The Chico State volleyball team received a healthy—and much-needed—dose of home cooking last week, playing three matches in the friendly confines of Acker Gym. The Wildcats have one road contest scheduled this week, and it's an important one in their quest to return to postseason play. The 'Cats will be in Seaside Saturday to take on the Otters of Cal State Monterey Bay, with the match getting underway at 7 p.m. at The Kelp Bed.
Fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
Chico State enters the week 9-6 on the season and in a tie with Stanislaus State atop the CCAA North Division standings with a 5-2 conference mark. The Wildcats won twice during last week's three-match home stand, bookending a four-set loss Friday to Sonoma State with wins Tuesday over Cal State East Bay and Saturday against Humboldt State.
The 'Cats, sporting a 6-5 road record on the year, have a chance for a season sweep of Cal State Monterey Bay. Chico State won the first meeting of 2019, sweeping the Otters September 20 at Acker Gym.
The Wildcats remain the top team in the CCAA in both kills (809) and assists (761). Individually, Kim Wright leads all conference players with 215 kills, while ranking second in kills per set (3.58) and points per set (4.40), and eighth in hitting percentage (.337).
Brooke Ono ranks as the No. 1 setter in the CCAA, leading the conference in assists (616) and assists per set (10.81). Brooke Fogel ranks sixth in the CCAA in digs (203) and digs per set (3.69).
Cal State Monterey Bay, which takes on the Wildcats following a Friday contest against Stanislaus State, is 5-10 overall and in seventh place in the CCAA North Division with a 1-7 conference record. The Otters, who have played just two home matches so far this season, have lost four straight entering the week, including road losses last weekend to UC San Diego and Cal State San Marcos.
Junior Jenna Tobin ranks among the top hitters in the CCAA, with 176 kills and a 3.14 kills-per-set average. Junior outside Baylie Pearson and freshman outside Kaylie Honberger have combined for 229 kills and 85 blocks, while junior outside hitter Hannah Haveman leads the Otters with 52 blocks on the year.
Chico State and Cal State Monterey Bay have split the last four meetings, with 11 of the last 20 matches dating back to 2009 having gone the full five sets. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 26-5.
