The Chico State volleyball team has seen plenty of action and logged more than its fair share of travel so far this season. The Wildcats have played 21 matches – more than any other California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) team – and gone on seven different road trips while taking the court three times in three of the last four weeks. Things slow down a bit for the 'Cats in the second half of October, with just four matches scheduled between now and November. The first is, appropriately, a road contest, as the Wildcats travel to Southern California Saturday to take on Cal State San Marcos. Action gets underway at 12 noon at Hunter Gymnasium.
Fans will be able to follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
This is the first-ever meeting between Chico State and Cal State San Marcos. The Cougars are in the midst of their first season transitioning from an NAIA school to competing at the NCAA Division II level.
Chico State is 15-6 on the season and enters the weekend tied for third place in the CCAA with a 7-4 conference mark. The Wildcats snapped a brief two-match losing streak over the weekend – after losing a tough five-set decision Friday to Cal Poly Pomona at Acker Gym, the 'Cats rebounded Saturday with a convincing win over Cal State Monterey Bay.
The 'Cats have won 11 of their 15 road matches this season.
Chico State continues to lead all CCAA teams in kills (1,053), assists (978), service aces (120), digs (1,373) and solo blocks (38). Several Wildcats also rank in the top 10 in several individual categories:
-- Olivia Mediano is second in the CCAA in kills (283) and fourth in kills per set (3.82).
-- Torey Thompson leads the conference in assists (806) and is third in assists per set (10.61).
-- Shannon Cotton is second in the CCAA in digs (363) and seventh in digs per set (4.65).
-- Jacki Kreymborg is third in aces (24) and 10th among all CCAA players in aces per set (0.30).
-- Anna Baytosh is fourth in the conference in solo blocks (9).
-- Ashton Kershner is seventh in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.324).
-- Hannah Wilkins is ninth in the conference in hitting percentage (.300).
Cal State San Marcos is 4-15 on the year and resides in last place in the CCAA with a 1-10 conference mark. The Cougars enter the weekend having dropped five straight and 12 of their last 13, including four-set road losses last weekend to Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A.
San Marcos is 1-4 on its home floor this season. Its lone victory at Hunter Gymnasium was back on Sept. 26 vs. Cal State East Bay.
The Cougars featured a balanced offensive attack anchored by four outside hitters. Seniors Jordan Banich and Taylor DeGraaf, junior Brooke Butler and freshman Lauren Lee have combined for nearly 600 kills on the year.
Following Saturday afternoon's match, Chico State returns to Southern California next weekend for a road doubleheader against UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino. The Wildcats are back at Acker Gym Oct. 30 to host Cal State San Marcos.
