CHICO – It may not be the longest road trip of the season for the Chico State volleyball team, but it is arguably the toughest. The Wildcats travel to southern California this weekend to takes on the top two teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAA) – opponents the 'Cats have beaten a total of twice on the road since 2000. No. 12 UC San Diego hosts the Wildcats Friday at RIMAC Arena, then conference leader and 13th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino welcomes Chico State to Coussoulis Arena on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Where they stand: The Wildcats are an even 10-10 on the season, and enter the week tied with Cal State Monterey Bay for fifth place in the CCAA with a 7-6 conference record. The 'Cats missed an opportunity to match their season-high three-match winning streak last weekend – after sweeping Cal State East Bay on Friday, Chico State allowed Cal State Monterey Bay to come back from a two-set deficit to win in five Saturday at Acker Gym.
On the road: Chico State has won five of nine matches away from the friendly confines of Acker Gym this season, and is 4-2 on the road in conference play. Their lone CCAA road losses came against Cal Poly Pomona and No. 14 Sonoma State.
Individual achievements: Several Wildcats continue to rank among the CCAA leaders in several statistical categories:
-- Outside hitter Ellie Larronde is second in the conference in solo blocks (21), fifth in kills per set (3.79), sixth in points (316) and points per set (4.21), and seventh in kills (284).
-- Outside hitter Alex Shurtz ranks second in the CCAA in points per set (4.63), third in kills per set (4.08) and third in solo blocks (19).
-- Middle hitter Lindsay Quigley is second in the conference (and 16th nationally) in hitting percentage (.365).
-- Torey Thompson leads the CCAA (and is 11th in the nation) in assists per set (11.44), and is fourth among conference setters in assists (812).
-- Molly Ratto is second in the CCAA in service aces per set (0.40) and third in total aces (31).
-- Emily Duran ranks in the conference top 10 in both digs (ninth, 319) and digs per set (eighth, 4.14).
UC San Diego: The Tritons are 18-3 overall and tied with Sonoma State in the CCAA with a 10-3 conference record. UC San Diego has won two straight and nine of its last 10, including four-set victories last weekend over both Sonoma State and San Francisco State. The Tritons are an impressive 8-1 this season on their home floor, RIMAC Arena.
Tritons to watch: Sophomore outside hitter Danielle Dahle, a 2012 All-CCAA First Teamer, leads UC San Diego and is eighth in the CCAA in kills (278) and kills per set (3.52). Another All-CCAA selection from last year, junior middle blocker Sara McCutchan, is third in the conference in hitting percentage (.332) and has combined with teammates Kameron Cooper and Caitlin Brenton for 222 blocks on the season. Sophomore setter Heidi Sierks ranks fifth in the CCAA in assists (745) and eighth in assists per set (9.43).
Head to head: UC San Diego took the season's first meeting, beating the Wildcats in four sets Sept. 28 at Acker Gym. Chico State beat the Tritons in La Jolla back on Sept. 24, 2011, but trail the all-time series, 23-6.
Cal State San Bernardino: The Coyotes, currently in the driver's seat to capture their eighth straight CCAA title, are 16-5 entering the week and 12-1 in conference play, holding a two-game lead over UC San Diego and Sonoma State. After San Bernardino extended its season-long winning streak to 13 last Friday with a victory over San Francisco State, the Coyotes fell in five sets Saturday at home against Sonoma State. San Bernardino enters the weekend having won six of its nine home matches this season.
Coyotes to watch: Sophomore outside hitter Alexandra Torline, a First Team All-CCAA selection last season, leads San Bernardino with 242 kills, followed closely by sophomore outside hitter Tori May with 219 kills and a conference-best .401 hitting percentage. Freshman setter Hannah Liserra is 10th in the CCAA in assists per set (8.33), while sophomore middle blocker Brenna McIntosh, an All-CCAA Second Teamer a year ago, leads the conference in solo blocks (31) and blocks per set (1.23).
Head to head: The Coyotes lead the all-time series, 37-2, and have beaten Chico State in 36 consecutive matches dating back to 1995. In the first meeting of the season between the two teams, San Bernardino was a four-set winner over the Wildcats Sept. 27 at Acker Gym.
Wildcat fans can follow this weekend's action on the Internet via Live Stats.
CLICK HERE for Live Stats of Friday's Chico State-UC San Diego match
CLICK HERE for Live Stats of Saturday's Chico State-Cal State San Bernardino match
