BELMONT – Friday's split in the first day of the Route 92 Classic was not the way the Chico State volleyball team had envisioned starting the 2016 season. The Wildcats immediately regrouped and were much more productive in Saturday's final day of tournament action, downing host school Notre Dame de Namur in four sets 21-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-21 and sweeping Academy of Art 25-15, 25-21, 25-15 at Notre Dame High School in Belmont.  
 
The two wins Saturday's pushed the Wildcats' record to 3-1 on the young season.
 
Camryn Rocha had another huge day for the 'Cats. The freshman outside hitter buried a combined 30 kills on the day, while teammate Olivia Mediano racked up 23 kills, 16 digs and five blocks. Kim Wright had 17 kills to go along with six service aces and seven blocks; Anna Baytosh contributed 15 kills and four blocks over the two matches, and Torey Thompson collected 77 assists, 13 kills, 35 digs and four blocks. Shannon Cotton tallied 40 digs and 14 assists, with Brooke Fogel and Jacki Kreymborg combining for 30 digs on the day.
 
In Saturday's first match, Chico State used three kills by Wright and two by Rocha to take a quick 7-2 lead in the opening set, then a service ace by Wright pushed the 'Cats' advantage to 10-4. The Wildcats were still up 16-13 when Notre Dame de Namur went on an 11-4 run to go up 24-20. Mediano provided a late kill, but that was all the 'Cats could muster as the Argonauts went on to win 25-21.
 
Notre Dame de Namur was ahead 4-3 in the second set before Chico State responded with six unanswered points to grab a 9-4 lead. The Argonauts pulled to within 10-8, but the Wildcats answered with a 5-0 run that featured a solo block by Alex Boyle and combo blocks by Wright/Mediano and Thompson/Baytosh. Notre Dame de Namur was unable to recover, and the 'Cats wrapped up the set with an ace by Wright, a Rocha kill and a Rocha/Alex Boyle combo block to prevail 25-15.
 
In the third set, the Argonauts took another early lead, but with the score 7-5, the Wildcats ripped off a 10-1 run – combining a Rocha/Thompson block, kills by Thompson, Baytosh and Alex Boyle and five Notre Dame de Namur miscues – to surge in front 15-8. The Argonauts scored five of the next six points to creep to within 16-13, but kills by Wright and Mediano highlighted a 5-1 Chico State run to stretch the 'Cats' lead to seven. Late kills by Mediano, Wright and Rocha sealed the deal, as the Wildcats posted a 25-17 victory.
 
Notre Dame de Namur slowly built an 11-7 lead in the fourth set, but a Thompson/Wright block and a Thompson kill helped the 'Cats knot up the contest at 12-apiece. The lead see-sawed back and forth until Baytosh and Wright delivered back-to-back kills to snap an 18-all tie and put Chico State ahead to stay. Fogel followed with an ace and late kills by Thompson, Wright and Rocha clinched the 25-21 set win and the match victory.
 
Against Academy of Art, Chico State came roaring out of the blocks, using a Mediano ace and kills by Wright, Rocha, Mediano and Thompson to jump out to a 12-2 advantage. The Urban Knights chipped away at the deficit, but with the score 15-7, the 'Cats put the set out of reach – a Mediano/Wright block and kills by Mediano and Baytosh pushed Chico State's lead to 20-9. Rocha kills represented the Wildcats' final three points in the 25-15 victory.
 
In the second set, Chico State established an early 9-4 lead and never trailed, building up a lead as large as 10. Academy of Art did make the Wildcats work for the win, pulling to within 22-21, but three straight kills by Rocha put Chico State over the top as the 'Cats outlasted the Urban Knights 25-21.
 
The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the third and final set, as Wright, Rocha and Mediano all contributed kills while Cotton delivered an ace. Academy of Art slowly got back in the contest, but with the score 13-11 the 'Cats pulled away on a 9-2 run – Fogel came through with consecutive aces and Mediano added three kills – to extend the Wildcats' lead to 22-13. Rocha delivered the set-winning kill, giving Chico State the 25-15 victory and the match sweep.
 
The Wildcats return to action next Thursday through Saturday, traveling to Turlock to take part in the West Region Volleyball Showcase. Chico State will take on Alaska Thursday at 5 p.m., followed Friday by a 10 a.m. matchup versus Concordia-Irvine and a 5:30 p.m. tilt against Western Oregon. The 'Cats close out the tournament with Hawaii Pacific Saturday at 5:30 p.m.