CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team begins the second half of its California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule this week, trying to rebound from a lost weekend in Shurmer Gym and returning to the formula that saw the Wildcats win 10 of their first 11 matches of the season. The ’Cats’ push to climb back into the conference race kicks off Thursday in Arcata against Humboldt State, followed by a showdown Saturday with Cal Poly Pomona. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m.
Chico State currently sits at 12-6 on the year, and in seventh place in the CCAA with a 6-5 conference record. The Wildcats have experienced a rough October, dropping two straight and three of five matches this month. Last weekend ’the Cats suffered three-set home losses to both Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A.
Numbers-wise, the Wildcats are far from struggling, ranking among the top five teams in the CCAA in several statistical categories. Chico State enters this weekend’s action:
• fourth in the conference in kills per set (13.15)
• fourth in assists (834)
• fourth in assists per set (12.26)
• fifth in kills (894)
• fifth in digs per set (16.13)
Individually, Alex Shurtz continues to be one of the top hitters in all of Division II volleyball. Shurtz ranks ninth in the nation in kills per set (4.32) and 13th in points per set (4.74). She tops all CCAA players in kills, kills per set and points per set, and is second in the conference with 20 solo blocks on the season.
Sable Villaescusa is 28th in the nation in assists per set (10.45) while ranking second among CCAA setters. Her 700 assists on the year are the second most in the conference.
Lindsay Quigley is No. 2 in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.331), while Jessica Simms ranks 10th in the conference in digs per set (3.66).
Humboldt State, the Wildcats’ Thursday night opponent, is in the midst of a rough 2012 season. The Lumberjacks are 2-16 on the year and sitting in last place in the CCAA with an 0-11 conference record. Humboldt has lost its last 13 matches, winning just two sets since Sept. 20. The ’Jacks were swept in matches last weekend against San Francisco State and Sonoma State.
Despite the team’s record, Humboldt State does features several talented players. Senior outside hitter Alexa Rosendale is 10th in the CCAA in kills per set (3.00) while contributing 207 digs and 20 service aces to the Lumberjacks’ attack. Junior outside hitter Ashley Neale ranks third in the conference with 25 service aces, while sophomore setter Sarah Wilber averages just under seven assists per set.
Chico State beat Humboldt in four sets back on Sept. 15 at Acker Gym. The Wildcats have won 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Lumberjacks and lead the all-time series 32-10.
Cal Poly Pomona, which hosts the Wildcats Saturday at Kellogg Gym, is 9-9 overall entering this week’s action. The Broncos, losers of fifth of their last eight, are eighth in the CCAA with a 5-6 conference mark. Pomona split a pair of road matches last weekend, bowing to Sonoma State Friday before registering a four-set upset Saturday against San Francisco State.
The Broncos are led by senior outside hitter Diana Lake, who is ninth in the CCAA in kills (209) and seventh in kills per set (3.22). Lake is not Pomona’s only productive hitter – senior Taylr Kreutziger, junior Jessica Doerner, sophomore Lauren Jones and freshman Alexa Hasen have combined for 525 kills on the season.
The Wildcats won a wild five-set match over Pomona in Acker Gym on Sept. 14. Cal Poly Pomona leads the all-time series 23-14, but Chico State has won the last five meetings between the two teams.
Fans can follow the action online via Live Stats.
CLICK HERE for Live Stats for Thursday's Chico State-Humboldt State match
CLICK HERE for Live Stats for Saturday's Chico State-Cal Poly Pomona match
