The Chico State volleyball team may have stumbled during the first few weeks of October, but the Wildcats are finishing the month strong—and in the process remain very much in the thick of the postseason playoff race. After disposing of Sonoma State Friday, the 'Cats wrapped up the regular season home schedule Saturday with a convincing 24-26, 25-13, 25-21, 25-14 victory over Humboldt State at Acker Gym.
Saturday's win gave Chico State back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-September and raised the Wildcats' season record to 14-11. They remain in fifth place in the CCAA North Division with a 7-10 conference record, but a win in the 'Cats' regular season finale next Saturday against Stanislaus State will seem to insure Chico State one of the four North Division bids for next month's CCAA Championship Tournament.
The official tournament seedings will be determined by the conference next Saturday at the end of regular season play.
Bekah Boyle led the Wildcats' offense Saturday with 14 kills, while Kim Wright came through with 12 kills and nine blocks. Kennedy Rice and Makaela Keeve combined for 15 kills and six blocks, with Hailey Carter racking up five kills and 40 assists. Brooke Fogel had a big night, leading all players with 21 digs while delivering four service aces.
It was Humboldt State which made a statement early in Saturday's contest. The opening set was a see-saw battle, with both teams letting leads slip away. After Chico State jumped out to a 4-0 advantage, the Lumberjacks rolled out an 11-4 run to grab a three-point lead. The Wildcats answered by scoring 10 of the next 15 points—Keeve mashing four kills during the stretch—to put Chico State back on top 18-16. A kill by Boyle set up set point at 24-23, but Humboldt took advantage of three straight Wildcat miscues to steal the 26-24 victory.
That evidently woke up the Wildcats, as Chico State would not trail for the rest of the night. In the second set, Rice ripped a pair of kills and floored an ace as the 'Cats raced out to an 11-3 lead. Humboldt pulled to within five, only to see the Wildcats post an 11-4 run—Fogel coming through with four straight aces, while Rice, Keeve, and Claire Wilson provided kills—to put the Chico State up 22-8. A Wright/Wilson combo block, a Lumberjacks error, and a Boyle kill was all the 'Cats needed to cement the 25-13 win.
Chico State went right back to work in the third set, and on the strength of three kills by Boyle, two by Rice, two solo blocks by Keeve, and aces by Wright and Lauren Voelker, the Wildcats built a 14-6 lead. Humboldt hung around, slowly whittling the deficit to 21-18, but Chico State used late kills by Wilson and Keeve to keep the Lumberjacks at arm's length, and the 'Cats prevailed 25-21.
The Wildcats reeled off the first six points of the fourth set, and were never seriously challenged. Humboldt got as close as 14-11, but with Wright collecting a kill and solo block, and Esti Wilson posting an ace, Chico State went on a 8-1 run to balloon its lead to 22-12. Rice delivered an ace and Wright registered the Wildcats' final two kills to give the Wildcats the 25-14 win and the match.
With a postseason berth likely on the line, Chico State and Stanislaus State are scheduled to square off Saturday at Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
