CHICO – Playing in the Bay Area one night and in southern California the next – just the travel alone makes the Chico State volleyball team’s weekend road trip a difficult and exhausting venture. And with the Wildcats going up against two of the hottest teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), it makes the two-day road swing that much more challenging. Friday the Wildcats – who are pretty hot themselves, having won three of their last four matches – will be in Hayward to take on Cal State East Bay, then travel down to La Jolla Saturday to battle the Tritons of UC San Diego. Both matches are scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.
Chico State enters play 11-11 on the season and in 10th place in the CCAA with a 6-10 conference mark. Last weekend the Wildcats saw their two-match winning streak snapped Friday, dropping a five-set heartbreaker versus Sonoma State, but rebounded Saturday with a five-set victory in Aracata against Humboldt State. The ’Cats will look to improve on their 6-6 road record this weekend.
Statistically, Chico State currently ranks fifth in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.215) and fifth in digs (averaging 14.89 a set). Sable Villaescusa is third among conference setters, averaging 9.68 assists per set, while Crystal Trifeletti ranks seventh in the CCAA with a .309 hitting percentage.
Cal State East Bay, ranked No. 22 in the nation entering the week, sports a 16-5 season record and sits in second place in the CCAA standings with an 11-5 conference mark. The Pioneers have won eight of their last 10 contests, but had their five-match winning streak halted Wednesday by UC San Diego. Chico State lost to Cal State East Bay in four sets back on Sept. 25, but the ’Cats hold a 23-7 edge in the all-time series between the two schools.
The Pioneers are among the top CCAA teams in several statistical categories, including kills (third, 12.96 a set), hitting percentage (third, .232), assists (third, 12.38 per set) and digs (third, 15.27 a set). Cal State East Bay is led by freshman OH Katie Allen, who ranks seventh in the CCAA in kills (averaging 3.27 a set) and points scored (3.74 per set.) Sophomore MB Brianna Bryant is ninth in the conference in hitting percentage (.288) and ninth in blocks (averaging 0.77 rejects a set). Senior libero Lauren Massa leads the CCAA in digs, averaging 5.09 per set, while senior setter Roxanne Neely ranks 10th in the conference in service aces, averaging 0.37 a set.
UC San Diego is easily the hottest school in the CCAA not named Cal State San Bernardino and has jumped back into contention for an NCAA postseason berth. After beginning the season 5-6 (which included a five-set loss to Chico State Sept. 24 at Acker Gym), the Tritons have won their last six matches and eight of the last nine to improve to 13-7 overall and 10-6 in conference play, good for sole possession of third place. UC San Diego has dropped just six sets during its current win streak, and has won seven of nine decisions this season on their home court, RIMAC Arena. The Tritons have won 19 of 23 meetings all-time against Chico State.
As a team, UC San Diego leads the CCAA in assists (12.70 a set) and digs (18.24 per set), and are second in the conference in kills (13.66 a set). Individually, Tritons junior OH/libero Roxanne Brunsting – a first team All-CCAA selection last season – ranks seventh in the CCAA in digs (3.62 a set) and ninth in service aces (0.40 per set). Sophomore MB Julia Freidenberg, a second team All-CCAA pick a year ago (.337), and senior MB Kaitlin Potter (.312) are third and sixth in the conference, respectively, in hitting percentage. Junior setter Thalia McCann ranks seventh among CCAA setters, averaging 8.78 assists a set.
Both Friday and Saturday Chico State volleyball matches will be broadcast live on the Internet on UStream, with former Wildcat star Gillian Heydorff providing color commentary.
CLICK HERE to be connected to the Wildcats’ Internet broadcast.
