FRESNO—Friday's first day of the D2 West Region Showcase saw the Chico State volleyball team notch a pair of well-earned victories—but it was the two drastically different ways the Wildcats posted their two wins that made the day truly memorable. The Wildcats had little trouble against the day's first opponent, Seattle Pacific, sweeping the Falcons 25-17, 26-24, 25-17. It was a whole different story against Simon Fraser, but after falling behind the Clan two sets to none, the 'Cats found their way to the winner's circle in comeback fashion, taking the final three sets to triumph 21-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-10 at the Fresno Pacific Special Events Center.
Friday's two wins keeps Chico State's season record unblemished, as the Wildcats improve to 6-0 overall.
Several Wildcats put up huge numbers in the two afternoon matches. Kim Wright had a combined 33 kills, matching her career high with 20 against Simon Fraser, while also racking up six blocks. Bekah Boyle owned an impressive stat line—31 kills, 17 digs, four blocks and two service aces, with Kelley Jacome adding 18 kills (including a personal best 14 vs. Simon Fraser), four blocks and three aces. Makaela Keeve delivered 14 kills and had a hand in six blocks, and Kennedy Rice contributed a dozen kills and a pair of blocks.
Nicole Desrochers piled up 92 assists, 11 digs and five aces Friday. Her 54 assists against Simon Fraser marked a career best for a single match.
Brooke Fogel was solid as ever keeping the ball alive, leading the 'Cats with 36 digs on the day.
In Friday's early match, the Wildcats outplayed a scrappy Seattle Pacific team. In the opening set, Chico State broke a 6-all tie thanks to multiple kills by Boyle, Keeve and Wright, highlighting a 10-4 run to give the 'Cats a 16-10 lead. The Falcons closed to within 19-17, but kills by Keeve and a Keeve/Rice combo block bookended a 6-0 run to close things out, giving the Wildcats the 25-17 victory.
Seattle Pacific went out in front early in the second set and stayed in the lead until a Rice kill and a Falcons error put Chico State on top 14-13. Late in the contest kills by Wright, Rice and Jacome extended the 'Cats' advantage to 24-21, but Seattle Pacific survived three set points to knot up the set at 24-all. The Wildcats rebounded quickly, and a Desrochers kill and a Falcons miscue gave Chico State the two points it needed to secure the 26-24 victory.
Seattle Pacific once again grabbed the early lead in the third set, but with the score 4-2, the Wildcats used an ace and three kills by Boyle, two kills each from Jacome and Wright, and three blocks to fuel a 15-6 run and build a 17-10 advantage. The Falcons answered with a 5-1 run to cut the deficit to 18-15, but the 'Cats scored seven of the final nine points—Wright, Boyle and Keeve each hammering home kills down the stretch—to help Chico State win going away 25-17 and complete the match sweep.
The Wildcats began their late afternoon matchup with Simon Fraser in impressive fashion, with a Fogel ace and kills by Wright, Jacome and Rice powering Chico State to a quick 5-0 lead. The Clan came back to tie the score at 9-9, but two Boyle kills briefly put the 'Cats back on top. Simon Fraser took its first lead at 14-13; then with the contest knotted up at 16-all, a 5-1 run put the Clan on top 21-17. A Desrochers ace and two kills by Boyle pulled Chico State to within 22-21, only to see Simon Fraser wrap it up with three unanswered points to lock down the 25-21 victory.
The second set saw the Clan jump out to an 8-4 lead, immediately forcing the Wildcats to play catch-up. The 'Cats never did, though three times they were able to cut the deficit to two. Down 24-21, Chico State twice staved off set point thanks to a Wright kill and Desrochers/Wright block, but a Betsie de Beer kill ended the comeback attempt, and Simon Fraser held on for the 25-23 win.
The Clan continued to roll in the third set, building an early 6-3 advantage. The Wildcats' offense answered, with two Desrochers aces, and kills by Jacome, Keeve and Desrochers highlighting a 6-0 run to put Chico State on top 9-6. The 'Cats extended the lead to 15-9, but Simon Fraser came all the way back to tie up the contest at 23-all. The Wildcats were not about to let the set slip away, and back-to-back kills by Wright and Boyle propelled Chico State to the 25-23 victory.
The fourth set was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team mounting more than a two-point lead through most of the contest. With the score knotted up at 15-all, a Desrochers ace, a Boyle kill and a Keeve/Jacome combo block fueled a 5-1 Wildcat run to put Chico State up 20-16. Simon Fraser tallied four of the next five points to draw within one at 21-20, but the 'Cats held firm, with late kills by Rice and Boyle cementing the 25-22 win and forcing a fifth and deciding set.
The Wildcats went up 2-0 in the fifth set, only to see the Clan score five of the next seven points to go up 5-4. Chico State answered with four winners of its own—Wright contributed a kill and an ace, and Boyle delivered a pair of kills to vault the 'Cats in front 8-5. Chico State continued to apply the pressure, as a Desrochers ace, a pair of Boyle kills and a Jacome/Keeve combo block upped the Wildcats' lead to 12-8. This time, Simon Fraser had no answer, as a Wright kill and Jacome ace sealed the deal, giving Chico State the 15-10 win and the come-from-behind match victory.
Chico State plays two more matches Saturday to wrap up the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. The Wildcats take on Chaminade at 10:45 a.m., followed by a 7:45 p.m. tilt against host school Fresno Pacific. Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
