blazing hot start makes Mediano the fall's first Wildcat of the Week recipient.
In addition to averaging 3.57 kills per set, Mediano racked up 53 digs (3.79 digs per set), three assists, two blocks and two service aces as the Wildcats swept Dominican and Holy Names on Friday before winning a five-set thriller against California Baptist on Saturday and then sweeping Academy of Art to finish the weekend.
Mediano was especially effective during the Route 92 Showdown's Saturday matches. She pounded out 18 kills to go along with 21 digs and a service ace in the marathon victory against Cal Baptist, which entered the weekend among those receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25. Mediano then finished with a flourish, posting a .382 hitting percentage en route to 18 kills against Academy of Art. She also registered 11 digs and a solo block.
Mediano currently ranks among the top 10 hitters in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in kills, kills per set, solo blocks and points per set.
Mediano and the Wildcats travel to Monmouth, Ore. this weekend for the team's final pre- conference tune-up, competing Friday and Saturday in the Western Oregon Invitational.
