ARCATA – The Chico State volleyball team cut it a-w-f-u-l-l-y close. But with just two matches remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats picked the perfect time to snap their six-match losing streak, and in the process secured the program's first postseason appearance since 2008. The 'Cats scratched and clawed their way to a huge four-set victory Thursday night over Humboldt State, winning 25-15, 25-27, 25-17, 25-23 at Lumberjack Arena in Arcata to lock up an invitation to next week's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament.
 
The victory moves Chico State to 17-12 overall, but more importantly improves its CCAA record to 9-10. Thursday's win not only eliminated Humboldt State from postseason contention but assured the Wildcats no worse than a tie for eighth place in the conference standings. If Chico State – which still has a chance to finish as high as seventh – is tied with Cal State Dominguez Hills for eighth place following Saturday's regular season finale, the Wildcats will advance to postseason play by virtue of their head-to-head win over the Toros back on Sept. 18.

 

Olivia Mediano led the Wildcats Thursday with 19 kills to go along with a career-high 26 digs. Shannon Boling added 10 kills, while Torey Thompson handed out 38 assists, racked up five kills and 18 digs plus had a hand in three blocks. Shannon Cotton also had 26 digs as the Wildcats posted their first victory since beating Cal State San Marcos on Oct. 17.       
 
A Hannah Wilkins service ace, kills by Mediano and Anna Baytosh and five Humboldt State errors staked the Wildcats to an 8-1 lead in the opening set. The Lumberjacks came back to score five unanswered points and eventually pull to within 10-8, but Chico State posted four of the next five winners to push its advantage to five. Humboldt once again crept to within two, only to see the 'Cats decisively close out the set – two Jacki Kreymborg aces and kills by Mediano, Thompson and Ashton Kershner highlighted an 8-0 run to give Chico State the 25-15 win.
 
The two teams split the first eight points of the second set before three Thompson kills sparked a 6-1 Wildcat run, putting Chico State in front 10-5. Humboldt rallied to go on a 12-5 run of its own to take a 17-15 lead, but the 'Cats would quickly knot up the contest. With the score 23-all, Mediano delivered a kill to move Chico State to within a point of victory. Humboldt scored to stay alive, then after Boling rocked a kill to again give the 'Cats the upper hand at 25-24, the Lumberjacks reeled off three straight points to steal a 27-25 win and even the match at one set apiece.
 
The Wildcats went up 5-2 early in the third set on the strength of kills by Thompson, Mediano and Boling, only to see Humboldt answer with a 7-2 run to take a 9-7 lead. With the Lumberjacks still out in front 13-12, the 'Cats went to work, scoring six straight points – two on Boling kills – to go up 18-13. Chico State stretched its lead to 23-16, leaving it to a Mediano kill and Kreymborg ace to provide the final two points and give the Wildcats a 25-17 win.
 
Humboldt spotted the 'Cats the first point of the fourth set, then went on an 8-4 run to establish an early lead. Three straight kills by Mediano kick-started a 4-0 run to put Chico State on top 12-10, but the Lumberjacks responded with three straight winners to re-take the lead. Humboldt held an 18-15 advantage when Chico State used kills by Wilkins, Boling, Mediano and Kaitlyn Jochum to key a 7-1 run and jump out in front 22-19. The Lumberjacks quickly came back to tie things up, but on this night the 'Cats would not be denied – a combo block by Thompson and Wilkins and two Mediano kills were the difference as Chico State prevailed 25-22 to win the set and the match.
 
The Wildcats wrap up the regular season Saturday, traveling to Rohnert Park to take on conference leader and 18th-ranked Sonoma State. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.