CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team wraps up the 2013 regular season this weekend, with the Wildcats getting the added bonus of playing in front of their faithful fans in the friendly confines of Acker Gym. The 'Cats welcome Humboldt State to Chico Friday, with Cal Poly Pomona coming to town on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Saturday will also serve as Senior Night, as the Wildcats pay tribute to outgoing seniors Alex Shurtz and Molly Ratto in a special pre-match ceremony.
Where they stand: Chico State is 14-13 on the year and tied with Cal State Monterey Bay for fourth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with an 11-9 conference record. The Wildcats are finishing the season strong, winning four of their last five matches. The lone blip on the radar was last Friday when Chico State fell to Cal State Dominguez Hills, but the 'Cats bounced back Saturday with an exciting come-from-behind five-set win over Cal State L.A. Chico State has won five of its nine matches played this season at Acker Gym.
Individual achievements: Several Chico State players are ranked among the top 10 CCAA players (and in the top 20 nationally) in various statistical categories:
-- Ellie Larronde is second in the CCAA in solo blocks (28), eighth in kills (344), points (385) and points per set (3.81), and ninth in the conference in kills per set (3.41).
-- Alex Shurtz ranks second in the CCAA (and 14th in the nation) in points per set (4.55) and is third in the conference (and 15th nationally) in kills per set (4.03). Shurtz is also third in the CCAA in solo blocks (23).
-- Lindsay Quigley ranks third in the conference (and 17th in the nation) in hitting percentage (.361) and is 10th in the CCAA in points (381).
-- Torey Thompson leads the CCAA (and is 13th in the nation) in assists per set (11.34). Thompson, who became just the ninth player in Chico State history to rack up at least 1,000 assists in a season, ranks second among conference setters heading into the season's final weekend with 1,100 assists on the year.
-- Molly Ratto is tied for the conference lead in service aces (39) and is third in the CCAA in aces per set (0.38).
-- Emily Duran is seventh in the conference in both digs (452) and digs per set (4.39).
-- Natalie Nordahl ranks ninth in the CCAA in blocks per set.
Humboldt State: The Lumberjacks enter the final weekend of the regular season with an 11-16 record and sit in 10th place in the CCAA with a 6-14 conference mark. Humboldt was 0-for-November before snapping a six-match losing streak last Saturday with a sweep of San Francisco State. The 'Jacks have actually had more success on the road than at home this season, with eight of their 11 wins coming away from Lumberjack Arena.
Humboldt State is led by junior outside hitter Ashley Owen, who ranks fourth in the CCAA with 392 kills. Sophomore right side hitter Kaitlyn Dunaway is 10th in the conference in kills (329), while senior setter Sam Siebert ranks seventh in the CCAA in assists per set (9.65).
Head-to-head: Chico State beat Humboldt in four sets in the first meeting of the season Oct. 19 in Arcata, and has won 12 of the last 13 contests between the two teams dating back to 2007. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 34-10.
Cal Poly Pomona: The Broncos are currently in seventh place in the CCAA with a 9-11 conference record; Pomona is 11-17 overall. It's been a tough November for the Broncos, having lost four of five matches this month, but Pomona is coming off a split last weekend (winning in four sets over San Francisco State and dropping a four-set decision to Sonoma State). The Broncos enter the weekend 5-12 on the road this season.
Pomona's top offensive threats are senior outside hitter Jessica Doerner (295 kills) and sophomore middle blocker Alexa Hasen (237 kills, ranks second in the CCAA with 118 total blocks and a 1.10 blocks per set average). The Broncos as a unit is a force at the net, leading the conference in team blocks (256) and second in blocks per set (2.33).
Head-to-head: The Broncos won the first meeting of the year between the two teams, topping the Wildcats in four sets Oct. 17 in southern California. Pomona holds the edge in the all-time series, leading the 'Cats 24-15, though Chico State has won seven of the last nine meetings and four straight at Acker Gym.
Fans can follow both Friday and Saturday matches online via Live Stats.
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