LA JOLLA—The Chico State volleyball team's latest road trip may not be as exotic and glamorous as last week's season-opening sojourn to Hawaii, but the Wildcats' stay in San Diego for the D2 West Region Showcase has certainly helped every player step up their game. The 'Cats delivered back-to-back sweeps in Thursday's first day tournament action, downing Montana State Billings 25-16, 25-15, 25-21, and Saint Martin's 25-17, 25-10, 25-23 at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla.
The two wins evened Chico State's record at 3-3 on the season.
Kim Wright led a finely-executed Wildcats offense, totaling 24 kills on the day to go along with four service aces, 15 digs, and seven blocks. Three other Chico State hitters notched double digit kills Thursday—Grace Shepherd and Bekah Boyle each collected a combined 21 winners, while Makaela Keeve notched 19 kills over the two matches. Brooke One dished out 74 assists, with Brooke Fogel pacing the 'Cats with a total of 28 digs.
Collectively, Chico State registered a .297 hitting percentage on the day, including an impressive .322 against Saint Martin's.
Taking on the Saints in Thursday's evening match, Chico State and Saint Martin's split the first eight points of the opening set before the 'Cats took firm control of the contest with an 11-4 run—Lauren Voelker landed multiple aces, while Wright and Shepherd delivered two kills apiece. The Saints crept to within 17-14, but the 'Cats reeled off eight of the final 11 points—highlighted by another Voelker ace and kills from Wright, Shepherd, Boyle, and Evelyn Clonts—to cruise to the 25-17 victory.
Keeve set the tone in the second set, as her four early kills helped stake Chico State to a 5-0 lead. Saint Martin's would never recover—the Wildcats used kills by Wright, Shepherd, Boyle, and Keeve, plus a pair of Keeve/Clonts combo blocks to rip off a 14-5 run and stretch their advantage to 22-8. A Boyle kill and another Keeve/Clonts combo block sealed the deal, with the 'Cats taking the 25-10 decision.
The third set was a back-and-forth affair. A Boyle kill and an ace by Wright put Chico State briefly on top, only to see Saint Martin's battle back to go up 12-11. The Wildcats scored eight of the next 12 points—Wright and Esti Wilson provided aces, with Wright, Boyle, and Shepherd knocking down kills—to take a 19-16 lead. Again the Saints clawed back, knotting up the contest. With the score 22-all, the 'Cats went back on top thanks to a kill by Wright and a Saint Martin's miscue. The Saints survived one match point, but Wright ended the evening with the kill that gave Chico State the 25-23 victory and the match sweep.
In the day's opening match, the Wildcats fired out of the blocks against Montana State Billings. Service aces by Wilson and Wright, plus kills by Shepherd, Boyle, and Keeve powered Chico State to an 11-4 lead in the first set. The 'Cats were never seriously threatened, though the Yellowjackets did pull to within 18-14. The Wildcats responded with a 7-2 run to win the set going away 25-16.
The 'Cats trailed 3-2 early in the second set before taking command of the contest with a 10-1 run—Wright delivered three kills, an ace and a solo block during the stretch, while Shepherd, Keeve, and Ono also floored winners, putting Chico State on top 12-4. Montana State Billings crept to within five at 17-12, but the 'Cats doubled their lead courtesy of kills by Shepherd and a Wright/Ono combo block to go up 23-13. Boyle and Keeve collected the final two points to lock down Chico State's 25-15 victory.
Determined to avoid a match sweep, Montana State Billings used a 6-1 run to jump out to a 10-6 lead in the third set. The Yellowjackets still held a four point advantage at 15-11 when the Wildcats made their move: kills by Shepherd, Wright, Boyle, Keeves, and Clonts, combined with an ace by Ono, knotted up the contest at 19-all. Montana State Billings went back on top 20-19, only to see the 'Cats close things out with a 6-1 run—two kills each by Wright and Boyle, one by Shepherd, and an ace by Fogel, gave Chico State the 25-21 set win and the match victory.
Chico State plays a single match Friday during the second day of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. The Wildcats will take on Academy of Art at 12 noon; fans can follow the action online with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
