Lately, it doesn't matter where the Chico State volleyball team plays – home or away, the Wildcats always seem to figure out a way to win. Head Coach Cody Hein's squad has won a season-high five straight and nine of the last 10, but this weekend the 'Cats will be faced with two more tough road challenges as they tangle with Cal State Monterey Bay Friday and Cal State East Bay on Saturday. Both matches are set to get underway at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video will also be available for both matches.
Chico State is 13-4 overall and owns a two game lead atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division with a 7-1 conference record. The Wildcats' latest victory was a four-set decision over Sonoma State at the Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park, raising Chico State's road record to 7-4 on the season.
As well as topping the CCAA North Division standings, Chico State is number one among the conference's 13 teams in several statistical categories, including kills per set (14.29), hitting percentage (.249), assists per set (13.27), service aces (118) and aces per set (2.00).
Individually, a half-dozen Wildcats are situated in the CCAA's top 10 stat categories:
-- Torey Thompson leads the conference in assists per set (10.91) and is third in assists (622).
-- Olivia Mediano is fourth in the CCAA in both kills (202) and kills per set (3.54), is tied for fifth in service aces (24) and tied for sixth in aces per set (0.40).
-- Camryn Rocha ranks fifth among conference hitters in kills (183) and kills per set (3.54).
-- Kim Wright is fifth in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.302), is tied for fifth in service aces (23) and tied for sixth in aces per set (0.40).
-- Ashton Kershner ranks third in the conference with a .345 hitting percentage.
-- Shannon Cotton is tied for second in the CCAA in service aces (24) and tied for fourth in aces per set (0.41) while ranking seventh in digs (253) and digs per set (4.36).
Cal State Monterey Bay, Chico State's Friday opponent, enters the weekend 9-7 on the year and in fourth place in the CCAA North Division with a 4-5 conference record. The Otters – 3-2 at the Kelp Bed this season – have won their last two matches, taking five-set decisions from Cal State Dominguez Hills last Saturday and Tuesday against Humboldt State.
Monterey Bay ranks second in the CCAA with 110 service aces and is second in aces per set (1.72).
The Otters are led by sophomore outside hitter Anela Visesio (175 kills, 33 blocks) and junior outside Maddy Underwood (164 kills, 24 aces). Sophomore middle blocker Chandler McKean has posted 106 kills and a team-high 50 blocks.
Chico State swept Monterey Bay in the season's first meeting Sept. 17 at Acker Gym. The Wildcats have won 10 of the last 11 matchups with the Otters and lead the all-time series 22-3.
Cal State East Bay takes on the 'Cats following its Friday match against Stanislaus State. The Pioneers enter the weekend 7-9 overall and in sixth place in the CCAA North Division with a 3-5 conference record. East Bay has won two of its last three contests, including an upset of CCAA South Division-leading Cal State L.A. on the road last Saturday.
The Pioneers, 6-6 this season on their home floor, lead the CCAA in digs (1194) and digs per set (19.90).
East Bay's two big offensive weapons are sophomore middle blocker Deja Thompson (167 kills, 19 aces) and sophomore outside hitter Kiki Leuteneker (166 kills). Sophomore Katie Ireland is sixth among conference setters in assists per set (9.15) and digs per set (4.41).
In the season's first meeting between the two teams, the Wildcats beat the Pioneers in three sets Sept. 16 in Acker Gym. Chico State has won eight of the last nine versus East Bay and lead the all-time series 32-10.
