Box Score CHICO – Playing with confidence in front of a loud Jack in the Box Pack the House Night crowd, the Chico State volleyball team returned to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play Friday and posted an impressive – and important – conference win. Posting a solid .256 attack percentage, the Wildcats racked up their second straight win and fourth in the last five outings by sweeping the visiting Pioneers of Cal State East Bay 25-20, 26-24, 25-21 Friday at Acker Gym.   

 

Friday's win moved Chico State to 4-3 on the season and helped the Wildcats maintain a share of fourth place in the CCAA with a 2-1 conference record. Cal State East Bay dipped to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in CCAA play.
 
Shannon Boling led a trio of Wildcats with double-digit kills on the night, delivering a career-high 18 winners. Lindsay Quigley added 16 kills while posting a sparkling .538 attack percentage, and Ellie Larronde contributed 11 kills to go along with eight digs. Torey Thompson handed out 43 assists, with Emily Duran and Shannon Cotton leading the 'Cats in digs with 18 and 12, respectively.
 
The Wildcats jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the opening set on the strength of three Boling kills and a Thompson service ace. The Pioneers closed to within 9-6, only to see the 'Cats reel off one of the few sustained runs of the match – with Larronde and Quigley each delivering three kills, Chico State scored 11 of the next 14 points to go up 20-9. East Bay stayed alive by surviving five set points, but Larronde finally put the Wildcats over the hump with an authoritative kill to wrap up a 25-20 win.
 
The second set was the most tightly played contest of the match, with 13 ties and three lead changes. With the score knotted up at 16-apiece, Quigley connected for three kills and Shannon Cotton provided an ace to give Chico State a 21-17 lead. A Boling kill made the score 24-23, but East Bay once again survived set point to tie up the contest. It didn't stay that way for long – back-to-back kills by Larronde and Quigley gave the 'Cats the 26-24 victory.
 
It was another back-and-forth affair in the third set, with the lead changing hands five times. The sixth kill of the set by Boling put the Wildcats in front 15-13, but the Pioneers responded by scoring five of the next six points to go up 18-16. Two East Bay errors and a pair of Larronde kills put the 'Cats back on top 20-18, and Chico State would not relinquish the lead – with the score 23-21, Quigley rapped out two booming kills to end it, giving the Wildcats the set 25-21 and the match sweep.  
 
Chico State is back in action Saturday, hosting Cal State Monterey Bay at Acker Gym. First serve is set for 7 p.m. Fans unable to attend can follow the action online with Live Stats available through the Wildcat Athletics website.

CLICK HERE for Live Stats