Box Score SEASIDE – The Chico State volleyball team scored a huge road victory Friday night against Cal State Monterey Bay, but what began as one of the Wildcats' finest performances on the court this season came within a whisker of going horribly wrong. After taking the two opening sets 25-19 and 25-20, the 'Cats saw the Otter win 25-16 and 25-20 to force a winner-take-all fifth set. Chico State regrouped at just the right time to win the decider 15-11 to notch its second straight victory.
With the victory, the Wildcats improved to 5-4 overall and 2-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Monterey Bay dropped its second straight to fall to 6-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Ellie Larronde and Lindsay Quigley led the Wildcat attack with 19 kills apiece, while for the second straight match Hannah Wilkins set a career high in kills, this time with 18. Larronde added 17 digs and a pair of solo blocks to her stat line, with Torey Thompson doling out 57 assists and contributing 18 digs on the night. Emily Duran led the 'Cats with 35 digs – the fourth-highest total in a single match in Wildcat history – while Lauren Orozco added 20 bumps in the victory. Ashton Kershner chipped in with nine kills and six blocks, as the Chico State posted an impressive .241 team attack percentage.
Cal State Monterey Bay jumped out to an early 7-5 lead, but three Wilkins kills knotted up the contest at eight apiece. The Otters went back on top 10-8, only to see Chico State post six unanswered points – powered by kills from Larronde, Quigley and Kershner – to put the Wildcats on in front 14-10. Monterey Bay pulled to within a point at 15-14, but three straight Otters errors and a Wilkins kill stretched the 'Cats' advantage to 19-14. Monterey Bay again crept to within two, but with the score 21-19, Chico State nixed any Otter comeback by ripping off the final four points – two Quigley kills, a Molly Ratto service ace and a combo block by Quigley and Thompson giving the Wildcats the 25-19 win.
Chico State scored the first three points of the second set, then with the score 3-2, went on a 14-9 run thanks to three kills Wilkins and two apiece by Quigley, Larronde and Natalie Nordahl to help the Wildcats surge ahead 17-11. The Wildcats continued to cling to a 22-20 lead, then put the Otters away by scoring the final three points to post the 25-20 victory.
Cal State Monterey, now with its back to the wall, came back strong in the third set. Leading nearly the entire contest, the Otters used a 14-8 run to break open a close contest and go up 20-12. The Wildcats could get no closer than seven the rest of the way, and Monterey Bay avoided a sweep with a 25-16 victory.
The Otters raced out to a 7-4 lead in the fourth set, but two Wilkins kills and one by Kershner tied the score. Monterey Bay answered with a 14-9 run to go back on top 21-13. Chico State was forced to play catch-up throughout the rest of the contest, but despite three kills by Quigley to power a late 7-2 run and pull the 'Cats to within 23-20, the Otters scroed the final two points to hang on for the 25-20 victory and force a fifth and deciding set.
The match finale saw Chico State fall behind 3-2 before three Larronde kills and a block by Kershner and Nordahl gave the Wildcats a 6-3 lead. The 'Cats were still up three when Monterey Bay tied the contest at eight-all, but two Otters miscues and a Larronde kill put Chico State back on top 11-9. The Wildcats then proceeded to close it out by scoring the final four points highlighted by a Quigley kill, a Kershner block and the winning strike by Larronde to give Chico State the 15-11 win and the match.
The Wildcats wrap up their weekend road trip Saturday, traveling to Hayward to take on Cal State East Bay (5-4 on the year and a three-set winner Friday over Cal State Stanislaus). First serve is slated for 7 p.m.
Wildcat fans can follow the action online via Live Stats.
CLICK HERE for Live Stats
