SAN FRANCISCO—The Chico State volleyball team began a stretch of four straight road matches Tuesday, taking on a San Francisco State squad the Wildcats had seen just four days earlier in Chico. The Gators were hard-luck losers in the first meeting Friday at Acker Gym, but exacted some revenge on their home court, sweeping the 'Cats 30-28, 25-23, 25-19 at The Swamp.
Tuesday's loss dropped Chico State to 10-5 on the season and into a five-way tie for second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 3-4 conference mark. San Francisco State snapped its three-match losing streak to improve to 8-6 overall and 3-4 in CCAA play.
Bekah Boyle led all players with 15 kills on the night, with Kim Wright contributing a dozen kills and a pair of blocks. Kennedy Rice added nine kills, while Makaela Keeve chipped in with six winning swings. Nicole Desrochers dole out 38 assists and delivered nine digs for the Wildcats, with Brooke Fogel collecting a match-high 20 digs on the night.
Chico State had the upper hand early in the opening set, as three kills by Boyle, a Wright service ace and a Wright/Rice combo block helped stake the Wildcats to a 10-7 lead. San Francisco State jumped out in front 14-11 on the strength of a 7-1 run, and held a 20-16 advantage when the 'Cats came charging back. Kills by Keeve, Wright and Rice fueled a 7-2 run to put Chico State in front 23-22. San Francisco grabbed the lead back at 24-23, and though the Wildcats were able to survive four set points, the Gators snapped a 28-all tie with the two points needed to lock down the hard-fought 30-28 victory.
The second set was a back-and-forth affair, as the Wildcats and Gators split the first 16 points, with neither team able to build more than a one-point lead during that stretch. With the contest tied at 8-all, San Francisco State used a modest 6-3 run to go up 14-11. The 'Cats responded with aces by Desrochers and Esti Wilson, plus kills by Wright, Rice and Boyle to grab an 18-17 lead, only to see the Gators score seven of the next nine points to move out in front 24-20. The 'Cats survived three set points, but a service error proved the decider as San Francisco State triumphed 25-23.
The Wildcats dug themselves a tremendous hole in the third set, as the Gators streaked out to a 12-0 lead. Chico State refused to fold, using four kills by Wright, and two each by Keeve, Rice and Boyle, to mount a 12-3 run and climb to within 15-12. San Francisco State posted four of the next five points to stretch its advantage back to six, but the 'Cats kept battling, as kills by Boyle, Keeve and Wright made it a 21-18 contest. That would be as close as Chico State would get—the Gators finished on a 4-1 run to wrap up the 25-19 win and the match sweep.
Chico State is back in action this weekend with a pair of road contests. Friday the Wildcats will be in Arcata to take on Humboldt State, followed by a Saturday showdown with Sonoma State in Rohnert Park. Both matches are scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.
