MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Chico State volleyball team's record of eight straight wins to start the season came to an end Saturday during the final day of the Western Oregon Invitational, but the Wildcats definitely went down swinging. The 'Cats fell in five sets to Concordia (Ore.) 21-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 13-15, then wrapped up the tournament with a five-set loss to Wisconsin-Parkside 25-19, 26-24, 25-27, 16-25, 11-15.
Despite the losses, Chico State still boasts a solid 8-2 record as the Wildcats now turn their attention to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference schedule.
Olivia Mediano registered 37 total kills over the two Saturday matches, with Hannah Wilkins scoring 22 winners. Anna Baytosh tallied 21 kills and four blocks, while Ashton Kershner and Shannon Boling had 19 kills apiece. Kershner led the Wildcats with eight blocks; Torey Thompson piled up 100 assists, 38 digs and four blocks, and Shannon Cotton amassed 51 digs, 12 assists and three service aces in 10 sets.
In Saturday's opening matchup of unbeatens, Concordia led throughout the first set, building an early 8-2 lead and extending its advantage to eight later in the contest. Chico State used kills by Wilkins, Baytosh, Kershner, Mediano Thompson and Boling to fuel a 15-9 run and pull to within 23-21, but the Cavaliers converted the final two points to win 25-21.
The Wildcats fell behind 6-1 early in the second set and were immediately forced to play catch-up. Trailing 16-7, kills by Mediano and Baytosh plus a Kershner/Thompson combo block helped bring Chico State to within 24-22, but the Cavaliers' Lindsey Dorsey provided the set-ending kill that gave Concordia the 25-22 victory.
Chico State, now with its back against the wall, jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the third set, only to see Concordia respond with seven unanswered points to go up 8-4. The Wildcats battled back – kills by Baytosh, Mediano and Kershner, two Thompson blocks and a Kershner ace put Chico State in front 14-10, and the Wildcats never relinquished the lead, winning the set 25-19.
The 'Cats got the upper hand in the fourth set, grabbing a quick 5-2 advantage. Concordia crept to within 7-6, but Chico State answered with an 8-1 run to go up 15-7. The Wildcats pushed the lead to nine, then withstood a late Cavaliers charge to take the set 25-21.
In the fifth and deciding set, a Kershner kill and two aces by Natalia Betancourt gave the 'Cats a 3-1 lead, but Concordia reeled off eight straight points to roar out in front 9-3. Chico State answered by scoring eight of the next 10 points – Baytosh, Kershner, Thompson, Wilkins and Mediano all coming through with kills – to tie the contest at 11-all. Concordia went back on top 14-11, and despite late kills by Wilkins and Baytosh, the Cavaliers delivered the match-winning kill to prevail 15-13 and put an end to Chico State's record season-opening winning streak.
Mediano finished the match with 21 kills, with Wilkins adding 15 winners. Baytosh matched her career high with 14 kills to go along with three blocks, while Kershner contributed 10 kills and six blocks. Thompson racked up 54 assists, 18 digs and three blocks, and Cotton led the Wildcats with 25 digs.
Taking on Wisconsin-Parkside in Saturday's afternoon match, the Wildcats led through the early part of the contest before the Rangers tied things up at 10-apiece. Chico State used a 10-3 run to stake themselves to a 20-13 lead – four kills by Boling and two by Baytosh highlighting the 'Cats' offense. Mediano and Baytosh delivered the final two points to give Chico State a 25-19 victory.
Kills by Boling, Baytosh and Wilkins helped the Wildcats race out to a 5-0 lead in the second set, but once again Wisconsin-Parkside roared back to even the contest at 11-all. With the score tied 18-18, the Rangers ripped off five unanswered points to surge in front. Down 24-20, the 'Cats went on a set-deciding 6-0 run – after surviving four set points, Boling delivered a clutch kill and a Wisconsin-Parkside miscue gave Chico State a 26-24 win.
Two kills apiece by Boling and Wilkins combined with five Rangers errors gave the Wildcats a 9-1 lead early in the second set, but the advantage was short-lived, as the Rangers tied the score at 10-all. A 13-6 run – fueled by kills from Boling, Mediano, Kershner, Thompson and Shelby Frank – put Chico State ahead 23-16 and primed for a match sweep. Wisconsin-Parkside rallied with a 9-1 run to go up 25-24, and after the 'Cats survived set point, back-to-back kills by Rebecca Roembke gave the Rangers the match-saving 27-25 victory.
The Wildcats trailed throughout the fourth set, with Wisconsin-Parkside building a comfortable 19-11 lead. Chico State pulled to with 22-16, only to see the Rangers put the set away with three straight points and knot up the match with a 25-16 win.
The fifth and deciding set went back and forth through the early going, with five tie scores. Wisconsin-Parkside took command of the contest with a 6-1 run to go up 11-6, but thanks to kills by Mediano and Kershner, the Wildcats clawed to within 12-10. The Rangers would not relent, however, using two late blocks to register the deciding points and give Wisconsin-Parkside a 15-11 victory and the come-from-behind match win.
Mediano and Boling had 16 kills apiece for the 'Cats in the losing effort, with Thompson dishing out 46 assists and racking up 20 digs. Cotton led Chico State with 26 digs.
The Wildcats return home to open CCAA play Tuesday, hosting Cal State East Bay at Acker Gym. The match begins at 7 p.m.
