When a volleyball match takes just three sets to complete, the contest usually has the earmarks of being a one-sided affair. That was certainly not the case Friday at Acker Gym – Chico State and UC San Diego tangled in an exciting and entertaining matchup, and despite an intense effort by the visiting Tritons, the Wildcats ruled the scoreboard in each set, coming away with a 25-21, 32-30, 25-19 match win.
The victory moves Chico State to 18-6 on the season, and keeps the Wildcats alone at the top of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division standings with a 12-3 conference mark, one game ahead of second place Sonoma State. UC San Diego dropped its sixth decision in the last nine outings to dip to 12-11 overall and 9-6 in the CCAA South Division.
Olivia Mediano was the central part of the Wildcat offense Friday, taking 53 swings to post a match-high 15 kills. Kim Wright needed just 17 swings to rack up 11 kills, and her .647 hitting percentage earned a place in the Chico State record books as the eighth best single-match total in the program's history.
Anna Baytosh collected seven kills and three blocks for the 'Cats, while Ashton Kershner hammered six kills and had a hand in five blocks. Torey Thompson doled out 39 assists and chipped in with five kills, 10 digs and two blocks. Shannon Cotton piled up 19 digs, and Camryn Rocha delivered a career-high four service aces.
Chico State and UC San Diego split the first 10 points of the opening set before the Wildcats went on a 9-3 run – Kershner leading the way with three kills, with Baytosh, Mediano and Wright each hammering home a winner – to go up 14-8. The 'Cats never relinquished the lead, though the Tritons twice pulled to within two late in the contest. A pair of kills by Rocha officially sealed the deal as Chico State prevailed 25-21.
The second set was a wild one to say the least, featuring 15 tie scores and seven lead changes. UC San Diego was in control early on, building a 16-11 lead, but following a timeout, the Wildcats roared out in front, using a 12-3 run to take a 23-19 lead – Rocha and Cotton each provided an ace, Kershner and Torey Thompson combined on a block, and Mediano, Baytosh, Wright and Torey Thompson all supplied kills. The Tritons rallied, surviving one set point to tie things up at 24-all, then went out in front 25-24. Back and forth it went, with UC San Diego surviving four set points and the 'Cats coming up with two big plays to stay alive. With the score knotted up at 30-all, Mediano delivered a kill and Cotton ended the marathon set with an ace as Chico State pulled out the exciting 32-30 win.
Chico State fell behind 6-5 before a 6-3 run – highlighted by two Rocha aces and two kills by Wright – moved the Wildcats in front. The Tritons came back to tie things up at 12-apiece, but the 'Cats regained the lead on another Wright kill and slowly built its advantage to 21-16 on the strength of a Tristen Thompson ace, kills by Mediano and Wright and a Mediano/Wright combo block. UC San Diego could get no closer than four points the rest of the way; a Rocha kill and Kershner/Baytosh block provided the Wildcats with the final two points in the 25-19 victory to lock down the match sweep.
Chico State plays its final home match of the regular season Saturday, taking on Cal State San Marcos (15-9, 7-7 CCAA South Division) beginning at 7 p.m. at Acker Gym. It's also Senior Night, with the Wildcats honoring Ashton Kershner, Jacki Kreymborg, Natalie Nordahl and Torey Thompson in a special pre-match ceremony.
