CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team enters the final weekend of the regular season still alive in its pursuit of the program’s first postseason bid since 2008. The Wildcats, No. 10 in the latest West Region rankings, know they face an uphill battle to grab one of the region’s top eight spots and an NCAA Championship Tournament berth. Needing some help along with running the table to close out the season, the ’Cats hit the road to take on Cal State L.A. Friday and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Chico State, currently riding a four-match winning streak, is 18-9 on the year and tied with Cal State L.A. for fifth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 12-8 conference mark. The Wildcats, with four-set victories last week over Cal State Stanislaus, Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay, appear to be peaking at the right time, but any chance at a postseason slot begins with two wins this weekend and the teams immediately ranked above the ’Cats in the West Region faltering at the finish line.

Currently, Chico State trails No. 6 Sonoma State, No. 7 San Francisco State, No. 8 Central Washington and No. 9 Western Oregon in the latest NCAA West Region rankings. The top eight teams following play this weekend will advance to the postseason.

The Wildcats enter the weekend among the top teams in the CCAA in several statistical categories. Chico State is:

• No. 2 in the conference in kills (1,404)
• No. 2 in assists (1,312)
• No. 2 in digs (1,734)
• No. 3 in digs per set (16.67)
• No. 4 in kills per set (13.50)
• No. 4 in assists per set (12.62)
• No. 4 in solo blocks (53)

Individually, Alex Shurtz continues to enjoy a career year, leading the conference in kills (465), kills per set (4.47), points per set (4.89) and solo blocks (27). Shurtz is ranked seventh among all Division II players in kills per set and 10th in points per set.

Sable Villaescusa, on the strength of a 155-assist week, is back at the top of the CCAA setters list, leading the conference in assists (1,106) and assists per set (10.74) while ranking 21st in the nation. Lindsay Quigley is tied for the conference lead in hitting percentage (.343) and is 38th in the nation, while Jessica Simms is 10th in the CCAA in both digs (402) and digs per set (3.87).

Cal State L.A., the Wildcats’ Friday night opponent, is 14-13 on the year and 12-8 in CCAA play. Like Chico State, the Golden Eagles are finishing the season strong, winning their last four matches, including victories over Humboldt State and Cal Ploy Pomona last weekend.

Cal State L.A. is one of the better defensive teams in the conference, leading the CCAA in block assists (439) and ranking second in total blocks (260) and blocks per set (2.47).

The Golden Eagles are led by senior middle hitter Marquis Mora, who is not only the CCAA’s top blocker (147 on the year, averaging 1.40 blocks per set), but is third in the conference in hitting percentage (.340) and eighth in kills (318). Mora is not Cal State L.A.’s only offensive weapon – senior Sukhjit Athwal and sophomores Kymberly Silveyra and Loreal Carter have over 580 kills between them. Freshman setter Alexandra Bura is eighth in the CCAA with 8.77 assists per set.

Cal State L.A. handed the Wildcats a three-set sweep Oct. 13 at Shurmer Gym in their lone meeting of the season. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series with Chico State, 29-9.

Cal State Dominguez Hills (11-16 overall, tied for seventh in the CCAA with a 9-11 conference record), which takes on Chico State Saturday following its Friday contest with Cal State Stanislaus, snapped a seven-match losing streak with home wins last weekend against Cal Poly Pomona and Humboldt State. The Toros are led by junior outside hitter Elizabeth Krieger, who has racked up 295 kills on the season. Junior middle hitter Whitney Lee has 279 kills and ranks second in the CCAA in solo blocks (26) and fourth in blocks per set (1.06). Freshman Dana Brown is sixth among conference setters, averaging 9.50 assists per set.

The Wildcats will try to avenge a three-set sweep at the hands of the Toros Oct. 12 at Shurmer Gym. All-time, Chico State has won 28 of 36 meetings between the two teams.

You can follow both matches online via Live Stats, with Saturday’s Cal State Dominguez Hills match featuring live video streaming courtesy of the Toros Sports Network.

CLICK HERE for Chico State-Cal State L.A. Live Stats

CLICK HERE for Chico State-Cal State Dominguez Hills Live Stats

CLICK HERE for Chico State-Cal State Dominguez Hills live video streaming