CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team is looking to get back on the winning track, and once again will rely on the home cookin' that almost always cures what ails them. Since the tail end of the 2005 season, the Wildcats are 66-29 (an impressive .695 winning percentage) in the friendly confines of Acker Gym, and this weekend Cody Hein's 'Cats will be faced with two major conference challenges as they host UC San Diego Friday and Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Chico State kicks off the second half of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule with a 7-8 overall record and tied with San Francisco State for 7th place in the CCAA conference standing with a 5-6 mark. The Wildcats have dropped three straight and five of their last seven decisions, including four-set road losses last weekend to both San Francisco State and Sonoma State.
Despite their recent stumble, the 'Cats have reason to be confident heading into the weekend, as the team has continued the tradition of playing well as home. Chico State is 4-1 at Acker Gym this season.
Statistically, the Wildcats remain one of the top teams in the CCAA in several categories, ranking third in assists per set (12.80), fourth in kills per set (13.39) and fourth in digs per set (16.37).
Individually, several Chico State players are among the top 10 in the conference in various statistical categories:
-- Lindsay Quigley leads the CCAA in hitting percentage (.417), sixth in kills per set (3.42) and points per set (3.86), and ninth in kills (181).
-- Torey Thompson leads all CCAA setters in assists per set (11.38) and is also third in assists (603), ninth in service aces per set (0.32) and tied for 10th in aces (17).
-- Shannon Boling ranks fourth among conference hitters in kills per set (3.52) and seventh in points per set (3.70).
-- Emily Duran is fourth in the CCAA in digs per set (4.56) and fifth in digs (246).
-- Kristyn Casalino is ninth in the conference in hitting percentage (.300).
UC San Diego, Chico State's Friday night foe, is 10-5 on the year and began the week tied with Cal State San Bernardino, Humboldt State and Cal State L.A. for second place in the CCAA with an 8-3 conference record. The Tritons have been on a productive role over the last few weeks, winning four of their last five matches, including sweeps last weekend of both Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay.
UC San Diego has demonstrated they can be beaten on the road. Away from RIMAC Arena, the Tritons are just 4-4 on the season.
As a team, UC San Diego leads the conference in digs and ranks in the CCAA top five in kills, assists, digs per set, blocks and blocks per set. The Tritons' attack is led by senior opposite hitter Caitlin Brenton (195 kills, 19 service aces, 43 blocks), junior outside hitter Danielle Dahle (179 kills) and junior setter Heidi Sierks (612 assists, 10.03 assists per set).
UC San Diego bested Chico State in the first meeting of the season, downing the Wildcats in four sets Sept. 13 in La Jolla. The Tritons lead the all-time series, 25-6.
Cal Poly Pomona, which comes to Chico Saturday following its Friday matchup with Cal State Stanislaus, is 8-6 overall and in sixth place in the CCAA with a 6-5 conference record. The Broncos are riding a two-match winning streak entering the weekend, thanks to wins last week over Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay.
Cal Poly Pomona has had its share of struggles on the road this season, heading into this week's action 3-5 away from its home floor, Kellogg Gym.
Pomona is among the CCAA elite in several statistical categories, ranking among the conference's top five teams in blocks, digs and service aces. The Broncos have no less than six hitters boasting over 70 kills on the season, led by freshman outside hitter Deanna Blaine (151 kills) and junior middle blockers Christen Williams (135 kills, .340 hitting percentage, 63 blocks) and Alexa Hasen (107 kills, 56 blocks).
In the first meeting between the two teams this season, the Wildcats upended the Broncos in five sets Sept. 12 in Pomona to kick off the CCAA conference season. Pomona has the upper hand in the all-time series, winning 24 of 41 meetings with the 'Cats since 1985.
Both matches can be followed online via Live Stats through the Wildcat Athletics website.
CLICK HERE for Live Stats
