TURLOCK – Six weeks into the season, the Chico State volleyball team is putting up the type of numbers that make people stand up and take notice. The Wildcats have won three straight and seven of their last eight matches while dropping just three sets since September 12. The 'Cats made Stanislaus State their latest victim, downing the Warriors 25-13, 25-16, 26-24 Wednesday night at Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock.
Wednesday's win improved Chico State's overall record to 11-4 and kept the Wildcats in first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 5-1 conference mark. Stanislaus State slipped to 6-9 on the season and 3-3 in the CCAA North.
Olivia Mediano recorded a team-high 11 kills to go along with nine digs on the night, but several other Wildcats also played big roles in the win. Camryn Rocha registered eight kills and three blocks; Anna Baytosh bombed seven kills; Ashton Kershner chipped in with six kills and four blocks, and Kim Wright came through with five kills and a trio of service aces. Torey Thompson dished out 31 assists and racked up a dozen digs, while Shannon Cotton added three aces and 14 digs.
As a team, Chico State posted a .246 attack percentage and combined for 10 aces on the evening.
Stanislaus State jumped out to an early 6-3 lead in the opening set, but the Wildcats countered with four unanswered points – fueled by two Kershner kills and a Torey Thompson service ace – to go up 7-6. With the score tied at 10-apiece, Chico State reeled off a huge 14-2 run – Mediano, Cotton and Tristen Thompson registering aces, with Mediano and Baytosh each recording a pair of kills – to take total control of the contest. Wright delivered the decisive kill that gave the 'Cats a 25-13 victory.
The Wildcats never trailed in the second set. A Wright solo block and kills by Mediano, Baytosh and Rocha staked Chico State to an 8-4 lead, then used kills by Rocha, Wright, Baytosh, Mediano and Kershner to slowly extend its advantage to 19-9. Stanislaus made a late run, but a Mediano kill and two Warriors miscues gave the Wildcats the 25-16 win.
The third set began much differently, as Stanislaus bolted out to a 12-3 lead. Chico State climbed back into the contest by scoring 10 of the next 11 points – three courtesy of Wright aces; Rocha delivering two kills and Rocha, Kershner and Torey Thompson teaming for a block – to pull even at 13-all. With the score tied 14-14, the 'Cats used a 9-6 run to take a 23-20 lead – Mediano, Kershner, Wright and Rocha all supplying kills – only to see the Warriors knot up the contest at 23-all. After surviving two match points, Stanislaus went down to defeat as Baytosh blasted the back-breaker to give the Wildcats the 26-24 victory and the match sweep.
The Wildcats return to Acker Gym Friday to take on Humboldt State (8-4 overall, 3-1 CCAA North). The action gets underway at 7 p.m.
