CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team took a page from that classic ’70’s song by Bachman-Turner Overdrive – “Takin’ Care of Business,” the Wildcats did exactly what they needed to do Saturday to keep their NCAA Championship Tournament hopes alive, beating Cal State Dominguez Hills in the regular season finale 25-15, 27-25, 25-17 at Acker Gym. The ’Cats will find out Sunday night if their solid finish is enough to earn one of the eight coveted West Region postseason berths.
Chico State, entering the weekend ranked No. 9 in the West Region, won its third straight and fourth in the last five matches to finish the regular season with a record of 19-9 and 14-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Wildcats’ chances of grabbing its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2008 were aided greatly by Western Oregon Saturday, who beat No. 8 Alaska-Anchorage in four sets. Chico State needed to win both its weekend matches and have one of the top eight teams stumble for a shot at the postseason, and with that exact scenario unfolding, the question becomes: will it be enough to get the Wildcats in? The answer comes Sunday at 7 p.m. during the NCAA Selection Show.
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Saturday’s loss ended the season for Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros finished 1-25 overall and 0-22 in CCAA play.
Outgoing Wildcats Makenzie Snyder and Jacqueline Johnson, playing their final home match Saturday, delivered 18 and 10 kills, respectively, while Jessica Leek collected 13 kills and 10 digs. Senior Kristan Music racked up 32 assists for the victorious ’Cats. Madison Horsley led Cal State Dominguez Hills with 13 kills, while Elizabeth Krieger added 11 for the Toros.
Chico State wasted little time setting the tone for the evening, scoring the first four points of the opening set, and on the strength of kills by Leek, Johnson, Snyder, Alex Shurtz and Lindsay Quigley, built a quick 17-9 lead. Dominguez Hills was able to cut the deficit to six, but three Snyder kills fueled an 8-4 Wildcat run down the stretch to give Chico State the 25-15 victory.
The second set was a battle, with Chico State playing catch-up almost the entire way. The Toros went ahead 12-11 and held on to the lead until the Wildcats caught them at 22-all. Dominguez Hills went back up 24-23, but a Sophia Somers kill staved off set point, and with the score knotted at 25-apiece, Snyder slammed back-to-back kills to give the Wildcats a hard-earned 27-25 win.
Chico State fell behind early in the third set as well, with Dominguez Hills taking a 12-10 lead. That would turn out to be the Toros’ last hurrah, as the Wildcats – highlighted by a Johnson service ace and kills from Snyder, Quigley, Leek and Music – went on a 14-4 run to jump on top 24-16. Dominguez Hills survived one match point, but Johnson put an end to the evening with a thunderous kill that gave Chico State the 25-17 victory and a sweep of the match.
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