The Chico State volleyball team remains very much alive in its quest for the program's first postseason berth since 2008…but the Wildcats are certainly making it interesting. After honoring Hannah Wilkins and Shannon Boling on Senior Night, the 'Cats extended their current losing streak to five Saturday as visiting UC San Diego posted a 13-25, 12-25, 25-21, 20-25 victory at Acker Gym.

 

Chico State fell to 16-11 on the year with Saturday's loss, but more importantly is now tied with Stanislaus State for seventh place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings with an 8-9 conference record. The top eight teams advance to the CCAA Championship Tournament, and the Wildcats currently find themselves a game-and-a-half ahead of ninth place Humboldt State. The 'Cats and Lumberjacks meet next Thursday in Arcata, with the final postseason berth could very well be at stake.
 
Saturday's win extended UC San Diego's winning streak to eight, as the Tritons improve to 17-9 overall and 13-5 in CCAA play.
 
Olivia Mediano enjoyed her most productive night in nearly a month, leading the Wildcats with 18 kills Saturday while also contributing 11 digs. Ashton Kershner tallied 11 kills, while Torey Thompson dished out 37 assists and collected 19 digs. Shannon Cotton posted a team-high 27 digs to go along with five assists.
 
UC San Diego put the Wildcats in a hole early in the first set, racing out to a 9-2 lead. Back-to-back kills by Kershner and Boling whittled the deficit to five, but that would be as close as the 'Cats would get, as the Tritons used a 13-5 run to extend its advantage to 13 and ultimately prevail 25-13.
 
It was pretty much all UC San Diego in the second set as well. The Tritons snapped a 5-5 tie with a 15-4 run to take full control of the contest, and though a late service ace by Boling and kills by Kershner and Mediano kept the 'Cats on life support, UC San Diego earned the last three points to win going away 25-12.
 
Following intermission, Chico State showed some fight in the third set. After the two teams split the first 18 points, the Wildcats went on an 11-5 run – fueled by kills from Kershner, Mediano, Thompson, Wilkins and Shelby Frank – to go up 20-14. It was a lead the 'Cats would not relinquish – though UC San Diego made a late charge to pull to within three, a Mediano kill was the decider as the Wildcats took a 25-21 decision.
 
UC San Diego was not about to let the Wildcats climb back into the contest, though, and in the fourth rolled out to an early 12-6 lead. Chico State was once again forced to play catch-up, and although kills by Kershner, Frank, Mediano and Thompson pulled the 'Cats to within 15-12, the Tritons did not buckle, methodically pushing its lead back to six and using a Danielle Dahle kill to put the finishing touches on a 25-20 victory to secure the match win.
 
The Wildcats play their final home match of the season Tuesday when the San Francisco State Gators visit Acker Gym. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.