POMONA—After a tough three-set loss Friday to Cal State San Bernardino, the Chico State volleyball team went into Pomona Saturday looking to regain the momentum it had built during its recent five-match winning streak. Despite falling behind early in all three sets against the Broncos, the Wildcats were able to turn on the offensive juice for long stretches, using a trio of double-digit runs to sweep Pomona 25-20, 25-21, 25-22 at Kellogg Gym.
Saturday's win moves Chico State to 14-11 on the season, with the Wildcats hanging on to second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division standings with an 8-7 conference record. Cal Poly Pomona dropped to 10-12 overall and 6-8 in the CCAA South Division.
Bekah Boyle led the Wildcats with 10 kills on the night, with Makaela Keeve adding eight kills and three blocks. Olivia Mediano and Anna Baytosh each registered seven kills for the 'Cats. Setters McKenna Carroll and Nicole Desrochers combined to dole out 25 assists, and Tristen Thompson led Chico State with 16 digs.
The first set was a tightly-played affair early on. Chico State led 12-11 before Pomona posted five straight points to go up 16-12. The Wildcats regrouped and completely took over the contest—a Mediano service ace, a solo block by Keeve, and kills by Keeve, Boyle, Baytosh, Kelley Jacome and Kim Wright highlighted an impressive 13-4 run to lock down the 25-20 victory.
The Broncos grabbed an early lead in the second set and used an 8-2 run to build a 14-7 advantage. Once again the Wildcats came roaring back—combo blocks by Keeve/Baytosh and Wright/Boyle plus multiple kills from Mediano, Boyle and Baytosh fueled a 13-3 run to put Chico State on top 20-17. Pomona stayed close, but the 'Cats would not relinquish the lead, as Boyle and Mediano provided late kills, and a Baytosh/Keeve combo block scored the decisive point in Chico State's 25-21 victory.
The Wildcats had trouble cranking up their offense in the third set, with Keeve and Boyle providing the only Chico State kills as Pomona jumped out to a 13-7 lead. The Broncos were still up 15-9 when the Wildcats put together another productive string of points—aces by Wright and Desrochers, Jacome contributing combo blocks with Wright and Keeve, and kills by Jacome, Keeve and Mediano helped produce a 10-2 run that gave the 'Cats a 19-17 lead.
Pomona scored the next two points to tie the contest, but the Wildcats brought out the heavy artillery down the stretch, as Keeve, Wright, Baytosh and Boyle provided the kills needed to close things out, giving Chico State the 25-22 win and the match sweep.
Chico State returns home next week to take on Humboldt State Friday at Acker Gym. It's also Senior Night, with a pre-match ceremony honoring Wildcats Olivia Mediano, Anna Baytosh, McKenna Carroll and Tristen Thompson scheduled prior to first serve at 7 p.m.
