Box Score CHICO – After an exciting four-set victory Friday against Humboldt State, the Chico State volleyball team hoped to continue an already exciting homestand with a win against Cal State San Bernardino. But it was not to be – the No. 18 Coyotes certainly didn't dominate, but they played steady throughout the evening and did what was needed to hand the host Wildcats a 21-25, 18-25, 24-26 loss at Acker Gym.
 
Saturday's defeat saw Chico State slip to 10-11 on the season and 8-9 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State San Bernardino, shooting for its ninth straight conference title, improved to 16-5 overall and 13-4 in CCAA play to remain a game behind first place Sonoma State.
 
Lindsay Quigley notched her 10th straight match of double-digit kills, delivering 16 winners to pace the Wildcat attack. Ellie Larronde added 11 kills, while Torey Thompson handed out 37 assists. Emily Duran and Shannon Cotton combined for 27 digs on the night.
 
The two teams split the first eight points of the opening set, then Cal State San Bernardino used a 12-5 run to build a seemingly comfortable 16-9 lead. Chico State answered by scoring eight of the next 10 points, highlighted by an Anu Munkhtur service ace, a Kristyn Casalino/Shannon Boling combo block and kills by Casalino and Larronde to trim the deficit to 18-17. The Coyotes held on to the lead, pushing their advantage to four at 24-20, and though a Quigley kill helped the 'Cats survive one set point, Alex Torline responded with the kill that gave San Bernardino the 25-21 victory.
 
The second set started in back-and-forth fashion, but the Wildcats snapped an 8-all tie to go up 13-12 on the strength of kills by Boling, Quigley and Larronde. Chico State didn't hold the lead for long, as San Bernardino went on an 11-3 run to jump in front 23-16. Two late Quigley weren't enough to mount a 'Cats comeback, however, and the Coyotes prevailed by a final of 25-18.
 
The Wildcats matched San Bernardino step for step in the third set, and the Coyotes simply had no answer for Quigley, who smashed 10 kills to give the Wildcats a 20-19 lead. The Coyotes registered five of the next eight points to go up 24-23, and after a Quigley kill help the 'Cats avoid match point, San Bernardino scored the two it needed to lock down the 26-24 win and the match sweep. 
 
Chico State concludes its homestand Tuesday, welcoming Cal State Stanislaus (2-19, 2-15 CCAA) to Acker Gym. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.