Box Score POMONA – The Chico State volleyball team got its southern California road swing off to a big-time start Friday in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference opener against Cal Poly Pomona – but it certainly wasn't without its share of drama. The Wildcats fell behind two sets to one, but came charging back to stun the host Broncos and win a five-set thriller 20-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-22, 15-11 at Kellogg Gymnasium.
Four Wildcat hitters delivered double-digit kills Friday – Lindsay Quigley and Shannon Boling had 15 apiece, with Quigley adding three blocks; Izzy Sagely blasted 14 kills and Ashton Kershner chipped in with 10 kills to go along with three blocks. Torey Thompson once again filled up the stat sheet for the 'Cats, doling out 59 assists while posting 17 digs, four blocks and a pair of service aces. Emily Duran added a team-high 24 digs as Chico State evened its season record at 2-2. Cal Poly Pomona saw its record dip to 2-2 with Friday's loss.
Chico State and Cal Poly Pomona split the first 10 points of the opening set, with Quigley and Natalie Nordahl registering early kills for the 'Cats. Kills by Thompson and Kershner and a Thompson service ace put Chico State out in front 9-6, but Pomona scored 15 of the next 22 points to take a 21-16 lead. Kershner delivered two kills and a solo block to pull the Wildcats to within 22-19, but the Broncos used a Chico State error and late kills by Alexa Hasen and Christen Williams to come through with the 25-20 victory.
Kills by Quigley, Boling and Sagely staked Chico State to an early 5-2 advantage in the second set, only to see Pomona post six of the next eight points to take the lead. The Wildcats responded with a 9-1 run, fueled by kills by Kershner, Sagely and Quigley to put Chico State back on top 16-9. The Broncos scored four straight to trim the deficit to three, but two kills by Sagely, an ace by Anu Munkhtur and a Thompson block helped the 'Cats extend their advantage to 21-13. Ponoma could get no closer than five the rest of the way, and a Boling kill put the finishing touches on Chico State's 25-19 victory to even the match at one apiece.
Ponoma used a 6-1 run to snap a three-all tie early in the third set to go out in front 9-4, and Chico State was unable to keep the Broncos from steadily pulling away. Despite kills by Boling, Nordahl and Sagely, Pomona increased its lead to 17-9 and never looked back, eventually cruising to a 25-18 win.
The Wildcats roared out to a 7-3 lead in the fourth set, powered by kills from Quigley, Sagely and Boling. Ponoma battled back, tallying 11 of the next 17 points to overtake the 'Cats and go out in front 14-13. Chico State answered, briefly taking a 17-16 lead. With the set tied at 18-apiece, kills by Quigley and Olivia Mediano put the Wildcats ahead to stay, and a Kershner kill wrapped up the 'Cats' 25-22 victory to force a fifth and deciding set.
Chico State used a combo block by Thompson/Quigley and kills by Quigley and Boling to go out in front 6-4 in the finale, but the Broncos rallied to go up 8-7. The Wildcats responded with five straight points – Quigley contributing two kills, with one apiece by Sagely and Thompson – to take a 12-8 lead. Pomona cut the deficit to two, but the Broncos committed two costly errors down the stretch, and a combo block by Quigley/Sagely provided the winning point to seal the deal for the 'Cats, winning the set 15-12 and the match.
The Wildcats are back in action Saturday, taking on UC San Diego (a four-set winner Friday against Cal State Stanislaus) at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla. The match is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. Fans can follow the action online via Live Stats.
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