CHICO – We won’t recite word-for-word the famous line from the Wizard of Oz about there being no place like home, but you can certainly understand why the Chico State volleyball team has had Tuesday, Sept. 13 circled on its calendar for some time. After seven road matches to begin the 2011 campaign, the Wildcats will play in the friendly confines of Acker Gym for the first time this season when they host Simpson University in a non-conference tilt beginning at 7 p.m.
Chico State sports a 5-2 record heading into Tuesday’s match with the Red Hawks. The Wildcats opened California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play by splitting a pair of road matches over the weekend, dropping a four-set decision to Sonoma State Friday before sweeping Humboldt State in Arcata on Saturday.
The ’Cats as a team enter the week ranked fourth in the CCAA in kills (12.92 a set), fourth in assists (12.16 per set), and fifth in both digs (15.48 a set) and attack percentage (.230).
Individually, Sable Villaescusa is the top setter in the conference, leading the CCAA with an average of 10.43 assists a set. Outside hitter Makenzie Snyder is sixth among conference players in kills (81) and points per set (4.02), while opposite hitter Jessica Leek ranks in the conference top 10 in service aces (fourth with 11), aces per set (seventh, 0.46), attack percentage (eighth, .329) and points per set (ninth, 3.60).
Simpson University, an NAIA school which plays in the California Pacific Conference, is 4-12 on the year, but after losing 10 of the first 11 matches, the Red Hawks have won three of their last five. Simpson’s most recent match was a three-set loss to Arizona Christian last Thursday.
The Red Hawks are led by senior outside hitter Cashel White, junior setter/libero Kirsten Duren and sophomore libero/outside hitter Sara Loogman.
Tuesday will mark the fifth time Chico State and Simpson have met on the volleyball court. The Wildcats have won all four previous meetings, including a three-set victory last season over the Red Hawks Sept. 15 in Redding.
Tuesday's match can be followed online through
Live Stats on the Wildcat Athletics website.
