Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ROHNERT PARK – The Chico State volleyball team finally fell from the ranks of the unbeaten Saturday, but it’s safe to say a spirited Wildcat squad did not go down without a fight during the final day of the Seawolf Spike Tournament in Rohnert Park. The ’Cats, playing without the injured Jessica Leek, got by a tough Central Washington team 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 25-23 before bowing to No. 18 Western Washington in four sets, 14-25, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25.

Chico State, which had matched the program’s best season start since 2008 with the Central Washington win, finished the day with a 6-1 record on the year.

Alex Shurtz had a huge day for the Wildcats, delivering 46 kills and four blocks over Saturday’s two matches. Ellie Larronde contributed 34 kills, including a career-high 18 against Central Washington. Lindsay Quigley provided 15 kills and three blocks on the day, while Hannah Wilkins chipped in with seven kills and 29 digs. Sable Villaescusa piled up 98 assists to go along with 23 digs, while Emily Duran had 32 digs and three service aces. Jessica Simms and Molly Ratto had 27 and 18 digs, respectively, with Ratto adding three aces on the day.

The opening set of Chico State’s 9:00 a.m. match with Central Washington was a see-saw affair early on, but the Wildcats broke a nine-all tie by going on a 9-3 run, highlighted by a Duran service ace and kills by Quigley, Shurtz, Wilkins and Kelsie Hanson. Central Washington pulled to with 22-19, but the ’Cats answered with the three points – the last a kill courtesy of Shurtz – to secure the 25-20 victory.

Chico State trailed for nearly the entire second set, and was behind by seven points late before roaring back on the strength of four Larronde kills to nip Central Washington by a final of 25-23.

Central Washington briefly staved off elimination by winning the third set 25-20, but Chico State came back in the fourth set, and fueled by aces from Duran and Ratto plus kills by Shurtz, Larronde and Quigley, built an early 12-7 advantage. The Wildcats couldn’t quite put Central Washington away, though, as the two teams battled to a 22-all tie. Late kills by Larronde and Quigley and a block by Quigley and Villaescusa accounted for the final three Chico State points as the ’Cats took the set 25-23 and the match.

Nationally-ranked Western Washington stood in the way of the Wildcats’ seventh straight victory of the season, and the beginning of the opening set was a tightly-played affair, featuring eight tie scores and four lead changes. With the contest knotted up at 12-apiece, the Vikings went on a 13-2 run to roll to a 25-14 victory.

Chico State got even in the second set – with the score 5-5, the Wildcats used kills by Wilkins, Villaescusa, Larronde, Quigley and Shurtz to score 12 of the next 17 points and take a 17-10 lead. Western Washington could get no close than five points the rest of the way as the ’Cats squared the match at a set apiece with a 25-19 win.

The Vikings again took the upper hand in the third set, building a 19-14 lead. Chico State rallied back with a 6-2 run to pull to within 21-20, but Western Washington responded with four unanswered points to post the 25-20 victory.

The Wildcats fell behind 13-8 in the fourth set, and though they battled and whittled the deficit to one on four separate occasions, couldn’t quite overtake the No. 18 Vikings, who squeaked out a 25-23 victory to win the match and hand the ’Cats its first loss of the season.

Chico State opens up California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play next weekend with the team’s first home matches of the season. The Wildcats welcome Cal Poly Pomona to Acker Gym Friday night, followed by Humboldt State on Saturday. Both contests will get underway at 7 p.m.