The home opener for any sports team is always a big event. The fans gather for the first time to get their initial in-season look at the new squad, while the team itself is anxious to play their best in front of its ardent supporters. The Chico State volleyball team made its 2019 debut at Acker Gym a memorable one for all concerned Friday night, taking three tight contests from Cal State Monterey Bay and sweeping past the Otters 26-24, 25-21, 25-22.
Chico State registered its second straight victory—both sweeps—and fifth in the last six outings to improve to 6-4 on the season and 2-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Monterey Bay dropped its third consecutive decision to slip to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in CCAA play.
The Wildcats once again delivered some outstanding defense, giving their hitters plenty of scoring opportunities. Bekah Boyle and Makaela Keeve led a balanced Chico State offensive attack with 10 kills apiece, with Keeve adding four blocks to her stat line. Kim Wright and Grace Shepherd each contributed nine kills on the night, with Esti Wilson landing four service aces. Brooke Ono dished out 31 assists for the victorious 'Cats, while Brooke Fogel led all players with 16 digs.
Chico State used aces by Shepherd and Wright and back-to-back combo blocks by Keeve and Evelyn Clonts to jump out to a 7-3 lead in the first set, but Monterey Bay caught the 'Cats at 11-all and steadily built a 24-20 lead. The Wildcats fought back and stole the victory by surviving four set points (Boyle and Keeve providing key kills), and with the scored tied at 24-all, kills by Keeve and Boyle completed the late 6-0 run that gave Chico State the 26-24 victory.
The second set was another tight contest, with kills by Clonts, Keeve, and Boyle putting the Wildcats in front early 5-3. After the Otters knotted up the set at 7-apiece, Chico State went on a 10-5 run—powered by kills from Wright, Keeve, Boyle, and Lauren Voelker— to go up 17-12. Monterey Bay could get no closer than three points the rest of the way, and though the Otters survived three set points, Keeve finally landed the kill that gave the 'Cats the 25-21 win.
Monterey Bay was quick out of the blocks in the third set, fashioning an early 11-9 advantage. The Wildcats stormed back to take an 18-15 lead courtesy of a 9-4 run—Wilson delivered two service aces, while Ono, Shepherd, and Wright each floored kills. The Otters tallied six of the next eight points to go up 21-20, only to see the 'Cats once again mount a late rally. A Shepherd/Wright block, a Wilson ace, and two Monterey Bay miscues gave Chico State a 24-22 lead, and Wright promptly applied the exclamation point with a thundering kill that gave the Wildcats the 25-22 victory and the match sweep.
Chico State is back in action next weekend, traveling to the Bay Area for road tilts against Cal State East Bay Friday, and San Francisco State on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.
