SAN MARCOS – On paper, it appeared the Chico State volleyball team would have little trouble Saturday afternoon against Cal State San Marcos. The newest member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) entered the weekend having lost 12 of its last 13 and mired in last place in the conference standings. But after a big five-set win Friday over Stanislaus State, the Cougars came out energized and brimming with confidence, giving the visiting Wildcats quite the battle. Though it was far from a cakewalk, the 'Cats would prevail by sweeping San Marcos 26-24, 25-21, 25-21 at Hunter Gymnasium.
Saturday's win – Chico State's fifth in the last seven outings – improved the Wildcats' season record to 16-6 and kept the 'Cats in third place in the CCAA with an 8-4 conference record. Cal State San Marcos slipped to 5-16 overall and 2-11 in CCAA play.
Shelby Frank led the Wildcat offense with 14 kills on the day. Olivia Mediano contributed 13 kills, seven digs, two service aces and a solo block to the 'Cats' attack, with Shannon Boling delivering 10 kills. Torey Thompson racked up 43 assists and a team-high nine digs.
The opening set was a tightly-played affair, but it didn't start out that way, as San Marcos built a 16-10 lead. Chico State slowly chipped away at the deficit, and on the strength of kills by Thompson, Mediano, Frank and Boling and a Boling-Hannah Wilkins combo block, tallied 11 of the next 16 points to catch the Cougars at 21-all. After falling behind briefly, the Wildcats used a Mediano kill to go up 24-23. San Marcos survived one set point, but Mediano quickly doused the Cougars' comeback attempt with a kill and ace to give the 'Cats a 26-24 victory.
Chico State led throughout most of the second set, snapping a 3-all tie with a 9-4 run – Mediano, Boling and Wilkins all delivering multiple kills – to put the Wildcats on top 12-7. San Marcos pulled to within one at 16-15, but the 'Cats would not relinquish the lead, pushing the advantage back to five at 23-18. Kills by Mediano and Ashton Kershner officially sealed the deal as Chico State outlasted the Cougars 25-21.
It was a back-and-forth contest early in the third set, featuring five tie scores and three lead changes. With the score knotted up at 13-apiece, the Wildcats took the lead to stay, as kills by Frank and Boling and solo blocks by Frank and Mediano highlighted a 9-5 run to put Chico State on top 22-18. San Marcos could get no closer than two points the rest of the way, and late kills by Thompson and Wilkins put the finishing touches on the 'Cats' 25-21 win and the match sweep.
Chico State returns to Southern California next weekend for a pair of important conference matches. Friday the Wildcats will take on UC San Diego, then travel to San Bernardino to take on perennial CCAA powerhouse Cal State San Bernardino. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
