CHICO, Calif. – It had been nearly three weeks since the Chico State volleyball team had played in the friendly confines of Acker Gym, and with nine of its next 11 matches in Chico, the table was set for the Wildcats to feast on some good ol’ home cookin’. Visiting Cal State L.A., though, spoiled the No. 25 ’Cats homecoming Friday night, besting Chico State in four sets in a key California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matchup. The Golden Eagles won by scores of 25-17, 24-26, 25-19 and 25-14.
Chico State, which began the evening in a four-way tie for third place in the CCAA, dropped to 15-5 on the season with Friday’s loss and 6-4 in conference play. Cal State L.A. improved to 11-6 for the year and 7-3 in the CCAA.
The first set saw the Wildcats fall behind early as the Golden Eagles broke a 4-all tie with a 12-5 run to take a 16-9 lead. Gillian Heydorff generated four kills to try to bring Chico State back in the contest, but the Wildcats cold get no closer than six points the rest of the way…Gabriela Bulawczyk’s third kill of the set provided match point as Cal State L.A. grabbed the 25-17 victory.
Chico State rebounded to take the second set, but after leading most of the way, the ’Cats had to come from behind to pull out the win and even the match. Five kills by Heydorff and three from Jessica Leek powered the Wildcats to an early 11-9 advantage, but the Golden Eagles stayed closed, tying Chico State at 22-all and then taking a 24-23 lead. Faced with match point, the Wildcats responded with two kills by Heydorff and a Kayla Baumgardner service ace to snatch the 26-24 second set victory.
That would be Chico State’s last hurrah, however, as Cal State L.A. used a 15-4 run to turn a 9-6 deficit into a 21-13 lead in the third set. The Wildcats scored the next five points to close to within three, but the Golden Eagles utilized two kills, a service ace and a Chico State attack error to roll to the 25-19 win.
It was all Cal State L.A. in the fourth set, as the Golden Eagles never trailed. The Wildcats did themselves no favors, committing seven attack errors to trigger a 12-1 Cal State L.A. run to put the Golden Eagles comfortably in front, 24-11. Chico State kept their slim hopes alive by posting three straight points, but Zuzana Cizova’s 17th kill of the night put an abrupt end to the proceedings, as Cal State L.A. cruised to the 25-14 victory and the match.
Heydorff was Chico State’s big hitter in the losing effort – her 21 kills now gives her 1,055 for her Chico State career, moving her into third place on the Wildcats’ all-time kills list. Heydorff, Makenzie Snyder and Sable Villaescusa each tallied 16 digs, with Jessica Simms contributing 14. Villaescusa also racked up 38 assists, but it wasn’t enough to keep the ’Cats from seeing their three match win streak go by the boards.
BOX SCORE
Chico State is back in action Saturday as they host Cal State Dominguez Hills, who dropped a three set decision Friday against Cal State Stanislaus. The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Acker Gym.
