CARSON – Whether or not it was the news that Sonoma State and Cal State L.A. had lost earlier in the evening, the Chico State volleyball dug deep within itself and found a late spark Friday to pull off a come-from-behind five-set victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills 25–19, 23–25, 17–25, 25–15, 15–11 at the Torodome. It was one of the biggest wins of the season for the 'Cats, as it officially clinched the CCAA North Division title and also bolstered the team's chances of earning one of the eight West Region berths in next month's NCAA Championship Tournament.
The win raised the Wildcats' season record to 20–6 and 14–3 in the CCAA North Division. It marks the fourth time in Head Coach Cody Hein's 14-year tenure at Chico State that his team has reached the 20-win mark in a single season.
Cal State Dominguez Hills dropped to 9-15 overall and 6-10 in the CCAA South Division.
Sonoma State was the only team in the North Division that could catch the Wildcats heading into the regular season's final weekend, but the Seawolves' loss to Cal State San Bernardino combined with Chico State's win over Dominguez Hills eliminated that possibility.
Chico State, the No. 9 team in the NCAA West Region rankings, also benefitted from No. 8 Cal State L.A.'s three-set loss Friday to Stanislaus State.
Olivia Mediano matched her season high with 21 kills to lead the Wildcats Friday. Kim Wright added 12 kills; Ashton Kershner chalked up 11 kills and six blocks, and Camryn Rocha posted eight kills and six blocks. Torey Thompson had two service aces to along with 49 assists on the night, with twin sister Tristen Thompson collecting 10 digs and a pair of aces. Jacki Kreymborg led the 'Cats with 14 digs.
The Wildcats led from start to finish in the opening set, using kills by Wright, Mediano, Kershner and Torey Thompson to bolt out to a 13-9 advantage. Dominguez Hills stayed close and only trailed 18-16 before Chico State put things away with a 7-3 run—Mediano crushing three kills and combining with Kershner on a block to power the Wildcats to the 25-19 victory.
The second set was a tightly-played affair, featuring nine tie scores and neither team leading by more than two points until, with the contest knotted up at 17-all, Dominguez Hills went on a 7–3 run to go up 24–20. The Wildcats refused to give up, surviving three set points—Kershner coming through with a pair of kills—before a kill by Rylee Kiger finally sealed it for the Toros by a final score of 25-23.
Rocha delivered a kill, a solo block and teamed up with Kershner for a combo block to give Chico State a 5–4 lead early in the third set, but Dominguez Hills quickly evened the score and would soon go out in front 8–7. The Wildcats scored three straight points to retake the lead, only to see the Toros go on a 4–0 run to leap back in front 12–10. The 'Cats came back to tie, and with the score even at 15-apiece, Dominguez Hills went on a 6–1 run to build a 21–16 lead. Chico State could get no closer than four points the rest of the way, as the Toros closed out the set with another 4–0 run to win 25–17.
Now with its back to the wall, Chico State roared out to a 7–1 lead in the fourth set on the strength of three Mediano kills and a Tristen Thompson service ace. Dominguez Hills closed to within 8–6, but the Wildcats posted eight of the next 10 points—Mediano and Kershner each delivering a pair of kills during the stretch—to lengthen their lead to 16–8. This time the Toros had no answer, as a Torey Thompson ace cemented the 'Cats' 25–15 win.
In the decisive fifth set, the lead went back and forth as the Wildcats and Toros split the first 10 points. Rocha then stepped up with a kill and a combo block with Kershner, while Torey Thompson came through with an ace to put Chico State in front 8–5. It was a lead the 'Cats would not relinquish—a Wright ace and kills by Mediano, Wright, Kreymborg and Bekah Boyle kept the Wildcats in front, and Wright put an exclamation point on the evening with the kill that gave Chico State the 15–11 victory and the match.
Chico State plays its final regular season contest Saturday, wrapping up the Southern California road trip with a match against Cal State L.A. (15–9, 11–5 CCAA South Division) that carries major West Region significance. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
