CARSON—The Chico State volleyball team knew it needed a win in Southern California this weekend to bolster the Wildcats' playoff aspirations. The 'Cats remain very much in the mix for a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament berth, but after falling Friday to No. 10 Cal State LA, Chico State missed a chance to improve its postseason aspirations Saturday as Cal State Dominguez Hills swept the Wildcats 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 at the Torodome in Carson.
Saturday's loss dropped Chico State to 12-11 on the season and 5-10 in the CCAA North Division. With three matches remaining in the regular season to determine the North's fourth and final conference tournament bid, the Wildcats remain in fifth place, one-half game behind fourth place San Francisco State and one-half game in front of sixth place Sonoma State.
Kelley Jacome paced the Wildcats' offense Saturday, pounding out 11 kills on the night. Bekah Boyle added eight kills, while Kim Wright collected six kills, two blocks and a service ace. Nicole Desrochers dished out 28 assists for the 'Cats, with Brooke Fogel leading all players with 19 digs.
Cal State Dominguez Hills extended its winning streak to four straight, improving to 9-12 overall and 4-9 in the CCAA South Division.
The Wildcats started strong, using two Kennedy Rice kills, an Esti Wilson ace and a Wright/Hailey Carter combo block to jump out to a 6-2 lead in the opening set. Dominguez Hills responded with a 10-1 run to go up 12-7, and eventually extended the lead to seven. Thanks to a kill by Jacome and a Jacome/Makaela Keeve combo block, Chico State survived three set points, but Rylee Brown provided the deciding kill to give the Toros the 25-20 victory.
Powered by kills from Wright, Keeve, Jacome, Boyle and Desrochers, the Wildcats grabbed an 11-5 lead in the second set. Dominguez Hills slowly chipped away at the deficit, catching the 'Cats at 16-all. The Toros then built a 22-19 lead, but three kills by Jacome highlighted a 4-1 run to pull Chico State even at 23-23. A service error followed immediately by an attack error did the Wildcats in, however, supplying Dominguez Hills with the two points needed to win the set 25-23.
The third set was a back-and-forth battle until the late stages of the contest. The Toros raced out to a 6-2 lead, but powered by three Jacome kills, winners from Keeve and Rice, and an ace by Wright, Chico State scored nine of the next 13 points to go up 11-10. Dominguez Hills briefly went back in front, but back-to-back kills by Keeve and Wright put the 'Cats back on top 16-15. That would turn out to be the Wildcats' final lead. The Toros used a 9-3 run to make it a 24-19 contest, and while Chico State clawed its way back, surviving four set points, a kill by Esther Duru proved to be the backbreaker, as Dominguez Hills hung on to win 25-23 and sweep the match.
Chico State plays its final two home matches of the season next weekend, as the Wildcats host Sonoma State Friday at 7 p.m., and Humboldt State Saturday at 5 p.m. in Acker Gym.
