Cal State San Marcos may have come away with the win Saturday, but the Chico State volleyball team made sure that the Cougars had to work for every last point. The Wildcats, looking to secure a sweep of its weekend homestand, dug themselves a two-set hole before taking the third set and battling back from a 24-17 deficit to nearly swipe an epic fourth set in a 16-25, 17-25, 25-15, 27-29 loss at Acker Gym.
Saturday's loss dropped Chico State to 8-14 on the year and 4-10 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State San Marcos posted its third straight win to improve to 12-8 overall and 9-5 in CCAA play.
Super seniors Makaela Keeve and Kelley Jacome were sensational for the Wildcats both offensively and defensively. Keeve collected a match-high 16 kills while adding nine digs and eight blocks; Jacome clubbed 13 kills and added four blocks. Zoe DiNardo registered nine kills plus a solo block on the night.
Brooke Ono dished out 42 assists for the 'Cats while piling up nine digs, two blocks, and a service ace. Kennedy Greenwood delivered a pair of aces and led all players with 15 digs, while Jane Mcnulty added a pair of aces to the Wildcat attack.
The two teams traded both points and leads early in Saturday's opening set. With the score deadlocked at 9-apiece, Chico State used a 5-2 run—fueled by a Mcnulty ace, a Jacome/Keeve combo block, and kills from Keeve, Ono, and DiNardo to take a 14-11 lead. Cal State San Marcos came out of a timeout and proceeded to take over the set, scoring 14 of the final 16 points and totally negating the Wildcat offense, as the Cougars cruised to a 25-16 victory.
San Marcos led wire-to-wire in the second set. The Cougars jumped out to a quick 4-0 advantage, but four Keeve kills brought the 'Cats to within 6-5. San Marcos regrouped and slowly pulled away, using a 10-3 run to build a 16-8 lead. Chico State could not get closer than five points the rest of the way, and despite late kills by Keeve, Jacome, Ono, and Bree Rodriguez, the Cougars claimed the 25-17 victory.
With their backs to the wall, the Wildcats came out firing in the third set, jumping on top 11-4 on the strength of an ace by Ono, a Keeve solo block, and kills from Keeve, Jacome, and DiNardo. San Marcos stormed back with five unanswered points to pull to within 11-9, only to see Chico State immediately return the favor with a 7-0 run—highlighted by two Greenwood aces and two kills by Jacome—to put the 'Cats up 18-9. The Wildcats pushed the lead to 11, and though the Cougars were able to survive two set points, Chico State avoided a match sweep with a convincing 25-15 win.
The fourth set was easily the most exciting of the night, although it didn't start out that way. After splitting the first 12 points of the set, San Marcos utilized an 11-4 run to fashion a 17-10 lead. The Wildcats tried to claw their way back, but were unable to make up any ground, and they soon saw themselves staring at a 24-17 deficit and match point.
But the set wasn't over by a long shot. The 'Cats dug deep to reel off seven straight points—Ali Collins produced an ace, Keeve and Jacome hammered home kills, and Keeve and Gretta Kirkby delivered back-to-back combo blocks—pulling Chico State even with the Cougars at 24-all.
The Wildcats survived two more match points and briefly went ahead 27-26 on a kill by DiNardo. But San Marcos spoiled Chico State's exciting comeback bid by scoring the next three points and escaping with the 29-27 set win and the match victory.
Chico State will play its final two regular season home matches next weekend. The Wildcats welcome Humboldt State to Acker Gym Friday, November 5, then host Sonoma State on Senior Night Saturday the 6th. Both matches are scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
