The Chico State volleyball team began its weekend homestand with a share of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and looking to prove that the Wildcats are ready to be a fixture in the conference's upper echelon. Sonoma State, however, had different ideas – the Seawolves came to Acker Gym Friday night looking every bit like the defending NCAA West Regional champions of a year ago, making only a bare handful or errors while taking advantage of several unforced miscues by the 'Cats to register a match sweep, downing Chico State 16-25, 19-25 and 21-25.
Friday's loss dropped Chico State to 11-4 on the year and into fifth place in the CCAA standings with a 3-2 conference mark. Sonoma State won for the fourth time in the last five outings to improve to 6-3 overall and 2-1 in CCAA play.
Olivia Mediano was the lone Wildcat to deliver double-digit kills Friday, posting 13 winners on the night to go along with 10 digs. Ashton Kershner and Anna Baytosh each contributed seven kills, with Torey Thompson dishing out 29 assists. Shannon Cotton racked up a team-high 15 digs for the 'Cats, while Jacki Kreymborg connected for four service aces in the losing effort.
Sonoma State set the tone for the evening by jumping out to an 11-5 lead in the first set, and Chico State was unable to muster a meaningful rally to climb into the contest. The Wildcats got no closer than five points as the Seawolves steadily built a 22-12 advantage, and despite late kills by Mediano and Hannah Wilkins, Sonoma cruised to a 25-16 victory.
A Wilkins solo block and an ace by Mediano helped the 'Cats go up 4-1 early in the second set, but the Seawolves scored seven of the next nine points to take an 8-6 lead. Fueled by back-to-back Kreymborg aces and kills by Mediano, Kershner and Thompson, Chico State answered with an 8-1 run to leap back in front 14-9. The Wildcats still led 16-15 when Sonoma State slowly pulled away, taking 10 of the final 13 points – including five straight to snap an 18-all tie – to post a 25-19 victory.
The Seawolves spotted Chico State a 5-2 lead in the third set, but used a 6-2 run to go up 8-7. Sonoma never relinquished the lead, steadily building the advantage to 18-11, but the Wildcats never stopped fighting – another Kreymborg ace and kills by Baytosh, Kershner, Thompson, Mediano and Janai Johnson pulled Chico State to within 21-20. It would prove to be the 'Cats' last hurrah, as the Seawolves racked up four of the final five points to win 25-21 and sweep the match.
The Wildcats are back in action Saturday at 7 p.m. when they host Humboldt State (5-4, 3-2 CCAA). Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video via the Wildcat Athletics website.
