HAYWARD – The Chico State volleyball team has a lot to be proud of as it wrapped up a successful first month of the 2015 season Tuesday in Hayward. The 'Cats made sure to finish September on an impressive note – with a convincing 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 sweep of Cal State East Bay, the Wildcats have already matched the team's entire victory total of a year ago with 13 regular season matches still to play.
 
Tuesday's win moved Chico State to 13-4 on the season and 5-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State East Bay slipped to 3-10 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
 
Anna Baytosh and Shannon Boling led a balanced Chico State offense with 10 kills apiece, while Ashton Kershner contributed nine kills and a pair of blocks. Hannah Wilkins supplied seven kills, with Olivia Mediano chipping in with six kills and a team-high 11 digs. Torey Thompson doled out 36 assists and Jacki Kreymborg posted a pair of service aces for the victorious Wildcats.
 
In the opening set, the Wildcats were out in front through most of the early going, but couldn't build a lead larger than three points. Cal State East Bay stayed close and eventually went out in front 13-12. With the score tied at 20-all, Chico State took the lead for good, as multiple kills by Baytosh and Kershner fueled a late 5-1 run to give the 'Cats a 25-21 victory.
 
The Pioneers went out in front 6-3 early in the second set, but the Wildcats answered with kills from Thompson, Baytosh, Wilkins and Boling to grab an 8-7 lead. Boling, Baytosh and Mediano provided winning blasts to help the 'Cats extend their advantage to 21-15, and this time East Bay was unable to mount any sort of comeback rally, with late kills by Kershner and Wilkins sealing Chico State's 25-19 win.
 
Boling got the third set off to a positive start with a kill and solo block, helping the Wildcats go up 5-1. That was immediately followed by a 5-0 run – Mediano providing a kill, while Thompson and Kershner combined for a block – to put Chico State up 10-2. The 'Cats continued to pour it on, building a double-digit lead at 17-7, with East Bay never getting closer than eight points the rest of the way. Kaitlyn Jochum provided the deciding kill to give the Wildcats a 25-14 win and the match sweep.     
 
Chico State returns to Acker Gym Saturday to wrap up the week's action, hosting Stanislaus State (9-4, 3-4 CCAA). The match gets underway at 7 p.m.