The Chico State volleyball team has stumbled the past two weeks, but heading into the final five matches of the 2015-16 season, the Wildcats are still in control of their playoff destiny. The 'Cats will need to quickly turn their fortunes around to secure one of the eight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament berths, and with contests versus the conference's top three teams ahead, they'll need to rise to what will be a very lofty challenge. The big test starts this weekend as the Wildcats square off against No. 17 Cal State San Bernardino Friday and streaking UC San Diego on Saturday at Acker Gym. Both matches will get underway at 7 p.m.

 

Fans not able to attend in person can follow the action of both matches on the Internet with Live Stats via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video is also available online.
 
Chico State is 16-9 on the year and in seventh place in the CCAA with an 8-7 conference record. The Wildcats have dropped their last three decisions – including Friday's three-set home loss to Cal State San Marcos – and five of their last seven. Despite the stumble, the 'Cats enter the weekend a half-game ahead of eighth place Stanislaus State and a game-and-a-half in front of ninth place Humboldt State.
 
The 'Cats, looking to avenge road losses to both San Bernardino and UC San Diego from two weeks ago, are 4-3 this season in the friendly confines of Acker Gym.
 
Chico State currently ranks second among the 13 CCAA teams in kills (1,219), assists (1,133), service aces (131), digs (1,598) and solo blocks (41).
 
Individually, outside hitter Olivia Mediano is third in the conference in kills (321) and fifth in kills per set (3.69). Wildcats setter Torey Thompson is second in the CCAA in assists (943) and third in assists per set (10.60).
 
Four other Wildcats are ranked in the CCAA top 10:
     -- Shannon Cotton is sixth in the conference in digs (379) and digs per set (4.62)
     -- Hannah Wilkins is sixth in hitting percentage (.313)
     -- Ashton Kershner is eighth in hitting percentage (.296)
     -- Jacki Kreymborg is ninth in service aces (24)
 
Cal State San Bernardino, Chico State's Friday night opponent, is 21-3 on the year and in second place in the CCAA with a 14-2 conference record. The Coyotes, trying to reclaim the CCAA crown after their eight year run was stopped last season, are just a half-game back of first place Sonoma State thanks to their current 10-game winning streak. Last weekend San Bernardino scored home victories against Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal Poly Pomona.
 
The Coyotes have won eight of their 10 road contests this season.
 
San Bernardino leads the CCAA in hitting percentage (.284) and dominates all the conference's blocking statistics, ranking first in solo blocks (50), block assists (379), total blocks (240) and blocks per set (2.72).
 
The Coyotes are led by senior outside hitter Alexandra Torline, who is fourth in the CCAA in kills (307), kills per set (3.70) and aces (27). Junior middle blocker Malika O'Brien tops the conference with a .423 hitting percentage and is second in blocks (97), while freshman setter Jayann DeHoog is third in assists (929) and second in assists per set (10.93).
 
UC San Diego, which comes to Chico following Friday's match in Turlock against Stanislaus State, has won six in a row to enter the week 15-9 on the season. The winning streak – which continued last weekend with victories over Pomona and Monterey Bay – has vaulted the Tritons into third place in the CCAA standings with an 11-5 conference record.
 
The Tritons have played well away from their home floor of RIMAC Arena, winning eight of 14 road contests this season.
 
UC San Diego is among the top five teams in most of the conference's significant statistical categories and lead the CCAA in kills (1,238), assists (1,152), aces (133) and digs (1,635).
 
The Tritons boast two of the top hitters in the conference. Junior Meagan Wright is second in the CCAA in kills (361) and kills per set (4.01), with senior Danielle Dahle (306 kills) ranking fifth. Senior setter Heidi Sierks tops the conference in assists (984) and assists per set (10.93), while sophomore libero Amanda Colla is No. 1 in the CCAA with 33 service aces.
 
Prior to Saturday's match, the Wildcats will conduct their annual Senior Night ceremony, honoring the team's two seniors, Shannon Boling and Hannah Wilkins.