SEASIDE – There was a time in the not-so-distant past that whenever the Chico State and Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball teams tangled, they'd always play the maximum five sets. From 2009 to 2013, eight of the 10 matches between the Wildcats and Otters went the distance, but it had been nearly three years since the two squads battled to the bitter end. Friday night's matchup at The Kelp Bed in Seaside harkened back to the barn-burners of old, as the 'Cats needed five sets to down Monterey Bay 21-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-27, 15-11.
Friday's win extended the Wildcats' season-best winning streak to six straight, moving the Wildcats to 14-4 on the year and 8-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), stretching Chico State's lead in the conference's North Division to three full games. Cal State Monterey Bay dropped to 9-8 overall and 4-6 in CCAA play.
The Wildcats had three hitters who registered double-digit kills against the Otters. Olivia Mediano led the way with 15 kills to go along with 14 digs, while Kim Wright blasted 14 kills and added four service aces. Camryn Rocha racked up 13 kills and two aces, with Ashton Kershner collecting nine kills on the night.
Torey Thompson turned in another huge performance, dishing out 45 assists while posting eight kills and 17 digs. Shannon Cotton delivered a match-high 25 digs and chipped in with seven assists.
The Wildcats were slow to get untracked in the opening set, as Cal State Monterey Bay built an early 11-5 lead. Chico State finally heated up, going on a 9-4 run – Mediano delivering a kill and service ace while Anna Baytosh bombed a kill and teamed with Wright on a block – to close to within one. With the Otters up 18-15, the 'Cats scored three straight points to pull even, but Monterey Bay recovered to reel off a late 7-3 run and come away with the 25-21 victory.
Kills by Mediano, Rocha and Torey Thompson highlighted a 5-0 run to give the 'Cats a 6-3 lead to start the second set. Chico State extended its advantage to 15-9, and though the Otters crept to within two at 21-19, the Wildcats came up big in the clutch as Mediano, Wright and Torey Thompson registered big kills down the stretch to cement the match-tying 25-20 victory.
Following intermission, the Wildcats used kills by Baytosh, Wright and Mediano to grab an 8-5 lead, only to see Monterey Bay counter with three unanswered points to knot up the contest. Chico State immediately answered, with a Tristen Thompson ace and kills from Mediano and Wright sparking a 7-0 run to put the 'Cats in firm control. The Otters could get no closer than four points the rest of the way as the Wildcats cruised to the 25-18 win.
Monterey Bay was down but far from out as the Otters jumped out to a 13-7 lead in the fourth set. Chico State chipped away at the deficit, with kills by Wright, Rocha and Mediano, a Wright ace and a Kershner/Torey Thompson combo block bringing the 'Cats to within 17-15. Monterey Bay pushed the lead back up to five, but kills by Rocha and Kershner plus an ace by Wright helped the Wildcats catch the Otters at 23-all. Monterey Bay re-took the lead three times, and though Chico State was able to survive two set points, back-to-back kills by Maddy Underwood and Amber Tugart gave the Otters the hard-fought 27-25 victory.
In the fifth and deciding set, the two teams split the first eight points before a Wright ace and a Rocha kill gave Chico State a 6-4 lead. Monterey Bay quickly tied the score, but three Rocha kills put the Wildcats back on top 9-7. The 'Cats stretched the lead to 13-10, then sealed the deal with a kill by Wright and a Kershner solo block to take the set 15-11 and sweep the season series with the Otters.
The Wildcats are back in action Saturday, traveling to Hayward to take on Cal State East Bay (8-9 overall, 4-5 CCAA North Division after a sweep of Stanislaus State Friday night). The match is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Gymnasium.
