CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team is about to embark on its longest in-state road trip of the season. The Wildcats begin their grueling three-day trek traveling to southern California, followed almost immediately by a visit to the northernmost reaches of the Golden State. If that isn't enough of a challenge, the 'Cats battle a pair of win-hungry teams on the trip, taking on Cal Poly Pomona Thursday and Humboldt State on Saturday. Both matches are slated to start at 7 p.m.
Where they stand: The Wildcats enter the week 8-8 on the season and tied with Cal State Monterey Bay for fifth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 5-4 conference mark. Chico State split its two home matches last weekend, losing a five-set heartbreaker to Cal State L.A. last Friday before sweeping Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.
On the road: The 'Cats are 6-5 away from the friendly confines of Acker Gym, and 3-1 in CCAA play. Chico State's lone conference road loss was Oct. 5 against Sonoma State.
Individual achievements: While the team continues to battle for a postseason berth, several Wildcats are tearing it up on the individual stat sheets:
-- Outside hitter Ellie Larronde is ranked fourth in the CCAA in kills (244), third in kills per set (4.00), third in points per set (4.44) and second in solo blocks (17). Larronde is also 19th in the nation in kills per set and 23rd in points per set.
-- Setter Torey Thompson is fifth in the CCAA in assists (614) and leads the conference (15th in the nation) in assists per set (11.16).
-- Middle hitter Lindsay Quigley ranks third in the CCAA in attack percentage (.357).
-- Alex Shurtz is tied for third in the conference in solo blocks (14) and is averaging 3.58 kills per set (which would rank seventh in the CCAA, but Shurtz hasn't quite played the minimum number of sets to be listed among the leaders).
-- Defensive specialist (DS) Molly Ratto is tied for fourth in the CCAA with 21 service aces on the season, and ranks fifth in aces per set (0.34).
-- DS Emily Duran is ninth in the conference in digs (245) and eighth in digs per set (4.02).
Cal Poly Pomona: The Broncos are 5-12 on the season and tied with Humboldt State and San Francisco State for seventh place in the CCAA with a 3-6 conference mark. Pomona has struggled the past month since starting the conference season with a victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills, but the Broncos are showing signs of recovery, having won two of their last three matches. Pomona split a road series last weekend, bowing to nationally-ranked Sonoma State before winning a five-set thriller Saturday against San Francisco State. On their home court, the Broncos are 1-3 on the year.
Broncos to watch: Senior outside hitter Jessica Doerner leads Pomona with 205 kills and a 3.11 kills per set average, while junior middle blocker Lauren Jones has contributed 158 kills and 43 blocks to the Broncos' attack. Sophomore middle blocker Alexa Hasen has posted 117 kills and ranks second in the CCAA in blocks (77) and third in blocks per set (1.20).
Head-to-head: Chico State won both meetings with Pomona last season, and has won five straight against the Broncos. But since 1985, it's Pomona that holds a 23-15 edge in the all-time series.
Humboldt State: The Lumberjacks enter the week 8-8 overall and in a three-way tie with Pomona and San Francisco State for seventh place in the CCAA with a 3-6 conference record. Humboldt has had a rough October, losing four of five matches, but the Lumberjacks' lone victory of the month came last Friday on the road versus San Francisco State. Prior to its Thursday tilt against Cal State Stanislaus, Humboldt is 1-4 at Lumberjack Arena this season.
Lumberjacks to watch: Humboldt boasts two potent hitters – junior outside hitter Ashley Dunn ranks sixth in the CCAA in kills (228) and kills per set (3.62), while sophomore right side hitter/DS Kaitlyn Dunaway ranks in the CCAA top 10 in kills (208), kills per set (3.30), digs (253) and digs per set (4.02). Senior setter Sam Siebert has racked up 510 assists on the season and is fifth in the conference in assists per set (10.20).
Head-to-head: The Wildcats took both meetings with the Lumberjacks last season and have won 13 of the last 15 matches with Humboldt since 2005. Chico State leads the all-time series, 33-10.
Fans can follow the action of both Chico State road matches online via Live Stats.
CLICK HERE for Chico State-Cal Poly Pomona Live Stats
CLICK HERE for Chico State-Humboldt State Live Stats
