TURLOCK—For any team, there's no better feeling than notching a "W" in the very first contest of the season. The Chico State volleyball officially kicked off the 2018 campaign in fine style Thursday afternoon, needing just three sets to down the University of Antelope Valley 25-17, 25-14, 25-13 in the opener of the three-day NorCal Volleyball Classic at Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock.
In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, Chico State won in convincing fashion. Bekah Boyle led the Wildcat offense with 11 kills, while Kim Wright contributed 10 kills, three service aces and four blocks. Kelley Jacome, Kennedy Rice and Makaela Keeve combined for 15 kills, with Nicole Desrochers posting four aces while dishing out 23 assists. Kennedy Greenwood and Brooke Fogel each registered eight digs on the day.
The opening set was a back-and-forth affair in the early stages. Two kills by Wright, combined with a kill and service ace by Rice, gave Chico State an early 4-3 lead. Antelope Valley answered by scoring seven of the next 11 points to go up 10-8, only to see the Wildcats rip off a 6-1 run, highlighted by kills from Wright, Rice and Jacome, to put Chico State back in front 14-11. The Pioneers crept to within 15-14, but the 'Cats took control of the contest, riding two Boyle kills and two Antelope Valley errors to extend their advantage 20-16. A Greenwood ace and late kills by Jacome, Rice and Keeve sealed the deal, giving Chico State the 25-17 victory.
The two teams split the first eight points of the second set, but multiple kills by Rice and Wright gave the Wildcats a 14-10 lead. Antelope Valley scored on the next two possessions, moving to within a pair at 14-12. Chico State responded with an 11-2 run to win going away—six Pioneers miscues combined with two Desrochers aces, a Desrochers/Keeve combo block, and a Boyle kill gave the 'Cats the 25-14 victory.
Chico State rode that momentum into the third set, jumping out to a 6-0 advantage and never surrendering the lead. Antelope Valley would get no closer than four points, and with the score 14-8, the Wildcats' offense put the hammer down—a pair of aces by Wright and kills by Keeve, Greenwood, Jacome, Boyle, and Wright spearheaded an 11-5 run to close things out, as Chico State rolled to the 25-13 victory and the match sweep.
The Wildcats will play two matches Friday in day two action at the NorCal Volleyball Classic. The 'Cats take on Georgia College at 12:30 p.m., followed by a 5:30 p.m. tilt against Academy of Art. Fans can follow the action of both matches online with Live Stats and live streaming video, available via the Wildcat Athletics website.
