CHICO, Calif. – There were so many tantalizing storylines heading into Friday’s California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) match between the Chico State and Cal State San Bernardino volleyball teams – the 24th-ranked Wildcats taking on the No. 2 Coyotes…both teams trying to extend nine match winning streaks…three of the top four kill producers in the nation on the same court…and Chico State trying to beat San Bernardino for the first time since 1995 in its home opener. Things got even more exciting at Acker Gym when the ’Cats won the first set…but in the end, it was the conference powerhouse Coyotes who came out on top, downing the Wildcats in four sets by scores of 23-25, 25-16, 25-7 and 25-18.
With the loss, Chico State dipped to 11-2 on the season and 2-1 in the CCAA. Cal State San Bernardino improved to 10-0 for the year and 3-0 in conference play.
The night’s opening set saw the Coyotes jump out to a 13-10 lead, powered by junior Jane Chafeh, who entered the match ranked second among Division II schools in kills. But the top kills specialist in the nation, Chico State’s Makenzie Snyder, took over the set with six straight points – four on service aces and two on kills – to spark a 9-1 run and put the ’Cats up 19-14. San Bernardino clawed back, cutting the deficit to one, but with the Coyotes facing match point, a Samantha Middleborn service error gave the Wildcats the big 25-23 victory.
From there, it was pretty much all San Bernardino – down 6-4 in the second set, the Coyotes scored 13 of the next 16 points to go up 17-9 and cruise to a 25-16 victory. The Wildcats couldn’t conjure up much offense in the third set, posting just three kills (two by Kayla Baumgardner and one by Snyder; Gillian Heydorff, ranked fourth in the nation in kills, was shut out), and San Bernardino went on a 19-3 run to easily down Chico State 25-7. The Wildcats battled in the fourth set, with Snyder, Heydorff, Baumgardner and Sable Villaescusa all delivering multiple kills, but after the Coyotes went on an 8-4 run to make the score 19-14, the ’Cats could get no closer than four points the rest of the way. Cal State San Bernardino took the final set 25-18 to beat Chico State for the 27th straight time.
Snyder finished the night with 15 kills to go along with her four service aces, while Villaescusa doled out 25 assists and chipped in with a career-high six kills for the Wildcats. Heydorff was held to just five kills but did contribute nine digs, while Jessica Simms led Chico State with 13 digs on the night. Chafeh led Cal State San Bernardino with 25 kills, while Coyotes teammate Sara Hoffman racked up 41 assists.
BOX SCORE
Chico State is back in action Saturday night as they host Cal Poly Pomona (5-5 overall, 2-1 CCAA). The Broncos will be coming to Acker Gym on the heels of a four-set win Friday over Cal State Stanislaus. The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
