Box Score CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team definitely gave the fans their money's worth Friday night, providing a healthy Acker Gym crowd with five action-packed sets against visiting Cal State L.A. The one thing the Wildcats could not do to top off Pack the House Night was deliver a victory, as the Golden Eagles grabbed the final two sets to escape with a come-from-behind 16-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12 win.
The Wildcats dropped their second straight and fourth match in the last five outings to slip to 7-8 on the season and into sixth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 4-4 conference mark. With Friday's win, Cal State L.A. improved to 11-6 overall and 6-3 in CCAA play.
Three Chico State hitters registered double-digit kills Friday. Lindsay Quigley's blistering .708 attack percentage – the third-highest in a single match in Wildcat history – resulted in 18 kills, while Ellie Larronde and Alex Shurtz logged 17 and 14 kills, respectively. Defensively, Shurtz also piled up a career-high six solo blocks. Torey Thompson dished out 55 assists on the night, and Emily Duran led the 'Cats with 19 digs.
The opening set was a tightly-played contest until Chico State broke things open, snapping a 14-all tie with an 8-0 run – kills by Ashton Kershner and Natalie Nordahl, two Shurtz solo blocks and two combo blocks by Nordahl and Kershner pushed the 'Cats out in front 22-14. Shurtz came through with one more solo block to post the winning point and give Chico State the 25-16 victory.
Cal State L.A. jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the second set, only to see the Wildcats go on a 7-3 run – highlighted by kills from Quigley, Shurtz and Nordahl – to grab the lead. The Golden Eagles proceeded to score eight of the next 10 points to go back in front 14-9, and while the 'Cats stayed close the rest of the way – cutting the deficit to one at 19-18 – they couldn't mount a rally to put them back in control, and Cal State L.A. scored three of the final four points to take the set 25-21.
Chico State flat out stole the third set from Cal State L.A. In another closely played contest – one that featured 16 ties and six lead changes – the Golden Eagles slowly forged a 22-19 lead. But the Wildcats got hot at just at the right time – kills by Larronde, Thompson and Kristyn Casalino, a Quigley service ace and a combo block by Larronde and Thompson powered a 6-0 run that give the 'Cats a huge 25-22 win.
Cal State L.A. and Chico State went back and forth for most of the fourth set, and once again the Golden Eagles were able to stretch the advantage late in the contest, going up 19-16. The Wildcats battled back, using two kills apiece by Shurtz and Quigley to spark a 5-2 run to tie the contest at 21-all. Cal State L.A. stiffened, however, scoring the set's final four points to beat the 'Cats 25-21 and knot up the match at two wins apiece.
The deciding set started well for the Wildcats, as two Quigley kills and one each by Larronde and Casalino gave Chico State a healthy 7-3 lead. This time it was Cal State L.A.'s turn to battle back, ripping off a 7-2 run to go out in front 10-9. A Casalino kill tied things up at 10-apiece, but it would turn out to be the 'Cats' last hurrah, as the Golden Eagles responded with three straight points to go ahead to stay. Late kills by Kymberly Silveyra and Loreal Carter sealed the deal for Cal State L.A., who triumphed 15-12 to take the set and match.
The Chico State volleyball team is back in action Saturday, hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills (8-8, 1-7 CCAA) at Acker Gym. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.
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