Following two weeks of travel and tournament play, the Chico State volleyball team is ready to enter the all-important California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference season. The Wildcats begin the week in Turlock Wednesday, taking on a talented Stanislaus State squad at 7 p.m. The 'Cats then return to Acker Gym Friday at 7 p.m. for the team's home season opener against Cal State Monterey Bay.
Fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats, via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video is also available for both matches.
Chico State comes into CCAA play with a 4-4 season record. The Wildcats are fresh off a successful trip to Southern California, going 3-1 in the D2 West Region Showcase in La Jolla. The 'Cats swept Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's, and disposed of Academy of Art in four sets before dropping a hard-fought five-set decision to Concordia Irvine on Saturday.
The Wildcats currently lead the CCAA in kills (428), and rank 14th among all Division II programs nationwide. Chico State's 408 assists not only tops the 13 conference teams, but is eighth-best in the nation.
Individually, Kim Wright is No. 1 among CCAA hitters in kills (113), and ranks 24th in the nation. Wright's 35 blocks is second in the conference and No. 20 in the nation.
Freshman Brooke Ono paces all CCAA setters in assists (313) and assists per set (10.43). She also claims impressive national rankings, sitting 23rd in D-II in total assists and 35th in assists per set.
Stanislaus State, Chico State's Wednesday night opponent, is 5-2 on the young season. The Warriors—16-11 last season, earning a CCAA Championship Tournament berth—opened the 2019 campaign dropping two of three at the Dixie State Tournament, but rebounded to win four straight last weekend as part of the Turlock pod in the D2 West Region Showcase. Stanislaus swept Western Oregon, Northwest Nazarene, and Notre Dame de Namur, and needed just four sets to down Holy Names on Saturday.
The Warriors are led by junior right side hitter Yisel Perez and sophomore outside Macky Morris. The Stanislaus duo has combined for nearly 150 kills and 25 blocks in the Warriors' first seven matches.
Chico State and Stanislaus split the season series in 2018. The Wildcats took a five-set decision September 12 at Acker Gym, with the Warriors winning in five November 3 at Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock. The 'Cats have won 14 of the last 17 meetings, but have won just once in Turlock in the last four years. Chico State leads the all-time series with Stanislaus 57-16.
Cal State Monterey Bay, which visits Acker Gym following a Wednesday tilt in Aracata vs. Humboldt State, starts the week with a 4-3 season record. The Otters—16-10 a year ago and a CCAA Championship Tournament participant—split their four matches last weekend in Pomona as part of the D2 West Region Showcase, beating Seattle Pacific and Hawaii Hilo, but falling Chaminade and nationally-ranked Western Washington.
Junior outside hitter Jenna Tobin (91 kills) is Monterey Bay's primary weapon on offense, while junior outside Hannah Haveman and freshman middle Mollin Helfrich have combined for just under 100 kills and 50 blocks through the first seven matches.
The Wildcats and Otters met twice last season, with each team notching a "W": Chico State stole a road victory September 15 in Seaside, with Monterey Bay returning the favor October 5 at Acker Gym. Though the Otters have won two of the last three matches, the 'Cats own a 25-5 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.
