The Chico State volleyball team has battled through a bumpy October, but based on its outstanding effort Friday night against Cal State East Bay, the Wildcats appear to have every intention of finishing off the month with a bang. The 'Cats strung together a solid opening set, a late come-from-behind victory in the second set, and a wire-to-wire win in the third set to post a match sweep of the visiting Pioneers at Acker Gym.
 
Heading into the contest—the first of four straight home matches for the Wildcats—Chico State had dropped six of eight decisions in the month of October. On Friday, though, the 'Cats came out firing and never stopped, collecting the team's second home win of the season as well as avenging an October 2 loss to Cal State East Bay in Hayward.
 
With the win, the Wildcats improved to 8-13 on the season and 4-9 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State East Bay dropped its fourth straight decision to slip to 8-13 overall and 3-10 in conference play.
 
Chico State featured a very balanced offensive attack, with Makaela Keeve and Zoe DiNardo leading the way with 11 kills apiece. Keeve and Bree Rodriguez also registered four blocks on the defensive end. Lizzie Wilson racked up eight kills, while Kelley Jacome floored seven winners and added three blocks.
 
Brooke Ono piled up 37 assists and chipped in with four kills for the 'Cats, with Kennedy Greenwood scoring a pair of service aces while posting a match-high 10 digs. Gretta Kirkby also came off the Chico State bench to contribute a pair of aces.
 
In the opening set, the Wildcats snapped a 5-all tie by reeling off five unanswered points, highlighted by a Greenwood ace, a Jacome/Rodriguez combo block, and kills from Jacome and DiNardo. Cal State East Bay hung around, pulling to within 19-17, but Chico State—fueled by a Jacome/Keeve combo block and kills from DiNardo, Jacome, and Keeve—finished off the set on a 6-1 run to win the set going away 25-18.
 
The Pioneers looked to even the match in the second set, and it looked like they would do just that, leading nearly the entire way. Despite three early kills by Jacome and two each from Ono and Keeve, the Wildcats were looking up a 20-15 deficit. East Bay maintained that five point lead and had Chico State at set point 24-19, but the 'Cats rose up and stunned the Pioneers by ripping off seven straight points—East Bay committed four miscues, Wilson and Rodriguez blasted kills, and an Ono/Rodriguez block put the final nail in the coffin as the Wildcats scored the come-from-behind 26-24 victory.
 
Chico State rode that momentum into what turned out to be the evening's final set, using a Kirkby ace, an Ono/Keeve block, and kills by Ono and DiNardo to jump out to an 8-1 lead. It was now Cal State East Bay's turn to play catch-up, and the Wildcats successfully kept the Pioneers at bay thanks to four Wilson kills, a Greenwood ace, a Keeve solo block, and single kills by Keeve, DiNardo, Rodriguez, and Jacome. Down 24-18, the Pioneers were able to survive three match points, but Keeve closed things out with a thundering kill that cemented the 'Cats' 25-21 victory and the match sweep.  
 
The Wildcats are back at Acker Gym Saturday, hosting the Cougars of Cal State San Marcos (11-8, 8-5 CCAA), with first serve slated for 5 p.m. Fans unable to attend the match in person can follow the action on the Internet with live streaming video and Live Stats. The online links are posted on the Chico State volleyball schedule page and home page calendar on the Wildcat Athletics website, at chicowildcats.com.