LA JOLLA – The Chico State volleyball team knew its trip to Southern California would be centered around facing two of the toughest back-to-back opponents – UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino – that the Wildcats have played so far this season. Friday night, the host Tritons succeeded in putting a damper on the front end of the 'Cats' weekend road swing, besting Chico State in four sets (25-12, 25-19, 22-25, 25-20) at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla.
 
Friday's loss drops Chico State to 16-7 on the season and into a tie with UC San Diego, Cal Poly Pomona and San Francisco State for third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with an 8-5 conference record. With the win, the Tritons improved to 12-9 overall.
 
Shannon Boling led the Wildcats with 16 kills on the night, with Olivia Mediano and Ashton Kershner adding 13 and nine kills, respectively. Torey Thompson doled out 41 assists while also contributing seven kills and a team-high 22 digs.
 
Chico State fell behind 7-1 early in the opening set, but a Shelby Frank solo block and kills by Mediano, Kershner, Thompson and Hannah Wilkins pulled the Wildcats to within 11-9. From there, though, it was all UC San Diego, which put together a 14-3 run to cruise to a 25-12 victory.
 
The second set was a more tightly-played contest, with the 'Cats and Tritons splitting the first 14 points before a Mediano kill put Chico State on top 8-7. The Wildcats were still up 11-9 before UC San Diego scored six of the next eight points to go out in front 15-13. The 'Cats caught the Tritons at 17-all, but UC San Diego used an 8-2 run to close out the set and post a 25-19 win.
 
The third set was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight tie scores before kills by Wilkins, Kershner, Thompson and Boling highlighted a 6-2 run to put the Wildcats on top 13-10. Three Mediano kills helped push the 'Cats' advantage to 18-14, and though the Tritons would pull to within one point five times down the stretch, Chico State never relinquished the lead, with a Wilkins/Boling combo block cementing the 25-22 win.
 
Set four saw the Wildcats edge out to a 7-5 lead – Frank, Mediano, Boling and Wilkins all providing kills – only to see UC San Diego score eight of the next 11 points to go up 13-11. Chico State answered by ripping off four unanswered points, with a Thompson kill putting the 'Cats ahead 15-13. The Wildcats were still up 16-14 when the Tritons came roaring back with an 8-2 run to jump back in front 22-18. Late kills by Kershner and Mediano weren't enough to mount a 'Cats comeback, as UC San Diego tallied the final three points needed for the 25-20 decision and the match victory.
 
The Wildcats and Tritons will do battle again in two weeks, squaring off Nov. 7 at Chico State's Acker Gym.
 
Things don't get any easier for the Wildcats this weekend, as they take on Cal State San Bernardino Saturday at Coussoulis Arena. The Coyotes (18-3, 11-2 CCAA) enter the contest having won seven straight and 10 of their last 11. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.