Two extremely evenly-matched teams…huge momentum swings…and a combined 128 kills in a match that took five sets and nearly two-and-a-half hours to complete. That's what the fans were treated to when the Chico State and Humboldt State volleyball teams squared off in Acker Gym Saturday, and the host Wildcats would wrap up the weekend with a hard-earned 25-21, 22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-12 victory over a talented Lumberjacks squad.
 
With Saturday's win, Chico State improved its season record to 12-4 and is now 4-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Humboldt State saw its record drop to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in CCAA play.

 

Olivia Mediano matched her career high with 24 kills to lead the Wildcat offense, with Shannon Boling and Ashton Kershner contributing 15 and 14 winners, respectively. Trey Thompson doled out 53 assists and racked up 22 digs; Shannon Cotton had a team-high 27 digs and delivered three service aces, while freshman Natalia Betancourt set personal bests with four aces and 14 digs on the night.
 
Chico State got the upper hand early in the opening set, using an Anna Baytosh block and kills by Kershner, Mediano, Baytosh and Boling to go up 12-8. Humboldt State closed to within 17-16, but the Wildcats answered with a quick 4-0 run – highlighted by a Cotton ace and Hannah Wilkins kill – to extend their advantage to 21-16. The Lumberjacks twice cut the deficit to three, but a Mediano kill sealed the deal on the 'Cats' 25-21 win.
 
Humboldt jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set, but the Wildcats fought back to tie the score at 10-all and then surge ahead 13-12 on the strength of Baytosh and Mediano kills. Chico State was still in front 16-15 when the Lumberjacks went on a 5-1 run to grab a 20-17 lead. The 'Cats scored the next three points to pull even, but Humboldt came up big in crunch time, with Alex Hasenstab and Symone Hayden combining for five kills to give the Lumberjacks a match-tying 25-22 victory.
 
The third set saw the Wildcats fall behind 10-8, but thanks to a massive 13-1 run – featuring a Betancourt ace and kills by Kershner, Boling, Mediano and Baytosh – Chico State roared out to a 21-11 lead. Humboldt State didn't pack it in; instead the Lumberjacks battled back to whittle the Wildcats lead to three at 23-20. Two late Mediano kills finally put Humboldt away, as Chico State took a 25-22 decision.
 
Now with their backs to the wall, the Lumberjacks led throughout nearly the entire fourth set, building a 20-14 advantage at one point. The Wildcats made it interesting – Mediano delivered four kills in an 8-2 run to help pull Chico State even at 22-all. Humboldt wasn't about to let the set slip away, though, scoring three of the final four points to eek out a 25-23 victory.
 
The momentum swung back and forth in the fifth and deciding set – no sooner had kills by Mediano and Boling given the Wildcats an 8-5 lead, the Lumberjacks responded with three straight points to tie the contest. Chico State grabbed the momentum back with a 5-0 run – two Boling kills, one by Mediano and a Boling/Wilkins combo block put the 'Cats up 13-8 and needing just two points to wrap up the match. Humboldt State, however, posted four straight points to pull to within one. The Wildcats eliminated any chance of a dramatic Lumberjack comeback, using a Boling kill and a Humboldt error to put the finishing touches on a 15-12 win to earn the match victory.  
 
Chico State plays two matches next week, with the first contest on the road. Tuesday the Wildcats will be in Hayward to take on Cal State East Bay, then return to Acker Gym to host Stanislaus State on Saturday. Both matches are slated to get underway at 7 p.m.