There are countless clichés bandied about in the sports world pertaining to the importance playing at home is to a team's chances of winning. Forgive the Chico State volleyball team if it buys into every one of those old sayings – the Wildcats have performed almost flawlessly at Acker Gym this season, losing just two sets in the course of securing seven straight home victories. The unbeaten streak at Acker continued Saturday as the 'Cats downed Stanislaus State 25-16, 17-25, 25-12, 25-20.
Chico State improved to 16-5 on the year with Saturday's win, while also maintaining its two-game lead in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division with a 10-2 conference mark. Stanislaus State slipped to 9-12 overall and 6-6 in CCAA play.
Olivia Mediano enjoyed another huge night offensively for the Wildcats, hammering home 18 kills while contributing 15 digs and a pair of blocks. Kim Wright added 10 kills, a service ace and five blocks to the Chico State attack, with Ashton Kershner coming through with nine kills and six blocks. Camryn Rocha chipped in with nine kills as the 'Cats posted a team hitting percentage of .240.
Torey Thompson netted 45 assists for the Wildcats in addition to three kills, three aces, two blocks and 16 digs. Shannon Cotton led all players Saturday with 18 digs.
The night didn't start out like things would go the 'Cats' way, though, as Stanislaus State raced out to a 9-3 lead in the opening set. The momentum turned big time following a Wildcat timeout, as Chico State ripped off a 12-0 run – Rocha, Mediano and Kershner each scoring kills, Torey Thompson delivering an ace and Kershner and Anna Baytosh teaming up for a block – to put the 'Cats in front 15-9. The Warriors crept to within 19-15, but Chico State closed out the set with kills from Baytosh, Mediano and Torey Thompson to post a 25-16 victory.
Stanislaus scored early and often in the second set, but this time the Warriors would not surrender the lead. The Warriors used a 9-3 run to build a 14-7 advantage, and Chico State could get no closer than five the rest of the way. The Wildcats survived set point on a kill by Wright and a Kershner/Baytosh combo block, but Lindsay Skadeland dealt the decisive kill as Stanislaus evened up the match with a 25-17 win.
The two teams split the first 12 points of the third set before Chico State slowly but surely pulled away on the strength of an 16-5 run – Mediano led the way with five kills, Cotton and Wright each provided a service ace and Kershner came through with a solo block and combo block with Baytosh – to put the Wildcats up 22-11. Kershner added a kill and another solo block down the stretch to give the 'Cats the 25-12 victory.
The fourth set saw Chico State build an early 10-4 lead on the strength of a Tristen Thompson ace and kills by Mediano, Wright, Kershner and Rocha. Stanislaus came back to cut the deficit to two, but with the score 14-12, the 'Cats pushed their advantage back to six thanks to a Torey Thompson ace, a Rocha kill and four Warriors miscues, extending Chico State's lead to 20-14. Stanislaus could not recover, and late kills by Kershner, Mediano and Wright officially sealed the deal as the Wildcats took the set 25-20 to win the match and sweep the season series with the Warriors.
The Wildcats are back in action next weekend, hosting San Francisco State Friday and Sonoma State Saturday at Acker Gym. Both matches are slated to begin at 7 p.m.
