If a team is going to perform like a well-oiled machine, it never hurts to time that precise execution with the start of the conference season. The Chico State volleyball team did just that in its 2016 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opener, delivering its finest performance so far this year with a convincing 25-10, 25-19, 25-14 victory over visiting Cal State East Bay Friday night at Acker Gym.
 
The win, Chico State's third straight, improved the Wildcats' season record to 7-3 and 1-0 in the CCAA. Cal State East Bay fell to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
 
All the Wildcat hitters enjoyed a productive night, posting a combined season-best .424 hitting percentage. Individually, Olivia Mediano led the way with 14 kills to go along with three service aces, while Kim Wright delivered a dozen kills and a pair of aces. Camryn Rocha, Torey Thompson, Ashton Kershner and Anna Baytosh combined for another 25 kills, with Thompson dishing out 38 assists on the evening. Torey's sister Tristen Thompson had nine digs to lead the 'Cats.
 
Chico State wasted little time in dominating the proceedings, using three Mediano aces and kills by Mediano, Wright and Torey Thompson to power a 12-0 run that gave the Wildcats a 17-3 lead in the opening set. The 'Cats twice pushed the lead to 16 on the strength of kills Wright, Rocha and Torey Thompson, and a booming winner by Mediano provided the final point in Chico State's 25-10 win.
 
Things were considerably tighter in the second set. Though the Wildcats never trailed, the Pioneers rallied from a 13-9 deficit to twice tie the score. With the contest even at 17-apiece, the 'Cats muscled their way to the winner's circle, as kills by Kershner, Rocha, Mediano and Baytosh highlighted a late 8-2 run to give Chico State a 25-19 victory.
 
The Wildcats went up 7-5 early in the third set and the team kept its foot squarely on the gas pedal for the rest of the contest, slowing outdistancing East Bay with a 12-6 run – aces from Torey Thompson and Shannon Cotton and kills by Kershner, Baytosh, Wright and Mediano giving the 'Cats a commanding 19-11 lead. Late kills by Rocha, Kershner and Mediano sealed the deal, as Chico State cruised to the 25-14 victory and the match sweep. 
 
The Wildcats return to action Saturday, hosting the Otters of Cal State Monterey Bay (5-3 overall, 0-1 CCAA). The action gets underway at 7 p.m. in Acker Gym.