For the Chico State volleyball team, every match is important. But with the opening of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule, each contest from here on out takes on even greater importance. The Wildcats officially begin conference play this weekend, hosting Cal State East Bay Friday and Cal State Monterey Bay Saturday. Both matches tip off at 7 p.m. at Acker Gym.
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 sports a 6-3 record on the season and riding a two-match winning streak heading into conference play. The Wildcats downed Hawaii Pacific on the final day of last weekend's D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase and then swept William Jessup Monday in the 'Cats' home opener.
The Wildcats have put up some impressive numbers over their nine non-conference matches. Chico State tops all 13 CCAA teams in kills (433), assists (415) and service aces (56) while ranking fifth in digs (553).
Several Wildcat players are also among the early CCAA elite:
-- Olivia Mediano is fifth in the conference in kills (101) and fifth in kills per set (3.37).
-- Camryn Rocha is seventh in kills (93) and eighth in kills per set (3.21).
-- Torey Thompson is third in assists (314) and second in assists per set (10.47).
-- Shannon Cotton is tied for second in service aces (13), fifth in aces per set (0.42), tied for third in digs (152) and fourth in digs per set (4.90).
-- Kim Wright is tied for fourth in service aces (12), seventh in aces per set (0.40) and tied for seventh in total blocks (23).
Cal State East Bay, the 'Cats' Friday night opponent, enters the weekend with a 4-4 record. The much-improved Pioneers, 6-22 a year ago, won three of four last weekend during the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, beating Dominican, Notre Dame de Namur and Academy of Art.
Chico State swept East Bay twice last season and holds a 31-10 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.
Cal State Monterey Bay, which visits Acker Gym Saturday following a Friday match in Turlock against Stanislaus State, has already matched its victory total from last year, when the Otters finished 5-20. Monterey Bay is off to a 5-2 start in 2016 and enters the weekend on a four-match winning streak. The Otters defeated Notre Dame de Namur, Dominican, Academy of Art and Holy Names last weekend at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase.
The Wildcats beat the Otters in their lone 2015 meeting. Chico State leads the all-time series 21-3.
