CHICO – The 2014 schedule-makers have seen to it that there's no rest for the road-weary Chico State volleyball team. After visiting both southern California and the northern most part of the state within 72 hours last week, the Wildcats are right back in action with three more matches before this Sunday rolls around. The 'Cats are in Turlock Wednesday to take on Cal State Stanislaus, then return to the friendly confines of Acker Gym to host Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State L.A. on Saturday. All three matches get underway at 7 p.m.

 

Chico State enters the week 5-5 on the season and in a tie with San Francisco State for sixth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 3-3 conference mark. The Wildcats didn't have much luck on last week's long road trip, seeing their season-best three-match winning streak go by the boards with losses to No. 8 Cal State San Bernardino Thursday followed by a four-set defeat in Arcata against Humboldt State.
 
The 'Cats are confident their fortunes will turn with a little home cooking. Chico State volleyball is 65-30 at Acker Gym (a .684 winning percentage) since the tail end of the 2005 season. Saturday's home tilt against Cal State L.A. is also CARD Youth Sports Night at Acker Gym, with a special player autograph session scheduled following the match.
 
Chico State remains among the top CCAA teams in many of the key statistical categories. The Wildcats begin the week leading the conference in assists per set (13.17) and are second in kills per set (13.69) and digs per set (17.54).
 
Several 'Cats are also among the CCAA heavyweights in the individual rankings:
 
     -- Setter Torey Thompson leads the conference (and is 12th in the nation) in assists per set (11.65); is third in assists (396); eighth in aces per set (0.38) and ninth in aces (13).
     -- Middle hitter Lindsay Quigley ranks third in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.371), seventh in kills per set (3.29) and eighth in points per set (3.63).
     -- Shannon Boling is fifth among conference hitters in kills per set (3.70) and seventh in points per set (3.82).
     -- Emily Duran is second in the CCAA in digs per set (4.91) and sixth in digs (172).
     -- Kristyn Casalino is seventh in the conference in hitting percentage (.319).
 
Cal State Stanislaus, the Wildcats' Wednesday night opponent, is 1-9 on the year and sits in 11th place in the CCAA with a 1-5 conference record. The Warriors, whose lone win was back on Sept. 20 vs. Cal State East Bay, were swept twice last week, dropping three-set decisions to Humboldt State on Thursday and Cal State San Bernardino Saturday.
 
Stanislaus is led by sophomore outside hitter Blair Ehrlich (97 kills), with sophomore right side hitter Lindsay Skadeland contributing 67 kills and 15 total blocks to the Warrior attack.
 
Chico State won both meetings with the Warriors last season, with the Wildcats leading the all-time series 49-13.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills, which face the 'Cats Friday, is in the midst of a seven-match losing streak and is 1-9 on the season. The Toros fell at home last weekend to Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay to plummet to the cellar of the CCAA standings with an 0-6 conference record. The lone Dominguez Hills victory came nearly a month ago, when the Toros downed Fresno Pacific Sept. 6.
 
The Toros do have plenty of weapons, and as a result Chico State will not take Dominguez Hills lightly. Junior outside hitter Alijah Gunsaulus ranks fourth in the CCAA in kills per set (3.78) and fifth in kills (136), while junior setter Dana Brown is fifth in the conference in assists per set (9.61). The Toros are tenacious at the net – Dominguez Hills has five players with 14 or more blocks on the season.
 
Chico State and Dominguez Hills split the season series in 2013. Since 1985, the Wildcats have won 30 of 39 meetings between the two teams.
 
Cal State L.A. enters the week 7-2 overall and tied with Cal State San Bernardino atop the CCAA standings with a 5-1 conference record. The Golden Eagles have been hot, winning five of their last six contests, including victories last weekend over Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay.
 
Cal State L.A. is dangerous in several areas. The Golden Eagles rank second in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.239), third in digs per set (16.91) and blocks per set (2.38), and fourth in service aces per set (1.42) and total blocks (78).
 
Junior outside hitter Iona Lofrano, a First Team All-CCAA selection last season, is having another productive year for Cal State L.A., ranking sixth in the conference in kills (136) and third in kills per set (4.09). Sophomore middle blocker JamieAnn Bero is ninth in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.304) and is tied for sixth with teammate Mia Alcaraz with 34 total blocks on the year. Freshman Kelsey Molnar is sixth among CCAA setters in assists per set (9.58) and eighth in both assists (249) and service aces per set (0.35).
 
The Wildcats and Golden Eagles split the season series last year, with each team winning on the other's home floor. Cal State L.A. leads the all-time series 31-10.
 
Fans unable to attend Chico State's Wednesday road match or either of the two weekend matches at Acker Gym can follow the action on the internet via Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.

CLICK HERE for Live Stats for Wedensday's Chico State-Cal State Stanislaus match

CLICK HERE for Live Stats for Friday's Chico State-Cal State Dominguez match

CLICK HERE for Live Stats for Saturday's Chico State-Cal State L.A. match