HAYWARD – The Chico State volleyball team experienced a few season-opening jitters Friday, but the Wildcats collected themselves admirably and kicked off the 2015 campaign in positive fashion with a pair of three-set victories at the Route 92 Showdown in Hayward. The Wildcats began the day with a 25-17, 25-13, 25-21 victory over Dominican, followed by a 25-12, 25-23, 25-10 win over Holy Names.
True freshman Kim Wright posted some impressive numbers in her Chico State debut, racking up 18 kills and five blocks over the two Friday matches. Olivia Mediano (14) and Natalie Nordahl (13) each registered double-digit kills on the day, with Shannon Cotton picking up 22 total digs and three service aces. Setter Torey Thompson dished out 55 assists, while Anu Munkhtur delivered four aces to augment the 'Cats' attack.
The Wildcats quickly established the upper hand in their first Friday match. After spotting Dominican an early 4-3 lead in the opening set, Chico State scored 14 of the next 22 points to take command and rolled to a 25-17 win.
It was all 'Cats in the second set – already leading 8-5, Chico State salted away the contest with a 12-4 run to go up 20-9, eventually cruising to a 25-13 victory.
Dominican made the Wildcats battle in the third set, as the Penguins jumped out to a 16-10 lead. Chico State came roaring back, with kills by Wright, Thompson, Hannah Wilkins and Anna Baytosh fueling a 12-3 run to put the 'Cats up 22-19. Dominican scored the next two points to pull to within one, but kills by Baytosh and Nordahl combined with a Penguins miscue provided the final three points to give the Wildcats the 25-21 win and the match sweep.
Wright led the 'Cats with 13 kills against Dominican, with Mediano adding six kills and a team-high 14 digs. Nordahl contributed five kills while Ashton Kershner collected four kills and three blocks. Thompson piled up 31 assists to go with 11 digs and three blocks.
In the 'Cats' afternoon tilt against Holy Names, Chico State broke out to a 3-0 advantage, but the Hawks went on a 5-1 run to go out in front. The Wildcats responded by scoring 16 of the next 21 points – kills by Mediano, Wright, Wilkins and Nordahl combined with a Munkhtr service ace, a Nordahl/Wright combo block and 10 Holy Names errors – giving Chico State a commanding 20-10 lead. Kills by Nordahl and Wright and an ace by Thompson sealed the deal as the Wildcats came away with a 25-12 victory.
The Wildcats ripped off the first six points of the second set – two via consecutive aces by Cotton – only to see Holy Names come back to tie things up at 14-apiece. With the set knotted up at 18-all, Wilkins and Shannon Boling connected for back-to-back kills, but the Hawks pulled even at 23-23. The 'Cats avoided a late-set drama, scoring on a Nordahl kill and a Holy Names error to squeak out a 25-23 win.
Chico State took no prisoners in the third and final set, leading from start to finish. Two kills by Mediano got the ball rolling, then with the score 7-4 the Wildcats went on a 16-4 run, punctuated by a Kershner ace and multiple kills by Wilkins, Mediano and Nordahl to put the 'Cats up 23-8. Munkhtur applied the finishing touches with an ace that gave the 'Cats a 25-10 victory and the match sweep.
Mediano and Nordahl each had eight kills to pace the Wildcats against Holy Names, with Wilkins and Wright striking six and five winners, respectively. Cotton led the 'Cats with 14 digs, while Thompson doled out 24 assists.
Chico State wraps up the Route 92 Showdown Saturday in Belmont with a pair of matches taking place on the campus of Notre Dame de Namur. The Wildcats face Cal Baptist at 9 a.m., followed by a 2 p.m. contest against Academy of Art.
Fans can follow the action with Live Stats via the Wildcat Athletics website.
