ROHNERT PARK, Calif.—The Chico State volleyball team went up against a hot Sonoma State squad Friday night and exhibited a much-needed spark that had been missing for the past couple of weeks. The energy the Wildcats brought to the court wasn't quite enough to cool off the Seawolves, though, as Sonoma prevailed in four sets, 26-24, 24-26, 25-21, 25-19 at The Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park.
Friday's loss dropped Chico State to 7-8 on the season and 1-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division. Sonoma State won its fifth straight match to improve to 11-3 overall and 5-0 in the CCAA North.
Olivia Mediano led the Wildcats with 13 kills on the nights while adding 11 digs. Bekah Boyle hammered home 11 kills; Kelley Jacome registered career highs with nine kills and six blocks, and Makela Keeve contributed eight kills and five blocks. McKenna Carroll and Nicole Desrochers each dished out 20 assists for the 'Cats, while Tristen Thompson led all players with 27 digs.
Sonoma State jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the opening set, but Chico State responded with a 7-1 run—powered by kills from Jacome and Anna Baytosh plus a Brooke Fogel service ace—to go in front 13-11. The Seawolves quickly evened things up, only to see Baytosh, Jacome and Keeve deliver kills to give the 'Cats a 17-14 lead.
The Wildcats were still up three when Sonoma scored six of the next seven points to move ahead 23-21, but once again Chico State fought back, using a Bekah Boyle kill and two Seawolves errors to put the 'Cats up 24-23. The Wildcats were unable to close out the set, however, as Sonoma scored three straight points to steal the 26-24 victory.
The 'Cats quickly shook off the heartbreaking loss and rolled to an 11-4 lead in the second set, with Mediano, Kim Wright, and Bekah Boyle all providing kills. Chico State pushed its advantage to eight and kept Sonoma State at arm's length through most of the set, but late in the contest the Seawolves tallied five unanswered points to pull even at 23-all. This time, however, the Wildcats didn't wilt—a Jacome kill and a Jacome/Keeve block combined with a Sonoma State error gave Chico State the points it needed to pull out the 26-24 win and even the match.
The Wildcats came out strong in the third set—a Fogel ace and kills by Wright, Keeve, Mediano and Jacome gave Chico State a quick 7-4 lead. The Seawolves used a 7-2 run to go up 11-9, but the 'Cats answered by scoring nine of the next 14 points—Mediano delivering four kills during the stretch—to put Chico State back in front 18-16. From there, though, it was all Sonoma State, as the Seawolves ripped off an 8-2 run to make the score 24-20. A Wright kill fought off one set point, but a Calan Seitz kill was the back-breaker as Sonoma posted the 25-21 victory.
Chico State rode a Wright ace and kills by Mediano and Keeve to go up 5-1 early in the third set. Sonoma State tied the contest at six apiece and then scored five of the next seven points to take an 11-8 lead. Kills by Wright, Mediano and Bekah Boyle pulled the 'Cats to within one, but that would be as close as Chico State would come. Despite late kills by Keeve, Jacome and Bekah Boyle, the Seawolves closed out the set with an 11-6 run to win 25-19 and take the match.
The Wildcats are back in action Saturday, as they head to The Swamp to battle the Gators San Francisco State (5-8, 1-4 CCAA North). First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
