To say that the Chico State volleyball team has had a busy first month of the 2015 season would certainly be putting it mildly. Since the season began Sept. 4, the Wildcats have played 16 matches in 23 days – more than any other team in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) – with all but three on the road. While the 'Cats have only two matches scheduled this week, they'll be on the move again Tuesday when the team travels to Hayward to take on Cal State East Bay. The conference clash gets underway at 7 p.m.
Fans will be able to follow the action online with Live Stats available on the calendar section of the Wildcat Athletics homepage as well as the volleyball schedule page.
Tuesday's contest marks the second time this season the Wildcats and Pioneers have met. Chico State swept East Bay Sept. 15 at Acker Gym to kick off CCAA conference play.
Chico State is 12-4 on the year and begins the week in fifth place in the CCAA with a 4-2 conference mark. The Wildcats won two of three last week – after a mid-week road win over San Francisco State, the 'Cats split a pair of home contests over the weekend, bowing to Sonoma State Friday before nipping Humboldt State in a five-set thriller Saturday.
The Wildcats have played well on the road this season, winning 10 of their 13 matches away from the friendly confines of Acker Gym.
Chico Sate continues to be tops among the 13 CCAA teams in kills (783), assists (730), service aces (105), aces per set (1.69), digs (1,043) and solo blocks (33).
Individually, Olivia Mediano leads all CCAA hitters with 227 kills. Torey Thompson boasts a conference-high 596 assists on the season, while Shannon Cotton ranks first in the conference with 277 digs.
Cal State East Bay is 3-9 on the season and occupies 11th place in the CCAA standings with a 1-3 conference mark. The Pioneers' lone CCAA win came last Tuesday at home versus Stanislaus State. East Bay played just one game over the weekend, losing a five-set decision to Cal State San Marcos.
The Pioneers are led by outside hitters Michaela Gardner and Kiki Leuteneker, who have combined for over 200 kills on the year. Senior libero/defensive specialist Angie Maina is the CCAA's top server with 22 aces and paces the conference in aces per set (0.45).
Chico State has won six of the last seven meetings with Cal State East Bay and leads the all-time series 30-10. The Wildcats have not fared particularly well at Pioneer Gymnasium, however, winning just twice on East Bay's home floor since 2009.
