SEASIDE – The Chico State volleyball team evidently feels that if it isn’t going to get to compete in the NCAA West Regional, then it’s going to usher a few of its opponents to the postseason sidelines as well. The Wildcats avenged an early-season defeat at the hands of Cal State Monterey Bay and quite possibly ended the Otters’ season with a 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 25-22 victory Friday night at the Otter Sports Center in Seaside.
The win improved Chico State’s overall record to 13-14 and 8-13 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Monterey Bay dropped its eighth match in the last 11 to fall to 15-10 on the season and 12-10 in conference play.
Jacqueline Johnson led three Wildcats in double-digit kills with a career-high 15 on the night while posting a .480 hitting percentage; she also paced Chico State with 13 digs. Jessica Leek also had 15 kills, Alex Shurtz contributed 10 kills and three blocks and Sable Villaescusa doled out 46 assists for the victorious ’Cats. Cal State Monterey Bay’s Rheann Fall led all players with 16 kills and 17 digs on the evening.
Two kills by Leek powered Chico State to an early 3-2 lead in the match’s opening set, but the Otters scored five of the next six points to go up 8-5. The Wildcats responded with authority, as four Johnson kills and two each by Shurtz and Crystal Trifeletti put Chico State back in front 15-12. After Monterey Bay tied things up at 16-all, the Wildcats used kills by Leek and Makenzie Fahnestock to spur a 5-1 run to go back in front 21-17, and Chico State brought home the 25-20 victory on set-ending kills by Johnson and Shurtz. The ’Cats did not commit a single attack error in the win.
In the second set, the Otters jumped out to an 8-5 advantage, but three kills by Johnson helped the Wildcats come back to take a 16-15 lead. Monterey Bay was able to tie the set at 18 apiece; Chico State answered by reeling off three straight points to go back on top 21-18. Four times the Otters pulled to within a point, but the ’Cats never relinquished the lead…Fahnestock delivering a huge kill at the end to give Chico State the 25-23 win.
Monterey Bay scored the third set’s first five points, but with the score 6-1, the Wildcats went on an 11-4 run powered by two kills apiece by Shurtz, Trifeletti and Johnson to take a 12-10 lead. This time, however, the Otters would not be denied, as they scored 11 of the next 12 points to go up 21-13 and take control of the contest. Chico State made a brief run at the end, pulling to within six, but Monterey Bay easily put the ’Cats away by a final of 25-18.
In the fourth set, the Otters led in the early going, but the Wildcats proved pesky, never trailing by more than three points. With the score 13-10, Chico State went on a 9-2 run (fueled by two Johnson kills plus a kill and solo block by Shurtz) to go up 19-15. Monterey Bay was again forced to play catch-up, but this time the Wildcats would not relinquish the lead. The Otters pulled to within one at 22-21, only to make two critical errors down the stretch that handed the ’Cats their final points to lock down the 25-22 victory and the match.
BOX SCORE
Chico State wraps up the 2010 season Saturday night, traveling to the Bay Area to take on the Gators of San Francisco State. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m; fans can watch all the action live on the Internet with former Chico State great Gillian Heydorff providing color commentary on UStream.com.
CLICK HERE to be connected to the Wildcats’ Internet broadcast.
