CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State volleyball team has certainly exceeded expectations in 2009, winning more matches than any Wildcat squad since 1993. But despite the success, the ’Cats’ ultimate goal of a fourth straight NCAA Championship Tournament bid will all come down to their performance in the regular season’s final weekend as the ’Cats hit the road to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

Winners of 10 of its last 14 matches, Chico State – 22-8 overall and 13-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) – are ranked No. 25 in the Bison/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll and 10th in the latest NCAA West Region poll. The pressure is now on the Wildcats to win out this weekend – but even with victories over Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A., Chico State’s postseason fate will be in the hands of the NCAA selection committee, which will announce regional qualifiers Sunday night.

Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26 overall, 1-19 CCAA) is wrapping up a tough season that has seen the Toros drop their last 17 contests. In their lone meeting of the season, the Wildcats beat Dominguez Hills in three sets October 10 at Acker Gym.

Cal State L.A. (20-8 on the season, 16-5 in the CCAA) will be well rested when Chico State visits the Eagles Nest on Saturday – the Golden Eagles beat Cal State Stanislaus Wednesday and are idle on Friday. Cal State L.A., sitting in third place in the conference standings, currently holds the No. 20 position in the Bison/AVCA national poll and is ranked sixth in the West Region. Earlier this season, the Golden Eagles came to Chico and beat the Wildcats in four sets October 9.

Several Wildcats continue to rank high on the CCAA’s individual player stat sheet – Makenzie Snyder heads into the final weekend of the regular season No. 1 in the conference (and third in the nation) in kills per set with an average of 4.74; Snyder also leads the CCAA in points per set (5.24). Gillian Heydorff is fifth in points per set (4.35) and is sixth in the CCAA in both kills per set (3.79) and digs per set (3.69). Sable Villaescusa is fourth in the conference in average assists per set (10.48), while Jessica Leek ranks second in the CCAA in service aces per set (0.44).

Friday and Saturday’s matches are both scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Wildcat fans can follow the action via Live Stats available on both the Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A. websites. Friday’s match against the Toros will also be nationally televised live via Internet TV on the Toro Sports Network. Fans can watch free of charge with no registration required – www.GoToros.com/Live will provide coverage online beginning at about 6:45 p.m.