HAYWARD – The Chico State volleyball team came tantalizingly close to racking up its seventh straight victory Saturday, winning two of the first three sets against Cal State East Bay and putting the host Pioneers squarely on the ropes. This time, however, the Wildcats were unable to finish off their opponents, as East Bay came from behind to win sets four and five and down the 'Cats in a hard-fought contest 25-20, 15-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-13 at Pioneer Gym in Hayward.
Saturday's loss dropped Chico State to 14-5 overall and 8-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), as the Wildcats' lead in the North Division standings slipped to two games. Cal State East Bay won for the fourth time in its last five outings to improve to 9-9 on the year and 5-5 in CCAA play.
Kim Wright led the Wildcat offense with a career-high 20 kills while posting a pair of service aces. Olivia Mediano contributed 17 kills, 15 digs and three blocks, while Camryn Rocha registered a dozen kills on the night. Ashton Kershner also logged 10 kills and three blocks.
Torey Thompson once again racked up huge numbers for the 'Cats, doling out 52 assists and handling a team-high 23 digs. Tristen Thompson and Shannon Cotton combined for 29 digs and three aces in the losing effort.
The first set was a tightly-played affair early on, featuring 12 different tie scores. With East Bay on top 9-8, a kill and service ace by Wright put Chico State in front 10-9, but that would be the only time the Wildcats would enjoy a lead. The Pioneers immediately knotted up the contest, and with the score 14-all East Bay used a 4-1 run to go up 18-15. The 'Cats twice pulled to within a point, but the Pioneers would not relinquish the lead, using a late 5-1 run to sew up the 25-20 victory.
Chico State quickly regrouped in the second set, and on the strength of a Kershner/Torey Thompson block and multiple kills by Wright, Mediano and Rocha, roared out to a 12-4 lead. East Bay pulled to within 15-10, but the Wildcats answered with a 6-1 run – Mediano and Kershner both collecting two kills, with Kershner and Rocha teaming up on a pair of blocks – to extend their advantage to 23-12. Two Pioneers miscues provided the 'Cats with the final two points needed to cement the 25-15 win.
Four kills by Wright helped stake Chico State to a 6-3 lead early in the third set, and after the Pioneers cut the deficit to 8-6, the Wildcats scored six of the next nine points – three coming on Wright kills and another on a Mediano/Wright combo block – to extend their advantage to 14-9. East Bay posted three unanswered points to make the score 14-12, but that would be as close as the Pioneers would come, as a Wright ace and kills by Kershner, Mediano and Anna Baytosh kept the 'Cats in front. Back-to-back kills by Mediano wrapped up the set, giving Chico State the 25-17 victory.
The two team split the first 16 points of the fourth set before the Wildcats opened up a 13-10 lead – Wright leading the offense with three kills during the 5-2 run. East Bay responded with six unanswered points to go up 16-13, but the 'Cats fought back to re-take the lead at 18-17. Chico State was still on top 21-19 when the Pioneers closed out the contest with a 6-2 run to win 25-23 and force a fifth and deciding set.
Kills by Mediano, Wright and Rocha enabled the Wildcats to jump out to a 5-3 lead in the deciding set, but a 4-1 Pioneers run put East Bay on top 7-6. Chico State briefly went back in front 8-7, only to see the Pioneers string together three straight points to take a 10-8 lead. A Kershner kill and three East Bay errors got the 'Cats even at 12-all, but a Wildcat miscue and two kills down the stretch the Pioneers' Deja Thompson provided the points East Bay needed to prevail 15-13 and take the match.
Chico State wraps up its four-match road swing Tuesday in the Bay Area against San Francisco State (1-16, 0-9 CCAA North Division). The action gets underway at 7 p.m.
