TURLOCK—The first of two straight matches against Stanislaus State began in very positive fashion for the Chico State volleyball team Wednesday in Turlock. The host Warriors were committing errors by the truckload, and the Wildcats took full advantage, building a sizeable first set lead. Stanislaus State, however, was somehow able to flip the switch and not only swipe the opening set from the 'Cats, but continue to roll through the next two sets to sweep Chico State 25-23, 25-20, 25-19.
 
Wednesday's loss dropped Chico State to 6-11 on the season and 2-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Stanislaus State improved to 9-8 overall and 5-4 in CCAA play.
 
Makaela Keeve led the Chico State offense with 15 kills, with Lizzie Wilson contributing 10 winners to the 'Cats' attack. Brooke Ono posted 31 assists, two service aces, and seven digs on the evening, while Kennedy Greenwood floored a pair of aces and recorded a team-high 10 digs.
 
Aided by five Stanislaus State miscues, Chico State raced out to a 10-4 lead in the first set. A Greenwood ace and kills by Keeve, Wilson, and Zoe DiNardo, combined with five more Warriors errors, gave the 'Cats a seemingly comfortable 20-14 advantage. But Stanislaus State suddenly tightened up its game, going on an 11-3 run down the stretch—a Kelley Jacome kill and a Jacome/Bree Rodriguez combo block serving as the lone Chico State-generated points during that span—to post a come-from-behind 25-23 victory.
 
The two teams split the first 12 points of the second set, with the 'Cats scoring on an Ono ace and kills by Wilson and Keeve. With the score knotted up at 6-all, the Warriors tallied the next three points and would not relinquish the lead for the rest of the set. Chico State kept battling—kills by Keeve, Jacome, and Wilson kept the Wildcat offense alive to whittle the deficit to one at 21-20. Stanislaus State scuttled the 'Cats' late comeback attempt by reeling off four straight points to win the set 25-20.
 
The third set was a tightly played, back-and-forth affair early on, with neither team building bigger than a two-point lead. The Warriors led 13-11 when Chico State went on a productive 8-2 run—a Keeve ace, a Wilson/Rodriguez combo block, and kills by Keeve, Rodriguez, Wilson, and Jacome putting the Wildcats on top 19-15. Unfortunately for the 'Cats, they would not score again. Stanislaus State ended things on a blistering 10-0 run, once again coming from behind to beat the Wildcats 25-19 and complete the match sweep.    
 
The Wildcats and Warriors square off again Friday, this time in the friendly confines of Acker Gym, to wrap up the week's home-and-home series. First serve is slated for 5 p.m. Fans unable to attend can follow the action online via live streaming video and Live Stats; links are available on the Chico State volleyball schedule page and home page calendar on the Wildcat Athletics website, at chicowildcats.com.
 
Friday is also Pack the Pantry Night at Acker Gym to benefit the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry. Fans are being asked to bring a non-perishable food item to the match or make a cash donation to help aid the Pantry's efforts to distribute more than 50 tons of food this academic year to an estimated four-thousand Chico State students who experience low to very low food security.