CHICO – After an unproductive weekend in southern California, the Chico State volleyball team would like nothing better than to take a couple of days to recover and regroup. No such luck for the Wildcats, who are thrust right back into action with three matches on this week’s slate, beginning with Wednesday’s contest in Turlock against Cal State Stanislaus and wrapping up with road matches against Cal State Monterey Bay Friday and Cal State East Bay Saturday. All three games get underway at 7 p.m.
Chico State enters the week 10-3 on the season and in fifth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 4-2 conference record. The Wildcats saw their four-match winning streak end while dropping out of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 Poll with weekend losses to UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino.
Despite last weekend’s setback, the ’Cats are still among the top teams in the conference statistically. Chico State currently ranks:
• second in the CCAA in assists per set (12.44)
• third in kills per set (13.42)
• fourth in digs per set (16.10)
• fourth in service aces per set (1.66)
Individually, Alex Shurtz continues to lead the CCAA (and is sixth in the nation) in kills per set (4.50) and is second in solo blocks (13). Shurtz also ranks ninth among Division II players in points per set (4.83).
Sable Villaescusa is tops among conference setters in assists per set (10.65), and ranks 22nd in the nation. Lindsay Quigley is second in the CCAA (and 30th among D-II players) in hitting percentage (.368), while Jessica Simms ranks 10th in the conference in digs per set (3.60).
Cal State Stanislaus heads into Wednesday’s match with the Wildcats with a 4-10 season record.The Warriors own a share of 10th place in the CCAA with a 1-5 conference mark. Stanislaus is in the midst of a five-match losing streak, dropping a pair last weekend against Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego.
The Warriors are led by senior outside hitter Andrea Fett, who ranks fifth in the CCAA in kills per set (3.49). Junior outside hitter Eva Chafeh is the team’s other big offensive weapon, contributing 111 kilss to the Stanislaus attack. Freshman setter Kendal Munoz is seventh in the conference in assists per set (8.76), and senior middle hitter Melissa Bishop is the Warriors’ defensive presence at the net, ranking eighth in the CCAA with 41 total blocks.
Chico State won both matches against Stanislaus last season, and has beaten the Warriors 15 of the last 18 times dating back to 2003. The Wildcats lead the all-time series with Stanislaus 46-12.
Cal State Monterey Bay comes into the week 8-6 on the season but is in ninth place in the CCAA with a 2-4 conference record. The Otters, who play Cal State East Bay on Tuesday before hosting the Wildcats Friday, snapped a four-match losing streak over the weekend with home wins over Humboldt State and Cal Poly Pomona.
The Otters feature two big-time scorers in sophomore outside hitter Julia Ashen and freshman outside hitter Jessica Malcolm. Ashen ranks second in the CCAA (and 16th in the nation) in kills per set (4.08), while Malcolm had hammered home 135 winners this season. Sophomore Kelsey Johnston ranks fifth among conference setters, averaging 9.10 assists per set.
Chico State has dominated the head-to-head matchups with Monterey Bay, winning 15 of 17 meetings since 2004. The Wildcats won both contests with the Otters last season.
Cal State East Bay will face the ’Cats Saturday following its Tuesday match with Cal State Monterey Bay and a Friday showdown with Cal State Stanislaus. The Pioneers enter the week 6-7 overall and tied for 10th place in the CCAA with a 1-5 conference record. East Bay split a pair of contests over the weekend, bowing to Cal Poly Pomona before snapping a five-match losing streak Saturday with a sweep of Humboldt State.
The Pioneers are led by junior opposite hitter Suzy Ni Xu, who ranks ninth in the CCAA in kills per set (3.10). Senior outside hitter Nicole Boyle and junior outside hitter Hannah Bell also provide some punch to the Pioneers offense with 222 combined kills. Junior setter is 10th in the CCAA in assists, averaging 7.52 per set, while on defense, sophomore middle hitter Samantha Bruno’s 40 total blocks ranks ninth in the conference.
Chico State and Cal State East Bay split their two matches last season. The Wildcats hold a 24-9 lead in the all-time series, but the Pioneers have been victorious in six of the last eight meetings.
Fans can follow all three matches online via Live Stats.
CLICK HERE for Live Stats for Wednesday's Chico State-Cal State Stanislaus volleyball match.
