BELMONT – The Chico State volleyball team knew it had a large array of weapons entering the 2015 season, and they were all on display Saturday during the second day of the Route 92 Showdown. The Wildcats featured four hitters with double-digit kills on the day, and the team's collective efforts on defense were also key to keeping their early-season record unblemished. The 'Cats went the full five sets in beating Cal Baptist 25-19, 18-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13, then finished the tournament with a 25-14, 25-20, 25-16 sweep of Academy of Art.
 
Saturday's two victories improved the Wildcats' record to 4-0 on the young season. It's the program's best start since winning the first six matches of the 2012 campaign.
 
Olivia Mediano enjoyed a sensational Saturday, totaling 36 kills on the day. Kim Wright added 21 kills, Natalie Nordahl delivered 16 winners and Ashton Kershner contributed 11 kills to the Wildcat attack. Torey Thompson handed out 79 assists over the two matches, with Shannon Cotton collecting 36 digs.
 
Chico State's Saturday morning opponent, Cal Baptist – the preseason favorite to win the Pacific West Conference – provided the 'Cats with their biggest challenge in the still-young 2015 campaign. The contest went the distance, with the Wildcats coming back from a two-sets-to-one deficit to take the final two sets and the match.
 
In the opening set, the 'Cats used multiple kills by Nordahl and Mediano to snap a 7-7 tie and spur a 6-2 run to put Chico State in front. With the Wildcats still on top 16-15, Chico State tallied nine of the last 13 points – Nordahl, Mediano and Wright providing kills, Thompson a solo block and Anu Munkhtur and Jacki Kreymborg each providing service aces – to grab a 25-19 victory.
 
The 'Cats took an early 4-3 lead in the second set, but Cal Baptist controlled the contest the rest of the way. The Lancers used a 7-1 run to go out in front and never looked back, building a 21-10 advantage. Chico State made some noise late thanks to a pair of service aces by Wright and kills from Nordahl, Kershner and Shelby Frank, but Cal Baptist was able to hold on for a 25-18 victory.
 
The Wildcats lead most of the way in the third set, and were up 18-16 when Cal Baptist took over in crunch time, scoring nine of the final 11 points to prevail 25-20 and take a two sets to one lead.
 
The Lancers attempted to go for the kill in the fourth set, but this time it was the 'Cats who came through with the late rally. Cal Baptist jumped out to a 7-2 lead and were still up 16-12 when a Mediano ace and kills by Wright and Anna Baytosh highlighted a 5-0 run to put Chico State up 17-16. With the score tied at 18-apiece, the 'Cats outscored the Lancers 7-3 down the stretch – Wright providing the set-winning kill as Chico State knotted up the match with a 25-21 win.
 
The Wildcats were the early aggressors in the fifth and final set, riding four Nordahl kills to an early 6-2 lead. Cal Baptist caught the 'Cats at 11-all, and with the score tied 12-12 Chico State got the late burst of offense it needed to win – a Cal Baptist error, a Kreymborg ace and a Nordahl kill gave the Wildcats a 15-13 victory to take the match and hand the Lancers their first loss of the year.
 
Mediano lead the 'Cats' offense with 18 kills; Nordahl racked up a career-high 14 kills with Wright adding a dozen winners. Thompson doled out 50 assists and provided 21 digs, while Mediano and Shannon Cotton each chipped in with 21 digs.
 
The Wildcats were able to carry their momentum into Saturday's afternoon tilt against Academy of Art. After fall behind 6-5 early in the opening set, Chico State scored seven of the next eight – four coming on Shannon Boling kills – to go up 11-7. Powered by five Mediano kills, the 'Cats salted the set away with an 8-0 run to stretch their lead to 20-10, eventually winning by a final of 25-14.
 
The Urban Knights roared out to a 9-2 lead in the second set, forcing the Wildcats into early catch-up mode. Down 13-7, Chico State responded with a 10-1 run – an ace by Cotton and multiple kills by Mediano and Wright put the 'Cats in front 17-14. Academy of Art twice pulled to within two, but the Wildcats scored six of the last nine points – Boling delivered a kill and solo block, Mediano posted a kill, Nordahl and Wilkins combined for another block and Cotton wrapped things up with an ace to give Chico State a 25-20 victory.
 
The second set was actually halted for 45 minutes due to a bathroom overflow at Notre Dame de Namur's Gleason Gymnasium, sending gallons of water onto the court. The Wildcats – including assistant coach Tommy Gott – were far from idle during the delay (thanks to Cal State Monterey Bay Sports Information Director Kevin Gilmore for supplying the video).
 
The third set was a close one in the early going, with eight tie scores before Chico State ran off nine unanswered points – Mediano offering up a kill and solo block, Cotton delivering another ace, Kershner adding a kill while combining with Nordahl on a block – to put the Wildcats up 22-13. Thompson provided the final point with a kill to give the 'Cats a 25-16 victory and the match sweep.
 
Mediano logged another 18 kills to lead the Wildcats, with Wright and Boling posting nine and seven kills, respectively. Thompson chimed in with 29 assists, while Cotton contributed 15 digs and three aces against the Urban Knights.
 
Chico State takes Sunday off before returning to action for a pair of matches Monday in Redding. The Wildcats take on host Simpson University at 2 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. matchup versus William Jessup.