The 2017 edition of the Chico State volleyball team will get its first taste of regular season action this week, hitting the road for no less than five non-conference matches. The Wildcats will lift the lid on the new season Thursday with a 4 p.m. tilt in Rocklin against William Jessup, then will head to the Bay Area to play four matches in the two-day Route 92 Classic Friday and Saturday.
Friday the 'Cats face Holy Names at 10:30 a.m. and Dominican at 4:30 p.m. in Hayward, and then wrap up the Route 92 Classic Saturday with a 9 a.m. match against Biola College at Cal State East Bay before shuttling to Belmont to take on Notre Dame de Namur at 3 p.m.
Fans can follow the action of the Route 92 Classic matches online via Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
Chico State looks to duplicate a wildly successful 2016 season, which saw the Wildcats finish 23-8 overall and win the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division title. The 'Cats also reached the finals of the CCAA Championship Tournament and earned the program's first NCAA Championship Tournament berth since 2008.
The CCAA's annual preseason coaches' poll has Chico State picked to finish second in the North Division in 2017 (though the Wildcats received six first place votes) and making the program's third conference tournament appearance in as many years.
Despite losing All-American setter Torey Thompson and key players Shannon Cotton, Jacki Kreymborg and CCAA Freshman of the Year Camryn Rocha, the Wildcats return First Team All-CCAA players Olivia Mediano and Kim Wright, established hitters Anna Baytosh, Bekah Boyle and Alex Boyle, and skilled defensive specialists Tristen Thompson and Brooke Fogel.
Senior McKenna Carroll and redshirt sophomore Nicole Desrochers will be given the task of taking over the Wildcats' all-important setter position.
Head Coach Cody Hein bolstered the 2017 roster with a generous handful of talented recruits. Among the new hitters are freshmen hitters Makaela Keeve, Claire Wilson, Kelley Jacome and Mckenna LaForge, and junior college transfer Cassidy Lee (Shasta College). Freshman Makenzie Salva and JC transfer Letysha Cephas (Sierra College) will out round the 'Cats' DS ranks.
A challenging pre-conference schedule will immediately put the Wildcats to the test. Following this weekend's Route 92 Classic, Chico State travels to Alaska September 7-9 to take part in the extremely competitive D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. The 'Cats are scheduled to go head-to-head with Alaska Anchorage (the nation's No. 4 ranked team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 preseason poll), No. 12 Western Washington, No. 21 Concordia-Irvine, and last year's Pacific West Conference runner-up, California Baptist.
Here is a brief summary of this week's opponents as the Wildcats open up the 2017 season:
William Jessup (Thursday, 4 p.m., Rocklin)—the Warriors, an NAIA team, are already 7-2 on the season after winning three straight during last week's Simpson Volleyball Classic. Williams Jessup finished 2016 with an 11-18 record and were swept by Chico State last September at Acker Gym. The Wildcats are a perfect 7-0 all-time against the Warriors.
Holy Names (Friday, 10:30 a.m., Hayward)—the Hawks finished last in the Pacific West Conference in 2016 with a 2-26 record. The Wildcats swept Holy Names in last season's Route 92 Classic, and lead the all-time series 3-0.
Dominican (Friday, 4:30 p.m., Hayward)—the Penguins were 17-11 in 2016 and tied for third place in the Pac West Conference. Dominican handed Chico State a season-opening five-set loss in last year's Route 92 Classic, but the Wildcats hold a 10-1 edge in the all-time series between the two teams.
Biola (Saturday, 9 a.m., Hayward)—the Eagles enter their first year in Division II as a member of the Pac West Conference this season after finishing 2016 with a 26-11 record playing in the NAIA's Golden State Athletic Conference. Saturday will mark the first time Chico State and Biola have met on the volleyball court.
Notre Dame de Namur (Saturday, 3 p.m., Belmont)—the Argonauts finished 2016 with a 10-18 record and tied for 10th place in the Pac West. Chico State downed Notre Dame de Namur in four sets in last season's Route 92 Classic and lead the all-time series 15-0.
