CHICO – There’s no doubt about it – it’s all business from here on out for the Chico State volleyball team. Fresh off a three-set victory Tuesday over non-conference foe Simpson University, the Wildcats return to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play this weekend, hosting San Francisco State Friday and Cal Poly Pomona Saturday at Acker Gym. With tough road matches against conference powers Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego just a week away and nothing but CCAA tilts remaining on the regular season schedule, the ’Cats know they need to bring their “A” game against the Gators and Broncos in the final two matches of the homestand.

Chico State enters the weekend with an overall mark of 6-2 and are in a four-way with Cal State East Bay, Cal State Stanislaus and Cal State L.A. for fifth place in the CCAA with a 1-1 conference record. The Wildcats have won two straight since dropping their CCAA opener to Sonoma State last weekend, and are currently among the conference leaders in several team statistical categories, ranking third in kills (13.29 a set), fourth in assists (12.50 per set), fourth in hitting percentage (.247) and fifth in digs (15.54 a set).

Individually, Sable Villaescusa is the top setter in the CCAA, averaging 10.43 assists a set. Makenzie Snyder is currently fourth in the conference in kills (91), fifth in kills per set (3.64) and seventh in points per set (4.10), while Jessica Leek is seventh in service aces per set (0.48), eighth in hitting percentage (.331) and ninth in points per set (3.69).

San Francisco State, Chico State’s Friday night opponent, is 4-3 on the year heading into home match Thursday against Cal Poly Pomona. The Gators are still looking for their first CCAA victory, having lost their conference openers last weekend on the road against Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego.

San Francisco State entered the week fifth in the CCAA in assists (11.70 a set), sixth in kills (12.39 per set) and digs (15.22 a set). The Gators are led by junior opposite hitter Megan Johnson (averaging 3.05 kills a set), senior middle hitter Halimah Oswald (2.61 kills; ranks ninth in the CCAA with 22 total blocks) and junior setter Iris Tolenada (fifth in the conference with 9.74 assists a set).

Chico State and San Francisco State split their two matches last season, with the Wildcats scoring a five-set win on the road Nov. 13 that knocked the Gators out of postseason contention. The ’Cats have won 12 of the last 13 matchups and lead the all-time series, 32-15.

Heading into Thursday’s match with San Francisco State, Cal Poly Pomona is 3-3 on the season and 0-2 in the CCAA. The Broncos have dropped three of their last four, including conference-opening losses last weekend to Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego.

Pomona as a team entered the week ranked sixth in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.221), eighth in kills (12.35 a set) and eighth in assists (11.40 per set). The Broncos’ top players in the season’s opening month are senior right side hitter Kristin McNeese (3.00 kills a set), senior outside hitter Karissa Lagmay (2.80 kills per set) and sophomore Katie Colon (the 10th-ranked setter in the conference, averaging 8.53 assists a set).

Chico State and Cal Poly Pomona faced each other twice in 2010, with each team coming away with a victory on their home court. The Wildcats have won three of the last four meetings, but the Broncos lead the all-time series, 23-11.

Both Friday and Saturday night Chico State volleyball matches can be followed online through Live Stats on the Wildcat Athletics website.