The 2019 edition of the Chico State volleyball team seems to have a love for playing five-set matches. Six of their 13 contests so far this season have gone the distance, and Tuesday's showdown with Cal State East Bay proved to be another nail-biter that wasn't decided 'til the absolute bitter end. Just five days after sweeping the Pioneers in Hayward, the Wildcats needed some clutch play to come from behind and register a 25-16, 23-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-13 victory at Acker Gym.
Tuesday's win—Chico State's seventh in its last nine matches—not only gives the Wildcats a season record of 8-5, it puts them back into sole possession of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division standings with a 4-1 conference mark. Cal State East Bay gave the 'Cats all they could handle Tuesday, but dropped its seventh straight decision to slip to 1-12 overall and 0-5 in CCAA play.
Kim Wright delivered a monster performance, collecting 26 kills on the evening. Gretta Kirkby added a dozen kills and a block, while Makaela Keeve contributed nine kills, eight digs and a pair of blocks. Brooke Ono dished out 56 assists and led the Wildcats with 13 digs, with Mikeila Banda flooring four service aces in the win.
Brooke Fogel achieved a personal milestone Tuesday. Her 11 digs put her up and over 1,000 for her Chico State career, making her just the ninth player in the program's 44-year history to reach that mark.
It evening began with all the earmarks of a one-sided affair, as Chico State used a Fogel ace and kills by Wright, Kirkby, and Grace Shepherd to grab an early 7-4 lead in the opening set. With the score 10-7, the Wildcats ripped off a 12-5 run—Wright, Shepherd, Kirkby, and Kelley Jacome all delivering kills—to open up a 10-point advantage at 22-12. East Bay tried to battle back, but ran out of time as Jacome and Keeve teamed on a block and Jacome delivered a kill for the final points in the 'Cats' 25-16 win.
In the second set, Chico State fashioned a quick 8-6 lead, but the Pioneers were able to reverse the momentum, scoring 15 of the next 23 points to go up 21-16. The Wildcats rallied, and kills by Shepherd, Kirkby, and Wright, plus a Wright/Kirkby combo block, knotted up the contest at 23-all. East Bay regained its composure and posted the next two points to come away with the match-tying 25-23 victory.
The Pioneers never trailed in the third set, and steadily built a sizeable 19-12 lead. An Esti Wilson ace and late kills by Wright, Keeve, and Jacome pulled the Wildcats to within 22-20, but an East Bay kill and two Chico State errors were all the Pioneers needed to put the finishing touches on the 25-20 win to take control of the match.
The 'Cats, in danger of losing for the first time at home this season, successfully tied things up by taking the fourth set. Chico State led from wire to wire, and with the score 10-8 went on an 9-3 run—Banda coming through with a pair of aces, while Kirkby and Wright each floored a pair of winners—to put the Wildcats up 19-11. East Bay could get no closer than six points the rest of the way, and Chico State cruised to the 25-18 victory to set up the fifth and deciding set.
Kills by Jacome, Wright, Ono, and Kirkby powered Chico State to a 4-1 lead early in the fifth set, but the Pioneers answered by scoring six of the next eight points to slip in front 7-6. The Wildcats tied the decider courtesy of a Wright kill, then took the lead for good on an East Bay miscue. The Pioneers refused to roll over, however, and with the 'Cats up 13-10, scored on back-to-back plays to make it a one-point contest. A Kirkby kill gave Chico State a two-point cushion, but East Bay was able to survive match point to once again pull to within one. The Wildcats called time out, and drew up a play that they executed to perfection. Fittingly, Wright received a picture-perfect set by Ono and proceeded to slam the ball to the hardwood, giving Chico State the 15-13 and the match victory.
The Wildcats are right back in action this weekend, wrapping up their three-match Acker Gym home stand with contests against Sonoma State Friday at 7 p.m., followed by a 5 p.m. tilt Saturday versus Humboldt State.
