It has been an intense last couple of weeks for the Chico State volleyball team. As if keeping up with classwork isn't challenging enough, the Wildcats are set to play their sixth match in the last 12 days Tuesday, traveling to Hayward to face Cal State East Bay. The contest gets underway at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Gymnasium.
Fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
It's the second meeting of the season between Chico State and Cal State East Bay. The Pioneers came to Chico and swept the Wildcats September 22 at Acker Gym.
Assistant coach David Irving will handle the head coaching duties beginning Tuesday, while head coach Cody Hein begins a planned medical leave of absence.
The 'Cats enter Tuesday's match 11-6 on the season and in fifth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division with a 4-5 conference record. Chico State—playing its fourth consecutive road contest—split a pair of matches over the weekend, sweeping Humboldt State Friday before losing in four sets Saturday against Sonoma State.
The Wildcats' busiest run of the season began September 21-22 with home matches against San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay, followed in rapid succession by road contests September 25 vs. San Francisco State and last weekend against the Lumberjacks and Seawolves. Chico State is 2-3 during that stretch.
Chico State has played well on the road, though, winning nine of 12 decisions away from Acker Gym entering Tuesday's match.
The Wildcats take on a Cal State East Bay team that is playing its best ball of the season. The Pioneers have won their last three matches to even their season record at 8-8, while also claiming a share of third place in the CCAA North Division with a 4-4 conference record. Last week East Bay edged Stanislaus State in a five-set thriller before sweeping San Francisco State on Saturday.
Statistically, the Pioneers as a team rank among the top five CCAA teams in kills per set (13.07), blocks per set (2.03) and hitting percentage (.233). Chico State leads the conference in service aces (118), tied for the CCAA lead in aces per set (1.93), and sixth in hitting percentage (.227).
Tuesday's match features two of the CCAA's top hitters. Chico State's Bekah Boyle is third in the conference with 218 kills and tied for fifth in kills per set (3.57). The Pioneers are led by senior outside Lindsay Ray, who ranks sixth in the CCAA in kills (194) and ninth in kills per set (3.18).
Boyle registered a dozen kills in the Wildcats' first meeting with East Bay, while Ray collected eight kills, four aces and two blocks for the Pioneers.
Cal State East Bay has won three of the last four matches against the 'Cats, but since 1985 Chico State holds a 33-13 edge in the all-time series vs. the Pioneers.
