BELMONT – A bumpy start to the first day of the 2016 season ended with a victory as the Chico State volleyball team opened play Friday in the two-day Route 92 Classic. The Wildcats bowed to season-opening opponent Dominican University, losing in five sets 25-27, 27-25, 21-25, 25-18, 5-15, but rebounded later in the day to sweep Holy Names 25-7, 25-16, 25-14 at Notre Dame High School in Belmont.
Freshman Camryn Rocha racked up a combined 22 kills and five blocks in her Chico State debut, with Olivia Mediano contributing 20 kills and 21 digs. Kim Wright delivered 19 kills, six blocks and three service aces; Torey Thompson collected 77 assists over the two matches to go along with 10 kills, 31 digs and three aces, and Anna Baytosh enjoyed a double-figure day with 10 kills. Shannon Cotton piled up 39 digs while adding seven assists and four service aces, and Jacki Kreymborg chimed in with 26 digs and eight assists.
Camryn Rocha had a team-high 22 kills Friday in her Chico State
debut against Dominican and Holy Names.
In Friday's early match, the Wildcats struggled to find consistency against Dominican. Down 3-2 in the first set, Chico State went on a 7-2 run powered by kills by Rocha, Wright and Ashton Kershner to go up 10-5. The 'Cats were still in front 15-12 when the Penguins scored 10 of the next 15 points to grab a 22-20 lead. The Wildcats scrambled back to tie the contest, then survived two set points before back-to-back kills by Brittany Latigue and Aimee Steinwand provided Dominican with the points needed to secure a 27-25 victory.
Chico State roared out to a 14-9 lead in the second set, only to see the Penguins score nine of the next 12 points to move in front 18-17. Following a timeout, the Wildcats used a service ace by Rocha and kills by Mediano and Bekah Boyle to highlight a 4-0 run to regain the lead 21-18. Dominican responded with five unanswered points to go up 23-21, but the 'Cats clawed back to score twice and knot up the contest. Both teams survived set points, and with the score tied at 25-all, kills by Wright and Rocha powered Chico State to the 27-25 win.
In the third set, the 'Cats built an early 9-6 advantage, but a 5-0 run put Dominican in front 11-9. Fueled by kills from Wright and Mediano and a Thompson/Wright combo block, Chico State briefly took a 17-16 lead, but the Penguins took full control of the set by scoring nine of the next 13 points to cruise to the 25-21 victory.
With their backs now to the wall, the Wildcats spotted Dominican the first point of the fourth set, then went on an 11-4 run and were never seriously threatened. Four Rocha kills and three by Mediano staked the 'Cats to the early advantage, and when the Penguins pulled to within 13-9, Rocha and Mediano combined for three kills to highlight a 6-0 run to extend Chico State's advantage to 19-9. Dominican made one last run, but late kills by Kershner and Bekah Boyle powered the Wildcats to a 25-18 win to force a fifth set.
The Penguins, though, were not to be denied. Dominican stormed out to an early lead and kept the 'Cats at bay for the remainder of the deciding set. Following a Kershner kill to make the score 7-5, the Penguins ripped off eight unanswered points to win the set going away 15-5 and complete the match win.
In Friday's afternoon match against Holy Names, the 'Cats played with much more confidence. Chico State used a 10-0 run – led by two Torey Thompson aces, a kill by Rocha and combo blocks by Rocha, Baytosh and Alex Boyle – to grab a 14-4 lead. The Hawks crept to within 15-7, but the Wildcats wrapped up the set by scoring 10 straight points. Late kills by Wright, Baytosh and Mediano put the seal on the 'Cats' 25-17 victory.
The two teams played it a little more tightly in the second set. With Holy Names ahead 8-7, Chico State went on a 10-3 run to go up 16-11 – the run highlighted by Mediano and Cotton aces and kills from Baytosh, Mediano, Wright and Alex Boyle. The Hawks could get no closer than three points the rest of the way – Cotton's ace and a kill by Wright closed out the set as the Wildcats prevailed 25-16.
In what proved to be the final set, the Hawks and 'Cats split the first eight points before Chico State exploded on a 19-6 run, with Baytosh, Rocha, Thompson and Alex Boyle all providing kills. Holy Names had no answer for the Wildcats' offense, and with the set now firmly in control, Wright and Thompson provided the final points to lock down the 'Cats' 25-14 victory and the match sweep.
Chico State will be in action twice Saturday during the final day of the Route 92 Classic. At 1:30 p.m. the Wildcats take on host school Notre Dame de Namur, then at 4:30 go head-to-head with Academy of Art. Fans can follow the action with Live Stats, accessible on the Wildcat Athletics website.
