Box Score ROHNERT PARK – The Chico State volleyball team, fresh off Friday's impressive sweep of San Francisco State, was involved in another three-set match Saturday against Sonoma State – but this time, it was the Wildcats that failed to register a win. The No. 13 Seawolves lived up to their national ranking, handing the 'Cats a 18-25, 17-25, 21-25 defeat at the Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park. 

Saturday's loss drops Chico State to 7-7 on the season and into fifth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 4-3 conference mark. Sonoma State notched its fifth straight victory to improve to 12-2 overall and 5-1 in CCAA play.


Sonoma State roared out to a 6-1 lead in the match's opening set, but thanks to kills by Shurtz and Larronde, Chico State posted six of the next nine points to pull to within 9-7. The Seawolves responded with a 4-0 mini-run to push their lead back to six, and the Wildcats could get no closer than three the rest of the way, as Sonoma State rolled to the 25-18 win.

A Molly Ratto service ace and kills by Shurtz and Lindsay Quigley gave the 'Cats a 7-6 lead early in the second set. Sonoma State used a 13-6 run to go out in front 19-13, and though Larronde and Ashton Kershner provided Chico State with late kills, the Seawolves were by that time in full control of the contest, ultimately notching the 25-17 victory.

The Wildcats were forced to play catch-up nearly the entire third set, as Sonoma State snapped a five-all tie with a 7-0 run to go up 12-5. Chico State continued to battle, getting kills from Shurtz, Larronde, Natalie Nordahl and Kristyn Casalino, two Shurtz solo blocks and combo blocks from Quigley/Nordahl and Nordahl/Casalino to cut the deficit to two. But with the score 22-20, the Seawolves delivered the knockout punch, scoring three of the final four points to grab the 25-21 victory and sweep the match.

Chico State returns home next weekend to host Cal State L.A. on Friday and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m.