HAYWARD—The Chico State volleyball team had hoped to finish the regular season with authority and head into next week's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament with some always welcome positive momentum. Instead, the Wildcats find themselves having to regroup quickly in order to make a deep run in the postseason. The 'Cats came up short Saturday in their quest to snag the CCAA North Division's No. 2 tournament seed, sliding behind Cal State East Bay as the Pioneers swept Chico State 26-24, 25-13, 25-17 in Hayward.
Saturday's loss drops Chico State to 15-13 overall, with the Wildcats finish the regular season in third place in the CCAA North Division with a 9-9 conference record. Cal State East Bay earned sole possession of second place in the North, improving to 17-10 on the season and 10-8 in CCAA play.
Anna Baytosh led the Wildcat attack Saturday with 10 kills, while Olivia Mediano and Kelley Jacome delivered nine and seven kills, respectively. McKenna Carroll dished out 22 assists, with Brooke Fogel pacing the 'Cats with 11 digs.
The first set saw Chico State roar out to a 6-2 leads thanks to a Mediano service ace and kills by Jacome, Kim Wright, and Makaela Keeve. The Wildcats were still on top 13-10 when Cal State East Bay made its move, scoring 10 of the next 12 points to up 20-15. The 'Cats battled back, with kills by Jacome, Mediano and Keeve fueling a 7-2 run to knot up the contest at 22-all. The Pioneers went back in front 24-23, and though a Baytosh kill kept Chico State alive, East Bay secured the final two points it needed to pull out the 26-24 victory.
The Pioneers continued to hold the hot hand early in the second set, forging a quick 11-4 lead. The Wildcats attempted to climb back into the contest, as a Baytosh kill and a Wright/Bekah Boyle combo block trimmed the deficit to five, but East Bay answered with a 7-0 to make the score 18-6 and effectively putting the set out of reach. The 'Cats made some noise late in the contest, with Wright delivering an ace and a kill, while Mediano, Baytosh and Jacome all hammered home winners. It was far too little and far too late, though, as the Pioneers easily rolled to the 25-13 win.
Chico State was forced into immediate catch-up mode in the third set, as East Bay jumped out to a 10-5 lead. Thanks to a pair of Letysha Cephas aces and kills by Baytosh, Jacome, Wright and Mediano, the Wildcats crept to within 18-15, but the Pioneers made sure there would be no dramatic Chico State comeback, scoring six of the next seven points to extend their advantage to 24-16. The 'Cats survived one match point courtesy of a Claire Wilson kill, but the Pioneers' Katie Ireland immediately delivered the knockout punch that gave East Bay the 25-17 win and the match sweep.
Chico State will be at The Swamp on the campus of San Francisco State as one of the eight teams competing in the CCAA Championship Tournament, and will face the South Division's No. 2 seed, Cal State San Marcos (14-11, 11-6 CCAA) in Thursday's opening quarterfinal round action. First serve is scheduled for 12 noon.
