The Chico State volleyball team already has already played nine matches in 2017, and all of them have been on the road. This week, however, the Wildcats get to enjoy some home cooking, with three contests scheduled at Acker Gym. The 'Cats begin their long-awaited home stand Tuesday at 7 p.m. with a non-conference match against Simpson University, followed by California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) tilts Friday versus Cal State LA and Saturday against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
Fans unable to attend the matches in person can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
 
Chico State enters Tuesday's matchup with Simpson 5-4 on the season. The Wildcats return home after dropping three of four last week at the D2 West Region Showcase in Anchorage, Alaska. Playing four straight matches against teams ranked in the top 25 nationally, the 'Cats defeated No. 15 Concordia-Irvine on Friday, but fell to No. 10 Western Washington, No. 14 Alaska Anchorage and No. 24 California Baptist.
 
A handful of individual Wildcats are among the early CCAA leaders in several statistical categories. Defensive specialist Brooke Fogel leads the conference in both digs (171) and digs per set (5.18); Bekah Boyle is fifth among CCAA hitters in kills per set (3.20), and middle Anna Baytosh ranks seventh in the conference in hitting percentage (.339).
 
Simpson, an NAIA school that plays in the California Pacific Conference, comes to Acker Gym sporting a 4-7 record but is riding a four-match winning streak. Last weekend the Red Hawks swept West Coast Baptist College and Mills College while besting the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) in five sets.
 
Tuesday marks the first meeting between Chico State and Simpson since 2015. The Wildcats have won all of the seven previous matches played between the two schools.