The Chico State volleyball team has secured a berth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament, but with four regular season matches remaining, the Wildcats still have some work to do to wrap up the conference's North Division title. This weekend Head Coach Cody Hein's crew plays its final contests at Acker Gym, and amidst the excitement and emotion of Saturday's Senior Night festivities, the 'Cats face a pair of talented CCAA South Division opponents. Chico State tangles with UC San Diego Friday, with Cal State San Marcos coming to town on Saturday. Both matches are set to start at 7 p.m.
Fans unable to attend the matches in person can follow the action online via Live Stats and live streaming video available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
Chico State is 17-6 on the season and continues to lead the CCAA North Division with an 11-3 conference record. After sweeping San Francisco State Friday, the Wildcats saw their eight-match home winning streak come to an end with a three-set loss to Sonoma State.
Chico State earned the No. 9 position in the first NCAA West Regional ranking of the season, announced Wednesday. Following the CCAA Championship Tournament, the top eight teams in the West will take their first step towards a Division II national title in December.
The Wildcats head into the weekend sporting some impressive statistics, leading all 13 CCAA teams in kills per set (14.18, ninth best in all of Division II), assists per set (13.24, No. 10 nationwide), service aces per set (1.99, ranking 12th in the country), service aces (163) and hitting percentage (.246).
Several Chico State players are among the CCAA leaders in several statistical categories:
-- Torey Thompson leads the conference in assists per set (10.90, ranking 25th in the nation) and is second in assists (850).
-- Kim Wright is second in the CCAA in both service aces (32) and aces per set (0.40) and ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.326).
-- Olivia Mediano is fourth among conference hitters in kills (291) and kills per set (3.64); is tied for fifth in aces (27) and ranks sixth in aces per set (0.34).
-- Ashton Kershner is second in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.342).
-- Tristen Thompson is tied for third in service aces per set (0.37).
-- Camryn Rocha is eighth in the conference in kills (242) and ninth in kills per set (3.06).
-- Shannon Cotton is third in the CCAA in service aces (30) and tied for third in aces per set (0.37) while ranking fifth in digs per set (4.40) and seventh in digs (356).
Chico State has lost just once in nine matches this season at Acker Gym.
UC San Diego, 12-10 on the season, is also postseason bound thanks to a 9-5 conference record, good for third place in the CCAA South Division. The Tritons have been inconsistent over the past month, though – following a six-match winning streak earlier in the year, UC San Diego has dropped five of its last eight decisions. The Tritons split last weekend, beating Cal Poly Pomona Friday before losing a tough five-set match Saturday to Cal State San Bernardino.
UC San Diego, 6-4 on the road this season, is among the CCAA's top five teams in kills, assists and hitting percentage while leading the conference in blocks (207) and ranking second in blocks per set (2.30).
The Tritons are led by senior outside hitter Meghan Wright, who is third in the CCAA in kills (341) and kills per set (3.92). Freshman middle blocker Jessica Rieble has racked up 211 kills and 69 blocks and ranks third in the conference in blocks per set (1.11), while junior middle blocker Rebecca Seaberry has contributed 135 kills and 70 blocks to the UC San Diego attack.
The Tritons swept last year's season series with the Wildcats and has won seven of the last nine meetings dating back to 2011. UC San Diego leads the all-time series 27-7.
Cal State San Marcos, which comes to Chico following a Friday match in Turlock against Stanislaus State, is 14-9 overall and in fourth place in the CCAA South Division with a 7-7 conference mark. The Cougars (6-6 on the road this season) have lost three of their last four heading into the weekend: San Marcos swept Humboldt State last Friday before suffering a three-set defeat Saturday at the hands of Cal State San Bernardino.
Senior outside hitter Brooke Butler is the Cougars' top offensive weapon with 209 kills, with freshman outside hitter Maddy Newcombe adding 194 kills on the season. Sophomore middle blocker Faith Fortune has 74 blocks and ranks fourth in the CCAA in blocks per set (1.04).
In the only two meetings between the two teams, the Cougars and Wildcats split last year's season series, with each team registering a three-set road win.
Saturday will also be Senior Night at Acker Gym, as the Wildcats salute departing players Ashton Kershner, Jacki Kreymborg, Natalie Nordahl and Torey Thompson in a special pre-match ceremony.
