CHICO – Right now, the Chico State volleyball team is on the outside looking in. But with the regular season coming to a close this weekend, the Wildcats are still alive in the battle for the program’s first NCAA Championship Tournament bid since 2008. The task at hand is a very simple one: the ’Cats, hosting Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills at Acker Gym, need to beat the Golden Eagles Friday and the Toros Saturday, plus get some help from elsewhere in the West Region for a chance to stamp their ticket to the postseason. 

Chico State, 17-9 overall and 12-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), heads into the weekend holding down the ninth spot in the latest NCAA West Region rankings. The top eight teams advance to postseason play, so in addition to two “must win” matches, the Wildcats are hoping a handful of teams just above them in the regional rankings – No. 6 Hawaii-Hilo (14-6), No. 7 Grand Canyon (21-6) and No. 8 Alaska-Anchorage (17-7) – will stumble in their final contests.

Hawaii-Hilo finishes Saturday against 2-20 Chaminade; in another Pacific West Conference matchup, Grand Canyon plays 13-10 Dixie State Saturday, while Alaska-Anchorage faces Great Northwest Athletic Conference foes St. Martin’s (6-17) Thursday and Western Oregon (12-8) on Saturday.


Individually, Sable Villaescusa ranks second among CCAA setters in assists (10.88 a set); Jessica Leek is fourth in the conference in service aces (0.36 per set) and eighth in points (3.78 a set); Makenzie Snyder is ninth in the CCAA in kills (3.22 per set); Lauren Orozco is seventh in digs (4.12 a set), and Lindsay Quigley ranks 10th in the conference in hitting percentage (.300).

Cal State L.A. (13-12 overall, tied for sixth place in the CCAA with a 10-10 conference mark) also has a chance to grab an NCAA Tournament berth – the Golden Eagles are currently 10th in the West Region rankings, and need wins over Cal State Stanislaus Thursday and Chico State on Saturday plus some help for any chance to advance to the postseason. Cal State L.A. is actually playing some of its best volleyball of the season, having won four of its last five matches. Last week the Golden Eagles split their two road matches, losing to Cal Poly Pomona in five sets before sweeping San Francisco State.

Cal State L.A. is led by junior middle blocker Marquis Mora, who ranks third in the CCAA in blocks (1.17 a set) and fourth in hitting percentage (.354). Senior outside hitter Natalia Gonzalez averages nearly three kills per set for the Golden Eagles, while junior setter Kaylynne Taeatafa ranks fifth in the conference in assists (9.46 per set).

In their only other meeting this season, Chico State beat Cal State L.A. in three sets Oct. 8. The Golden Eagles, though, hold a 28-8 advantage in the all-time series versus the Wildcats.

It’s been a transition year for Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-23 overall, 0-20 CCAA) under first year Head Coach Jennifer Adeva. The Toros have won only once this season, and that was the team’s very first match back on Sept. 2. Last weekend, Dominguez Hills suffered back-to-back sweeps at the hands of Cal Poly Pomona and San Francisco State.

The Toros’ main weapons are sophomore outside hitter Elizabeth Krieger (3.12 kills a set) and junior middle blocker Delea Pursel (144 kills, 46 blocks on the season). Senior setter Olivia White ranks sixth in the CCAA in assists, averaging 8.94 a set.

Chico State swept Dominguez Hills Oct. 7 in Carson, giving the Wildcats their 13th straight win over the Toros dating back to 2005. All-time, the ’Cats have won 27 of 34 meetings with Dominguez Hills.

Both Friday and Saturday’s matches will get underway at 7 p.m., and will be available online through Live Stats on the Wildcat Athletics website. Saturday is also senior night, with a special pre-match ceremony to honor outgoing Wildcats Kristan Music, Jacqueline Johnson and Makenzie Snyder.