CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team almost let it get away Friday against Cal State L.A. The Golden Eagles knotted up a hard-fought contest by winning the fourth set, and led 10-9 in the fifth and deciding set, but the Wildcats – their postseason aspirations slowly fading – came from behind to win the final set and walk away with an exciting 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-13 victory at Acker Gym. The win keeps the Wildcats’ hopes of landing an NCAA Championship Tournament bid alive with just one regular season match remaining.
Friday’s win improved Chico State’s overall record to 18-9 and 13-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), clinching fourth place in the conference standings. Cal State L.A. dipped to 13-13 on the season and 10-11 in CCAA play.
Alex Shurtz led the Wildcat attack with 21 kills on the night, with freshman Ellie Larronde hammering home a career-high 17 kills and Jessica Leek adding 12 non-returnables. Sable Villaescusa distributed 57 assists, while four Chico State players – Leek, Villaescusa, Lauren Orozco and Jessica Simms – registered double digits in digs. Natalia Gonzalez led Cal State L.A. with 15 kills in the losing effort.
Chico State trailed the Golden Eagles 8-7 early in the opening set, but used kills by Shurtz, Leek, Villaescusa and Makenzie Snyder to fuel a 7-2 run and take a 14-10 lead. Cal State L.A. came back to tie things up at 15-all, but four straight kills by Leek, Snyder, Villaescusa and Lindsay Quigley put the Wildcats ahead to stay. Chico State would extend its advantage to five before settling for the 25-21 victory.
The ’Cats out smoking in the second set, jumping out to a 10-4 lead, and were still ahead 15-10 when Cal State L.A. turned the tables, scoring nine of the next 11 points to go up 19-17. A kill by Snyder got the Wildcats to within a point, but the Golden Eagles proceeded to go on a late 5-1 run to take a 24-19 lead. Despite two kills by Leek to keep the ’Cats alive, Cal State L.A. prevailed 25-21 to even the match at a set apiece.
In the third set, three Golden Eagles errors snapped a seven-all tie and put Chico State in the lead, then three Shurtz kills help the Wildcats extend their advantage to 17-12. Cal State L.A. pulled to within 20-19, but three Golden Eagles errors and kills by Shurtz and Jacqueline Johnson paved the way for the Wildcats to post the 25-20 victory.
Chico State looked like it would wrap up the match in four sets, using seven Larronde kills to race out to a 15-11 lead. Cal State L.A. wasn’t about to roll over, however, as the Golden Eagles scored 10 of the next 12 points to jump out on top 21-17. The Wildcats cut the deficit to two, but with the score 23-21, Cal State L.A.’s Chelsea Hamilton delivered a pair of kills to give the Golden Eagles a 25-22 victory and extend the match.
The fifth and deciding set was a back-and-forth affair early on, with nine tie scores and four lead changes. Cal State L.A. led 10-9 before Chico State took control by ripping off four straight points – two coming on Larronde kills – to put the Wildcats in front 13-10. The Golden Eagles battled back and trailed by just one, 14-13, before Larronde put an end a thrilling evening with the kill that gave the ’Cats the 15-13 win, the match, and a season series sweep of Cal State L.A.
BOX SCORE
Chico State wraps up regular season play Saturday as the Wildcats host Cal State Dominguez Hills on Senior Night. The match begins at 7 p.m., with a special ceremony honoring outgoing Wildcats Kristan Music, Makenzie Snyder and Jacqueline Johnson highlighting the evening.
