After playing seven matches over a 10-day stretch earlier this month, the Chico State volleyball team has only one contest slated for this week. But the Wildcats aren't exactly relaxing – Head Coach Cody Hein's crew is preparing for one of its most challenging match of the young season. The 'Cats put their four-match winning streak on the line Saturday at 7 p.m. as they take on Humboldt State at Lumberjack Arena in Arcata.
Wildcat fans can follow the action online via Live Stats and live streaming video available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
Chico State is 8-3 on the season and 2-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) entering weekend action. The Wildcats are coming off their most productive week of the season, needing only nine sets to defeat William Jessup and racking up weekend wins against CCAA rivals Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay.
The 'Cats continue to post impressive numbers in a variety of statistical categories. Chico State tops the 13 CCAA teams in hitting percentage (.244), assists per set (13.16), service aces (71) and aces per set (1.87), while ranking second in assists (500) and third in kills (530).
Several Wildcat players are among the conference leaders in several categories:
-- Olivia Mediano, the reigning CCAA Player of the Week, is fourth among conference hitters in kills per set (3.44) and fifth in kills (124).
-- Camryn Rocha is eighth in the CCAA in kills (110) and kills per set (3.14).
-- Torey Thompson is second among conference setters in assists per set (10.75) and third in assists (387).
-- Anna Baytosh ranks eighth in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.307).
-- Kim Wright is second in the conference in service aces per set (0.44) and tied for second with 16 aces on the season.
-- Shannon Cotton is fourth in the CCAA in digs per set (4.59), fifth in digs (170), tied for fifth in service aces (14) and sixth in aces per set (0.38).
Humboldt State, which takes on Stanislaus State Friday before going head-to-head with the Wildcats, is 6-4 overall and 1-1 in the CCAA. Last weekend the Lumberjacks ran their winning streak to three with a road victory over Cal Poly Pomona to begin conference play, but were tripped up in three sets Saturday by Cal State San Bernardino.
The 'Jacks are led by senior outside hitter Symone Hayden. An All-CCAA selection last season, Hayden has racked up a team-high 132 kills in 2016. Senior middle hitter Nicole Bewley has contributed 98 kills and 39 blocks to the Humboldt State attack.
Chico State swept the season series with Humboldt State and has won 18 of the past 21 meetings dating back to 2005. The Wildcats lead the all-time series with the Lumberjacks 38-11.
