Twenty minutes into its Friday match against Cal State LA, it looked to all in attendance that the Chico State volleyball team was savoring the home atmosphere at Acker Gym, ripping off an impressive opening set victory. Unfortunately, that good feeling didn't stick around long, as the visiting Golden Eagles rebounded to win three hard-fought sets and hand the Wildcats a 25-20, 23-25, 17-25, 21-25 setback.
 
Chico State dropped its third straight decision to slip to 5-10 on the season and 1-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Friday's victory boosted Cal State LA's overall record to 9-5 and 5-2 in conference play.
 
Makaela Keeve turned in another multifaceted performance Friday, leading all players with 18 kills while adding four blocks, four service aces, two assists, and nine digs. Kelley Jacome and birthday girl Lizzie Wilson had eight kills apiece, with Zoe DiNardo adding a half-dozen kills to the Wildcats' attack.
 
Brooke Ono dished out 37 assists and posted nine digs for the 'Cats, while Ali Collins collected eight digs in the contest.
 
Chico State rode two Kennedy Greenwood aces, a Wilson/Keeve combo block, and kills by DiNardo, Keeve, and Wilson to jump out to a 7-3 lead in the opening set. Cal State LA knotted things up at 9-all, but the Wildcats immediately went back in front courtesy of a DiNardo kill and a Keeve/Jacome combo block. With the score tied at 13-apiece, the 'Cats used a Keeve kill to establish another lead—and this time, the Golden Eagles could not catch up. Late in the contest, it was still anyone's set, but with Chico State up 21-20, the Wildcats used kills by Keeve and Wilson to spearhead a 4-0 run down the stretch to post the 25-20 victory.
 
Set number two was a see-saw affair that saw five lead changes and 12 tie scores. The Wildcats led 16-15 when Cal State LA used a 9-3 run to grab a seemingly insurmountable 24-19 advantage. The Wildcats rallied, though, surviving four set points before a Karla Santos kill officially put the bow on the Golden Eagles' match-tying 25-23 victory.
 
The two teams split the first 10 points of the third set before Cal State LA once again put together a lengthy scoring run, posting 11 of the next 16 points to go up 16-10. A Wilson kill and two Golden Eagles miscues helped Chico State creep to within 16-13, but that would be as close as the 'Cats would get. Despite two late kills by Bree Rodriguez, Cal State LA utilized a 9-4 run to win the set going away 25-17.
 
The Wildcats took command early in the fourth set, forging a 10-8 lead on the strength of aces by Wilson and Ono, and kills from Keeve, Jacome, Ono, and Wilson. Thanks to kills by DiNardo and Keeve, Chico State increased its lead to 16-12, only to see the Golden Eagles score nine of the next 11 points to zoom out in front 21-18. Late kills by Keeve, Rodriguez, and Wilson kept the 'Cats alive, but their comeback attempt fell just short as Cal State LA prevailed 25-21 to win the set and the match.
 
The Wildcats are right back in action Saturday at 5 p.m., as they host the Toros of Cal State Dominguez HillsiHiH at Acker Gym. Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action with live streaming video and Live Stats available online. The links are available on the Chico State volleyball schedule page and home page calendar on the Wildcat Athletics website, at chicowildcats.com.