ARCATA – The Chico State volleyball team knew its lone match of the week would double as the 2016 season's biggest test to date. The Wildcats fought hard against Humboldt State Saturday, but found themselves on the short end of three highly-contested sets, eventually falling to the host 'Jacks 27-29, 22-25, 25-11, 23-25 at Lumberjack Arena in Arcata.
Saturday's loss snaps Chico State's winning streak at four and drops the Wildcats to 8-4 on the season; 2-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Humboldt State won its second straight to improve to 8-4 overall and 3-1 in CCAA play.
Camryn Rocha led the Wildcats' offense with 15 kills, with Kim Wright adding 12 kills, three blocks and a pair of service aces. Olivia Mediano registered her fifth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 16 digs, while Anna Baytosh contributed 11 kills and two blocks. Torey Thompson doled out a match-high 46 assists to go along with 14 digs and three blocks, while Shannon Cotton, Jacki Kreymborg and Tristen Thompson combined for 39 digs on the evening.
Chico State, powered by a Wright service ace and kills by Wright, Rocha, Mediano, Baytosh and Alex Boyle, took an early 8-6 lead in the opening set, but a 5-1 Humboldt State run put the Lumberjacks in front 11-9. The Wildcats answered by scoring nine of the next 11 points to go back up 18-13 – Mediano leading the way with three kills, Cotton registering an ace and Wright combining with Torey Thompson on a block. Humboldt came back to retake the lead and were ahead 24-23 when Mediano delivered a clutch kill to keep the 'Cats alive. But Chico State could not put the Lumberjacks away – after falling behind 27-26, Humboldt scratched out three straight points down the stretch to pull out the 29-27 victory.
A pair of kills by Rocha and Baytosh helped give Chico State an 8-4 lead early in the second set, but Humboldt State stayed close, and finally caught the 'Cats at 14-all. Both team took late leads only to let them get away, and with the score 22-22, the Lumberjacks finished strong with three unanswered points to grab a 25-22 win.
Now with their backs to the wall, the Wildcats used an 8-0 run – fueled by kills from Wright, Rocha and Ashton Kershner and a pair of Kershner/Torey Thompson combo blocks – to fire out to an 11-3 lead in the third set. This time, Humboldt had no answer for the 'Cats' attack – with the score 13-6, Chico State pulled away with kills by Rocha, Kershner, Wright and Baytosh and aces from Rocha, Mediano, Wright and Torey Thompson to cruise to the 25-11 victory.
Set number four saw the Wildcats jump out to an 8-3 advantage, as Rocha, Wright and Mediano each supplied a kill. Humboldt State slowly chipped away at the deficit, finally pulling even with the 'Cats at 15-all. With the score still knotted up at 17-apiece, kills by Kershner, Baytosh, Rocha, Wright and Torey Thompson highlighted a 6-4 run to put Chico State back on top 23-21. The Lumberjacks, however, would put a quick end to the proceedings, scoring four unanswered points to take the set 25-23 and the match.
Chico State returns home next weekend for a pair of big CCAA matchups. The Wildcats host Cal Poly Pomona (4-8 overall, 0-3 in the CCAA) Friday, followed by a Saturday showdown with perennial conference powerhouse Cal State San Bernardino (8-3, 2-1 CCAA). Both matches get underway at 7 p.m. at Acker Gym.
