FRESNO—Saturday's final day of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase didn't start well for the Chico State volleyball team, who fell from the ranks of the unbeaten in a 22-25, 14-25, 20-25 defeat at the hands of Chaminade. The Wildcats finished the two-day tourney on a positive note, however, needing just three sets to down host Fresno Pacific 25-17, 25-15, 25-20 at the Fresno Pacific Special Events Center.
The Wildcats took three out of four at the D2 West Region Volleyball Classic to wrap up their pre-conference schedule with a 7-1 record.
Makaela Keeve led the Wildcats' offense with 18 kills over Saturday's two matches, while also contributing six blocks. Bekah Boyle posted 16 kills, 14 digs, four service aces and three blocks on the day, with Kim Wright notching 13 kills and four blocks. Wright also connected for eight aces against Fresno Pacific, making her just the third player in Chico State volleyball history to rack up at least eight aces in a single match.
Kennedy Rice and Kelley Jacome chipped in with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Nicole Desrochers dished out 62 assists on the day, while Brooke Fogel collected a team-leading 34 digs.
Saturday's morning match pitted the 6-0 Wildcats against 4-0 Chaminade. Chico State used a Jacome ace and kills by Desrochers and Rice to race out to a 5-1 lead in the opening set, but the Silverswords answered with a 14-7 run to go out in front 15-12. Chaminade still held a three-point lead when kills by Rice, Jacome, Wright and Keeve sparked a 5-1 'Cats run, giving Chico State a 22-21 lead. The Silverswords rallied, though, stringing together four straight points to win the set going away, 25-22.
Chaminade dominated the second set, building a 14-2 lead and never looking back. Wright, Keeve and Boyle each delivered a pair of kills late in the contest, but the Wildcats were unable to overcome the double-digit deficit, as the Silverswords cruised to a 25-14 victory.
Chaminade wasted no time getting the upper hand in the third set. Leading 7-5, the Silverswords ripped off a 8-2 run to extend their advantage to 15-7. The Wildcats battled back, and on the strength of an Esti Wilson ace, a Desrochers/Wright combo block and kills by Wright, Keeve and Boyle, fashioned a 10-5 run to pull to within 20-17. That would be as close as the 'Cats would get, as Chaminade scored five of the final eight points to win 25-20 and complete the match sweep.
In the Wildcats' evening match against Fresno Pacific, Wright connected for two kills and two aces as Chico State went out in front 5-3 early in the opening set. The Sunbirds countered with a 6-2 run to take a 9-7 lead, and were still on top 15-12 when the 'Cats made their move. Aces by Desrochers and Boyle, and kills from Boyle, Keeve, Jacome and Rice highlighted a 12-1 Chico State run to vault the 'Cats into a 24-16 lead. Jacome provided the set-ending kill that gave the Wildcats a 25-17 victory.
The second set was a tightly-played contest early on, with the 'Cats and Sunbirds splitting the first 26 points and neither team mounting more than a three point lead. Chico State broke the 13-all tie and took command of the set with 10 unanswered points—Wright came through with four aces, while Boyle and Keeve teamed for a pair of blocks—to go up 23-13. Back-to-back kills by Keeve sealed the deal, giving the Wildcats the 25-15 victory.
Chico State grabbed an early lead in the third and final set—one they would never relinquish. Two Wright aces, two Rice kills and kills by Boyle, Keeve, Jacome and Wright put the Wildcats in front 14-8, and though Fresno Pacific battled to pull to within 22-19, a Sunbirds error, a Keeve kill, and a Jacome/Keeve combo block finished things off, giving the 'Cats the 25-20 victory and the match sweep.
The Wildcats open up California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play next week, hosting Cal Poly Pomona Friday and defending NCAA West Region champion Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. at Acker Gym.
