Box Score CHICO – It's practically a given that when the Chico State and Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball teams tangle, the match is going the distance. Saturday at Acker Gym was no exception – for the eighth time in the last 10 meetings, the Wildcats and Otters went the full five sets, but unfortunately for the 'Cats, it was the visitors that came away the winner, coming back from two sets down to hand Chico State a 19-25, 19-25, 25-20, 30-28, 15-13 defeat.
The Wildcats fell to 10-10 on the season and 7-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), dropping Chico State back into a fifth place tie with Monterey Bay in the conference standings. The Otters won for only the second time in their last six matches to improve to 13-8 overall and 7-6 in CCAA play.
The 'Cats got double-digit kills from a trio of hitters. Alex Shurtz registered a match-high 23 winners and chipped in with 14 digs; Ellie Larronde added 18 kills and a pair of solo blocks, and Lindsay Quigley delivered 13 kills along with six blocks on the night. Torey Thompson handed out a career-high 61 assists and took part in four blocks, while Emily Duran and Molly Ratto collected 17 and 15 digs, respectively.
The match started well for the Wildcats. Chico State led from start to finish in the opening set, and led by eight Shurtz kills, the 'Cats built up an eight-point advantage at 17-9 at never looked back. Fittingly, Shurtz provided the winning blast in the Wildcats' 25-19 victory.
The second set was a more tightly-played affair, with 11 tie scores and three lead changes. Neither team led by more than two points until three straight Monterey Bay errors put Chico State up 20-17. With the score 21-19, the Wildcats used a solo block by Shurts and kills by Shurtz, Quigley and Ashton Kershner to score the final four points and take the set 25-19.
The third set saw a reversal of fortune for the Otters, who led nearly the entire way. Chico State made it interesting – after falling behind 16-11, a Ratto ace and kills by Shurtz and Thompson highlighted a 5-2 mini-run to cut the deficit to two. Monterey Bay was able to quickly extend its advantage back to five, and DJ Gresham-Ryder notched the final point with a kill to give the Otters a 25-20 victory.
Chico State jumped out to a 13-9 lead in a wild fourth set that featured 15 tie scores and eight lead changes. Monterey Bay caught the 'Cats at 14-apiece, then went out in front 20-18. The Wildcats responded by scoring six of the next nine points – thanks to kills from Quigley, Shurtz and Larronde – to go up 24-23. The Otters survived match point, then had Chico State down twice but couldn't finish. The Wildcats got kills from Larronde and Quigley to take a 28-27 lead, but Monterey Bay rallied to post the final three points to grab the 30-28 victory and force a fifth and deciding set.
Chico State raced out to a 4-1 lead in the fifth set, only to see the Otters go on an 8-3 run to move in front 9-7. The 'Cats fought back, reclaiming the lead when kills by Larronde, Quigley and Natalie Nordahl put Chico State up 12-11. But again, the Wildcats couldn't keep Monterey Bay down, as the Otters tallied four of the set's final five points to win 15-13 and take the match in true come-from-behind fashion.
Chico State returns to action next weekend, traveling to southern California to take on UC San Diego Friday and CCAA leader Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
