You can always count on California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) volleyball to be competitive. Last year, for example, eight of the 12 conference teams finished with records of .500 or better. It's the same in 2015 – less than two weeks into the season, just one game separates first from ninth place in the CCAA standings. Chico State is currently occupying a share of the top spot, but to stay in first place, the Wildcats will have to get by a pair of talented conference teams this weekend at Acker Gym. The 'Cats welcome defending CCAA and NCAA West Region champion Sonoma State to Acker Gym Friday, with Humboldt State in town on Saturday. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m.
Saturday features a special promotion with free tickets available to Chico State staff and faculty members. The tickets are available now and are being given away while they last at the Athletic Departments office in Acker Gym 135.
Fans unable to attend either Friday or Saturday's match in person can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video via the Wildcat Athletics website.
Chico State rolls into the weekend 11-3 on the season and tied with Cal State L.A. and Cal Poly Pomona atop the CCAA with a 3-1 conference record. After bowing on the road Saturday to Cal State L.A., the Wildcats got back on the winning track with a five-set road victory Tuesday against San Francisco State.
Chico State has played 13 of its first 14 matches on the road, but this weekend begins a stretch where the 'Cats play five of their next seven contests in the friendly confines of Acker Gym, where they have won 32 of 47 matches since 2011.
The Wildcats continue to lead all CCAA teams in kills (683), assists (635), digs (895), service aces (90) and solo blocks (29). Individually, Olivia Mediano leads all conference hitters with 190 kills; Shannon Cotton is first in digs (235), and Torey Thompson has racked up more assists (514) than any setter in the CCAA.
Sonoma State, the Wildcats' Friday night opponent, is 5-3 on the year, but has won three of its last four matches entering the weekend. The Seawolves were stunned by Cal State Monterey Bay in its conference opener Sept. 17, but bounced back last Saturday with a huge road sweep of Cal Poly Pomona.
Sonoma State is led by senior outside hitter Caylie Seitz. The two-time All American is having another standout season, topping all CCAA hitters with a 4.26 kills per set average.
The Seawolves won both matches with the Wildcats last season and nine of the last 11 contests dating back to 2009, though Chico State has won two of the last three matchups at Acker Gym. Sonoma State holds a 36-27 edge in the all-time series between the two teams.
Humboldt State, which comes to Chico following its Friday match against Cal State Stanislaus, begins the weekend 4-4 overall and 2-2 in CCAA play, with both of the Lumberjacks' conference wins coming against Cal State San Marcos.
Humboldt State features a quartet of quality hitters: junior Symone Hayden (105 kills), senior (and 2014 First Team All-CCAA) Nicole Bewley (99), senior Kaitlyn Dunaway (82) and junior Alex Hasenstab (77).
The Lumberjacks and Wildcats split their two 2014 matches, though Chico State has won 14 of the last 16 meetings since 2007 and the last three contests at Acker Gym. All-time, the 'Cats have won 36 of 47 meetings versus the Lumberjacks.
