The Chico State volleyball team wraps up regular season play this weekend with its first and only Southern California road trip, and though the Wildcats are already assured of advancing to postseason play, there's still plenty of incentive for Head Coach Cody Hein's crew to finish on a positive note. Wins against Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State L.A. on Saturday would result in the 'Cats winning the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division title while boosting the team's chances of earning an NCAA Championship Tournament bid. Both matches begin 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.
Chico State enters the final weekend of the regular season 19-6 overall and holding on to a one game lead over second place Sonoma State in the CCAA North Division. A SoCal sweep of the Toros and Golden Eagles would clinch the North Division title and give the Wildcats one of the top two seeds in next week's CCAA Championship Tournament.
Two wins would also go a long way in bolstering the 'Cats' chances at an NCAA Championship Tournament berth. Chico State maintained its No. 9 ranking in the latest West Region poll, and will have to finish strong to earn one of the eight available tournament berths.
The Wildcats concluded its home schedule last weekend with three-set wins over UC San Diego and Cal State San Marcos. Chico State finished the regular season with a 10-1 record at Acker Gym–the best single-season home mark in the program's history.
The 'Cats enter the weekend with a 9-5 road record on the season.
Chico State continues to be the leader among the 13 CCAA teams in kills (1,257), kills per set (14.28), hitting percentage (.248), assists (1,173), assists per set (13.33), service aces (178) and aces per set (2.02). The Wildcats rank ninth among all Division II schools in kills per set, 10th in assists and 11th in aces per set.
Individually, Torey Thompson leads CCAA setters with 922 assists and is first in assists per set (10.98), ranking 24th in the nation.
Six other Wildcats rank in the CCAA Top 10 in various statistical categories:
-- Shannon Cotton is second in service aces (34) and aces per set (0.39) while ranking sixth in digs (388) and digs per set (4.46).
-- Ashton Kershner is second in the conference in hitting percentage (.348).
-- Kim Wright is third in services aces (33) and aces per set (0.38) while ranking fourth in hitting percentage (.341).
-- Olivia Mediano is fourth in kills (314) and kills per set (3.65) while ranking fifth in service aces (29) and sixth in aces per set (0.34).
-- Tristen Thompson is fourth in service aces per set (0.36).
-- Camryn Rocha is tied for eighth in both kills (256) and kills per set (3.05).
Cal State Dominguez Hills, the Wildcats' Friday night opponent, is 9-14 overall and in fifth place in the CCAA South Division with a 6-9 conference mark (with fourth place Cal State San Marcos ineligible for postseason play, the Toros have already secured the final South Division berth for the CCAA Championship Tournament).
Dominguez Hills, 5-6 this season at the Torodome, has won its last two matches. The Toros topped Humboldt State on the road Oct. 27 and edged Cal State L.A. in five sets last Friday.
Dominguez Hills is led by junior outside hitter Claire Autry (222 kills, 56 blocks). Sophomore middle hitter Cecelia Lucas has 79 blocks on the season and ranks sixth in the CCAA in blocks per set (0.94).
Chico State has won three straight over Cal State Dominguez Hills and 26 of the last 29 meetings dating back to 2001. The Wildcats lead the all-time series between the two teams 33-9.
Cal State L.A., which takes on the 'Cats following its Friday night matchup against Stanislaus State, is 15-8 on the year and in second place in the CCAA South Division with an 11-4 conference record. The Golden Eagles are currently No. 8 in the NCAA West Region rankings.
Winners of five of seven on their home floor, the Golden Eagles have split their last four matches. Cal State L.A. beat Humboldt State in four sets Oct. 28 before bowing at The Eagles Nest to Dominguez Hills last Friday.
Cal State L.A. is ranked third in the CCAA in blocks per set (2.11), aces (134) and aces per set (1.52).
Junior middle blocker Alma Serna tops the Golden Eagles with 240 kills and ranks in the CCAA Top 10 in kills per set (3.29) and hitting percentage (.313). She also leads the conference in blocks (91) and blocks per set (1.25). Senior middle/outside hitter JamieAnn Bero has 236 kills on the year, while junior setter Kelsey Molnar is third in the CCAA in assists per set (10.26) while leading the conference in service aces (44) and aces per set (0.50).
Cal State L.A. has won three straight meetings with Chico State and six of the last seven. The Golden Eagles hold a 34-10 advantage in the all-time series.
