The Chico State volleyball team faces a couple of tough challenges this weekend as it continues California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play, and the Wildcats hit the road knowing they have to bring their "A"-game in order to secure a pair of victories. The 'Cats travel to Southern California to face Cal State San Marcos Friday and UC San Diego on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow Friday's Cal State San Marcos match online with Live Stats and live streaming video, available via the Wildcats Athletics website. Saturday's UC San Diego match will feature Live Stats only.
Chico State enters the weekend sitting at 7-5 on the season and tied for third place in the CCAA North Division with a 1-1 conference record. The Wildcats took two of their three matches last week, starting with a sweep of Simpson University Tuesday, September 12. The 'Cats opened up conference play last Friday with a four-set loss to Cal State LA, but bounced back Saturday for a four-set victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Chico State ranks fifth among the 13 CCAA teams in kills (526) and is tied for second in the conference with 68 service aces.
Individually, several Wildcats are among the CCAA elite:
-- Bekah Boyle is sixth in the conference in kills (124) and seventh in kills per set (3.10).
-- Anna Baytosh ranks sixth in the CCAA in hitting percentage (.337).
-- Makaela Keeve is 10th among conference hitters in hitting percentage (.307) and 10th in blocks per set (0.84).
-- Brooke Fogel is tied for the CCAA lead in digs (199) and is fourth in digs per set (4.63).
-- Nicole Desrochers is tied for fifth in the conference is service aces (17).
Cal State San Marcos, Chico State's Friday night opponent, is 3-6 overall and in sixth place in the CCAA South with an 0-1 conference record. The Cougars played just one match last week, dropping their CCAA opener Saturday to UC San Diego.
Despite its sub-.500 record, San Marcos is a solid defense team, ranking third in the CCAA in both opponent hitting percentage (.153) and blocks per set (2.29).
Sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Maddy Newcombe leads the Cougars with 80 kills, with freshman outside Micah Hebert contributing 71 kills on the season. Junior middle Faith Fortune ranks second in the CCAA in blocks per set (1.35).
The Wildcats took the lone meeting with San Marcos last season, sweeping the Cougars November 5 at Acker Gym. Chico State leads the all-time series 2-1.
UC San Diego, which hosts the 'Cats following a Friday matchup against Stanislaus State, has jumped out to a 7-2 start in 2017 and is second in the CCAA South with a 1-0 conference record. The Tritons beat San Marcos last Saturday in their only match last week.
Like San Marcos, UC San Diego is strong defensively, leading the CCAA in opponent hitting percentage (.126) and ranking second in the conference in blocks per set (2.35).
Senior outside hitter Amanda Colla leads the Tritons with 114 kills and is fourth in the CCAA in kills per set (3.35). Sophomore middle blocker Jessica Rieble has 86 kills on the year and ranks fifth in the conference in blocks per set (1.12). Junior middle Micah Hammond and junior outside Molly Dalziel have combined for 131 and 44 blocks.
Last season Chico State swept UC San Diego November 4 in the only meeting between the two teams. The Tritons hold a 27-8 advantage in the all-time series versus the Wildcats.
