ROHNERT PARK – Based on season statistics, Kim Wright has served as the Chico State volleyball team's third scoring option behind Olivia Mediano and Camryn Rocha in 2016. Tuesday night, however, the sophomore middle was front and center in the Wildcats' attack, delivering the best performance of her collegiate career and leading four Chico State hitters in double-digit kills as the 'Cats powered their way past Sonoma State 27-29, 25-23, 25-17, 25-12 at the Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park.
With Tuesday's victory, Chico State extended its season-best winning streak to five to improve to 13-4 overall. The Wildcats, now 7-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), maintained their two-game lead atop the conference's North Division standings. Sonoma State dropped to 6-9 on the year and 4-4 in the CCAA North Division.
Wright needed just 26 swings to post a career-high 17 kills and a gaudy .615 hitting percentage on Tuesday. Camryn Rocha also had 17 kills, with Ashton Kershner contributing 13 kills and four blocks and Olivia Mediano adding a dozen kills, 14 digs and two service aces. As a team, the 'Cats collected 70 kills and rung up an impressive .297 hitting percentage against the two-time defending conference champion Seawolves.
Torey Thompson registered 47 assists and a team-high 25 digs on the night. Tristen Thompson and Shannon Cotton combined for 28 digs and two service aces.
Chico State opened up an 8-5 lead to begin the first set – Torey Thompson delivering a service ace and a kill, while Rocha, Wright and Anna Baytosh also converted kills. Sonoma State responded with five straight points to go up 10-8, but the 'Cats quickly knotted up the contest at 11-all. Neither team could forge a lead larger than three points the rest of the way, but a late 4-1 run gave the Seawolves a 24-23 lead. The Wildcats survived three set points, then went in front 27-26 on another Torey Thompson ace. Sonoma, however, reeled off three unanswered points to take the hard-fought 29-27 decision.
Chico State rolled out to a 4-1 lead in the second set, but a 7-3 run put the Seawolves on top 8-7. Sonoma was still in front 12-11 when kills by Rocha and Wright, a solo block by Kershner and combo blocks by Wright/Torey Thompson and Kershner/Baytosh keyed an 8-2 Wildcat run to give Chico State a 19-14 lead. The Seawolves staged a late rally, pulling to within 23-22, but the 'Cats never relinquished the lead. A kill by Wright and a Sonoma error provided the points needed for the Wildcats to prevail 25-23.
The two teams split the first 14 points of the third set before Chico State went on a 7-2 run – powered by kills by Rocha, Baytosh and Kershner and combo blocks from Kershner/Rocha and Mediano/Kershner – to move out in front 14-9. Sonoma twice crept to within three points, but with the score 19-16, kills by Kershner and Baytosh combined with four Seawolves miscues capped off a 6-1 Chico State run to give the 'Cats the 25-17 win.
On the strength of five Kershner kills, the 'Cats roared out to a 13-6 lead in the fourth set and never looked back. Chico State slowly extended its advantage, then a late ace by Mediano and kills from Mediano, Kershner and Rocha sealed the deal as the Wildcats took the match-winning set 25-12.
The Wildcats remain on the road this weekend, traveling to Seaside Friday to take on Cal State Monterey Bay before heading to Hayward Saturday for a clash with Cal State East Bay.
