Box Score CHICO – Before a costumed crowd at Acker Gym, the Chico State volleyball team presented its own brand of Halloween festivities in Friday's match against visiting Humboldt State. There were no tricks – the 'Cats just delivered tough, aggressive play the entire night. And as far as the Lumberjacks were concerned, there certainly weren't any treats, either, as the Wildcats handed Humboldt a four-set, 25-17, 18-25, 28-26, 25-23 defeat.  
 
Friday's win evens Chico State's season record at 10-10, with the Wildcats remaining tied with San Francisco State for seventh place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with an 8-8 conference record. Humboldt State, winners of 10 of its last 12 matches entering play, slipped to 14-6 overall and into third place in the CCAA standings with a 11-5 conference mark.

 

Ellie Larronde led the Wildcats with 17 kills (her sixth straight match with double-digit kills) and collected five blocks on the night – three of them solos. Lindsay Quigley added 11 kills and had a hand in six blocks, with Kristyn Casalino chipping in with nine kills. Torey Thompson dished out 39 assists while adding 17 digs and three service aces, and Emily Duran racked up a team-high 27 digs for the victorious 'Cats. Olivia Mediano and Anu Munkhtur each delivered a pair of aces.
 
The opening set was played dead even in the early going, with the Wildcats and Lumberjacks splitting the first 18 points. Chico State snapped the 9-all tie and took control of the contest with a 9-3 run, combining a Casalino kill with a Quigley ace, Quigley/Thompson and Larronde/Casalino combo blocks and five Humboldt State errors. The Lumberjacks could get no closer than five points the rest of the way, and late kills by Quigley and Larronde cemented the 'Cats' 25-17 win.
 
The Lumberjacks bounced back to take the second set, using a 10-2 run to turn an 8-7 deficit into a 17-10 lead. Chico State hung tough, whittling Humboldt's advantage to four, but the 'Jacks proved too much down the stretch, scoring seven of the final 11 points to post the 25-18 victory.
 
The third set proved to be the turning point of the match, as the Wildcats grabbed a dramatic come-from-behind win. The set featured no less than 14 tie scores and six lead changes, but a late 4-1 run put Humboldt in front 23-20. Chico State was not to be denied, surviving two set points to tie the contest at 24-apiece; after falling behind 25-24, Mediano came through with a kill to once again even things up, and with the 'Jacks up 26-25 and the Wildcats again staring at set point, the 'Cats ripped off three straight points on a Quigley kill, a Mediano ace and a Lumberjacks error to pull out the 28-26 victory.
 
Chico State played catch-up nearly the entire fourth set, falling behind 11-10 and still trailing 21-17 when Larronde stepped up and literally took over the proceedings. The senior outside hitter blasted five kills and smashed a solo block to power an 8-2 run that give the Wildcats the 25-23 win and the match.    
 
The Wildcats welcome in November when they host No. 18 Cal State San Bernardino (15-5, 12-4 CCAA) Saturday at Acker Gym. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start.