CHICO – This weekend will be something of a homecoming for the Chico State volleyball team. With four straight road contests and two home matches relocated to Shurmer Gym, the Wildcats have not played in the friendly confines of Acker Gym since Sept. 22. The long wait, though, is about to end – the ’Cats will be back hosting their next five matches on the familiar floorboards of Acker, and they start by taking on the top two teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Friday the Wildcats face conference-leading Cal State San Bernardino, with No. 24 UC San Diego coming to Chico on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Chico State enters the weekend 14-8 on the season and tied for fifth place in the CCAA with an 8-7 conference mark. After a 10-1 start, the Wildcats stumbled in October, dropping five of nine decisions during the month, including a loss last Friday to San Francisco State and falling in a five-set heartbreaker Saturday to Sonoma State.
While they haven’t added up to a lot of wins of late, the ’Cats are still putting up good numbers on the court. Among CCAA teams, Chico State is ranked:
• Fourth in kills (1,129)
• Fourth in kills per set (13.28)
• Fourth in assists (1,047)
• Fourth in assists per set (12.32)
• Fourth in digs (1,370)
• Fifth in digs per set (16.12)
• Tied for fifth in solo blocks (41)
Individually, Alex Shurtz continues to lead the CCAA in kills (366), kills per set (4.31) and points per set (4.75), while ranking second in the conference with 24 solo blocks. Shurtz is also 10th among all Division II players in kills per set and 13th nationwide in points per set.
Lindsay Quigley’s .338 hitting percentage leads all CCAA hitters and ranks 44th in the nation entering the weekend. Sable Villaescusa is second in the conference (and No. 32 in the country) in assists (877) and assists per set (10.44). Jessica Simms in 10th in the CCAA in both digs (311) and digs per set (3.66).
Cal State San Bernardino, vying for its seventh straight CCAA title, is 16-7 on the year and sits atop the conference standings with a 13-2 record. After beginning the season 3-6, the Coyotes have hit their stride, winning five straight and 13 of the last 14 matches. Last weekend San Bernardino registered home victories over Cal Poly Pomona and Humboldt State.
While San Bernardino has posted above-average offensive numbers (ranking fifth in the CCAA in hitting percentage and service aces), it’s defensively where the Coyotes excel. San Bernardino ranks second in the CCAA with 208 blocks and leads the conference in blocks per set (2.45).
Senior middle hitter Mercedes Winchester and freshmen outside hitters Alexandra Torline and Ashley Solis are the Coyotes’ top offensive weapons. Winchester leads San Bernardino with 200 kills and ranks among the top CCAA players in hitting percentage (fifth at .324) and blocks (sixth with 77), while Torline and Solis have combined for 370 kills on the season. Freshman middle blocker Brenna McIntosh is fourth in the CCAA in blocks (89) and second in blocks per set (1.24). Senior setter Camille Smith – an All-CCAA First Team selection last year – is third in the conference in assists per set (9.67) and has delivered a team-high 24 service aces.
In the first meeting of the season, Cal State San Bernardino beat the Wildcats in four sets back on Sept. 29. The Coyotes have won 34 straight over Chico State dating back to 1996 and lead the all-time series 35-2.
UC San Diego, ranked 24th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll, is 17-6 overall and a game behind San Bernardino in the conference standings with a 12-3 record. Like the Coyotes, the Tritons are playing their best ball of the season, winning six straight (losing just two sets during that stretch) and 12 of the last 13 heading into Friday’s match in Turlock against Cal State Stanislaus. Last weekend, UC San Diego easily topped both Humboldt State and Cal Poly Pomona.
The Tritons are ranked among the top three teams in the CCAA in several statistical categories, including hitting percentage (second at .238), kills (third, 1,155), kills per set (third, 13.75), assists (third, 1,065), assists per set (third, 12.68), blocks (third, 194) and blocks per set (third, 2.30).
UC San Diego is led by freshman outside hitter Danielle Dahle, who ranks third in the CCAA is kills (316) and kills per set (3.76). Sophomore middle hitter Sara McCutchan is third in the conference in hitting percentage (.333) and blocks (95), while sophomore Amber Hawthorne’s 9.63 assists per set ranks fourth among conference setters.
The Tritons beat Chico State earlier in the season, downing the Wildcats in four sets on Sept. 28. UC San Diego holds a 22-5 lead in the all-time series with the ’Cats.
If you can’t make this weekend’s matches in person, you can follow all the action online via Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
CLICK HERE for Chico State volleyball Live Stats
