The Chico State volleyball team has returned following its season-opening trip to Hawaii, but won't be home for long—the Wildcats are immediately packing their bags this week for another road trip to wrap up the non-conference portion of their 2019 schedule. The 'Cats will be in Southern California this Thursday through Saturday to take part in the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, taking place at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla.
 
Chico State will play two matches on Thursday, taking on Montana State Billings at 10 a.m. and Saint Martin's at 5:30 p.m. Friday the Wildcats face Academy of Art at 12 noon, and conclude the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against Concordia Irvine.
 
All four matches will be streamed live on the Internet, with links available on the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats will also be available online.
 
Chico State is 1-3 on the young season. The Wildcats opened the Hawaii Challenge in positive fashion, downing Minot State on Thursday. On Friday the 'Cats battled throughout two grueling five-set matches, dropping decisions to Hawaii Hilo and Hawaii Pacific. In Saturday's tournament finale, Chaminade defeated Chico State in three sets.
 
Despite the lack of wins, several Wildcats produced some impressive numbers during the Hawaii Challenge. Senior middle hitter Kim Wright racked up 61 kills, 18 blocks, and 43 digs over the four matches, and currently leads the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in kills while ranking in the conference's top 10 in kills per set (3.39) and points per set (4.19). Wright, who floored a career-best 28 kills Friday against Hawaii Pacific, is 12th among all Division II hitters in kills and 20th in total blocks.
 
Junior middle Makaela Keeve collected 55 kills, nine blocks and three service aces, and set a new career high with 21 kills versus Hawaii Pacific. Senior outside hitter Bekah Boyle contributed 33 kills, with sophomore outside Gretta Kirkby adding 29 kills to the 'Cats' attack.
 
Freshman setter Brooke Ono doled out 170 assists at the Hawaii Challenge, and after one week at the college level leads the CCAA in assists, and assists per set (9.44), and ranks ninth in the nation in total assists. She also paced the 'Cats with five service aces.
 
Here are thumbnail descriptions of the Wildcats' upcoming opponents in the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase:
 
Montana State Billings (Thursday, 10 a.m.)

• The Yellowjackets dropped three of four last week to open the 2019 season at the Chadron State Tournament in Chadron, Nebraska.
• Montana State Billings posted a 13-17 record in 2018, and were 7-13 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).
• Chico State has won both of the prior two meetings with Montana State Billings. The last time the two teams met was August 29, 2008, when the Wildcats swept the Yellowjackets at the Seawolf Spike Tournament in Rohnert Park.

 
Saint Martin's (Thursday, 5:30 p.m.)

• The Saints are 0-5 on the young season, having come up empty last weekend at the Cougar Classic in San Marcos.
• Saint Martin's was 4-22 overall in 2018, and 2-18 in the GNAC.
• This will mark the first time the two schools have met on the volleyball court in 10 years. Chico State, which holds a 4-1 edge in the all-time series, beat the Saints in the last meeting September 4, 2009 at the California Clash in San Francisco.

 
Academy of Art (Friday, 12 noon)

• The Urban Knights enter the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase with an 0-3 record. Academy of Art lost all of its matches last weekend at the Toro Classic in Carson.
• The Urban Knights are trying to rebound from a 1-29 season from a year ago, finishing with a record of 1-21 in the Pacific West Conference.
• Chico State is 3-0 all-time versus Academy of Art. Last season, the Wildcats swept the Urban Knights August 24, 2018 at the NorCal Volleyball Classic in Turlock.

 
Concordia Irvine (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.)

• The Eagles had a great start to their 2019 season, winning three of four over the weekend at the Point Loma Seaside Invitational in San Diego.
• Concordia Irvine was 10-20 last year, and sported a 9-13 record in the Pac West Conference.
• The Wildcats and Eagles have only met twice on the volleyball court, with each team claiming a win. Chico State took the last meeting in four sets September 8, 2017 during the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase in Anchorage, Alaska.