ARCATA—The Chico State volleyball team continued its positive roll Saturday, and in the process moved up in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division standings. The Wildcats needed just three sets to dispose of Humboldt State 25-19, 25-17, 25-11 at Lumberjack Arena in Arcata, extending their current winning streak to five straight. Combined with Cal State East Bay's loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills, the 'Cats wrapped up the evening in sole possession of second place in the North.
 
Chico State improved to 13-10 with Saturday's victory, and are now 7-6 in the CCAA North Division. Humboldt State dropped its fifth in a row to slip to 3-15 overall and 2-10 in conference play.
 
Olivia Mediano and Bekah Boyle led the Wildcats with 11 kills on the night, with Mediano also posting a team-high 17 digs. Anna Baytosh added seven kills, as Nicole Desrochers and McKenna Carroll doled out 21 and 16 assists, respectively. Tristen Thompson contributed 14 digs and a pair of service aces as the 'Cats beat Humboldt for the 21st time in 24 meetings dating back to 2007.
 
Saturday's first set was a back-and-forth affair featuring 13 tie scores and seven lead changes. Humboldt went out in front 19-18 before the 'Cats stunned the Lumberjacks with a 7-0 run—highlighted by a Boyle ace, kills by Mediano and Kelley Jacome and a Mediano/Kim Wright combo block—to give Chico State the 25-19 win.
 
The two teams split the first six points of the second set before the Wildcats took the lead for good. Multiple kills by Baytosh, Boyle, Mediano, Wright and Makaela Keeve staked Chico State to a 19-13 lead, and though Humboldt was able to whittle the deficit down to four, the 'Cats had the contest well in hand. Wright delivered a late solo block and combined with Jacome for a combo block, and a Boyle kill sealed the deal as Chico State rolled to the 25-17 victory.
 
It was all Wildcats in the third set. With the score tied 3-3, Chico State—fueled by aces from Carroll and Thompson, plus kills by Boyle, Baytosh and Mediano—ripped off a 14-3 run to go up 17-6. Humboldt State tried to battle back, but the 'Cats kept the pedal to the metal, scoring the set's final five points—the final tally coming on a Mediano ace—to give Chico State the 25-11 win and the match sweep.    
 
Chico State heads to Southern California next weekend for a pair of very important conference matches. Friday the Wildcats will be at Coussoulis Arena to take on Cal State San Bernardino (13-7 on the year, 9-3 in the CCAA South Division), followed by a Saturday showdown versus Cal Poly Pomona (9-11 overall, 5-7 in the CCAA South) at Kellogg Gym. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.