Box Score LOS ANGELES – It was theirs for the taking. The Chico State volleyball team, needing two victories and some help in the final weekend of the regular season, had won two of the first three sets and had late leads in sets four and five against Cal State L.A., but the Golden Eagles would end up ruining the Wildcats’ night – and their hopes of reaching the NCAA Championship Tournament – with a huge come-from-behind effort, downing the ’Cats 25-22, 18-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-17 Friday night at the Eagles’ Nest. 

Friday’s frustrating loss snapped Chico State’s fourth-match winning streak and dropped Chico State’s season record to 18-10 overall. The Wildcats, who began the weekend No. 10 in the NCAA West Region and needing a sweep for any chance to reach postseason play, also fell into sixth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 12-9 conference record. Cal State L.A. improved to 15-13 on the year and 13-8 in CCAA play.

Alex Shurtz registered her sixth straight double-double for Chico State, collecting a match-high 26 kills and 11 digs on the night. Ellie Larronde delivered a dozen kills; Lindsay Quigley had hammered home 11 winners and posted a pair of service aces, while Katie Morley contributed nine kills and four blocks. Sable Villaescusa racked up 56 assists and 13 digs, with Jessica Simms, Emily Duran and Molly Ratto combining for 56 digs for the Wildcats.

On the strength of a Duran service ace and kills by Shurtz and Quigley, Chico State grabbed an early 5-3 in the opening set. Cal State L.A. reeled off four unanswered points to go up 7-5, and still led 14-11 when the Wildcats, using two Shurtz kills and an ace by Quigley, went on a 5-1 run to jump in front, 16-15. The lead changed hands three times, when at 22-all, the ’Cats took control with back-to-back Shurtz kills. Villaescusa provided the winning point with an ace to give Chico State a 25-22 victory.

The Golden Eagles came back strong in the second set, building a quick 8-2 advantage. The Wildcats attempted to chip away at the deficit, utilizing a Duran ace and kills by Quigley, Larronde and Morley to pull to within 12-8, but Cal State L.A. responded by scoring four of the next five points to push its lead to 16-9. The ’Cats made one last charge, producing an 8-4 run to make it a 20-17 contest, only to see the Golden Eagles answer again, posting five of the final six points and coming away with the match-tying 25-18 win.

The third set was a tightly played affair from the get-go. The score was tied seven times before a Quigley ace and a pair of Morley kills gave Chico State its first lead, 11-9. Cal State L.A. pulled to within 12-11, but kills by Morley, Larronde, Quigley, Shurtz and Shannon Boling fueled a 7-2 run to make it a 19-13 contest. The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to three, but with the score 23-20, a Cal State L.A. error and a Boling kill sealed the deal for Chico State, winning by a final of 25-20.

Kills by Quigley, Duran, Shurtz, Larronde and Boling gave the Wildcats an early 10-6 lead in the fourth set. Chico State held the advantage until Cal State L.A. finally caught the ’Cats at 16-apiece. The score was still knotted up at 19-all when the Golden Eagles took their first lead, 21-20. Consecutive kills by Shurtz and Boling briefly put the Wildcats back in front, but Cal State L.A. ripped off four straight points to win the set going away, 25-21.

The fifth set saw Shurtz deliver four early kills, and a combined block by Morley and Boling helped put Chico State up 7-3. Cal State L.A., attempting another comeback, pulled to within 11-8 before kills by Larronde and Shurtz upped the Wildcats’ lead to five. The Golden Eagles struck right back, posting five unanswered points to tie things up at 13-apiece. A Shurtz kill left the ’Cats one point away from victory, but Cal State L.A. once again tied the score and used a Marquis Mora kill to go up 15-14. Though Chico State survived match point with a Shurtz kill, it was the Golden Eagles who would have the final say, posting the final two points to win the deciding set 17-15 and sweep the season series.      

Chico State plays its final regular season match Saturday, traveling to Carson to take on the Toros of Cal State Dominguez Hills (12-16 overall, 10-11 CCAA). The match begins at 7 p.m., and fans can follow the action online via Live Stats and video streaming courtesy of the Toros Sports Network.

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