The 2021 season didn't result in as many wins as the Chico State volleyball team had hoped, but Head Coach Tommy Gott oversaw a program that was always prepared, and its players always ready to compete. Cal State San Bernardino, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular season champ, found that out first hand Saturday as the Wildcats refused to roll over in the regular season finale. The 'Cats came out swinging and fought tooth and nail throughout the match, but the No. 3-ranked Coyotes were still able to come away with a 25-21, 25-19, 25-12 victory at Coussoulis Arena.
The loss officially ends Chico State's season with an overall record of 9-17 (5-13 in the CCAA). Cal State San Bernardino, which moves on to next week's conference tournament and a certain NCAA Championship Tournament berth, improved to 23-3 on the year and a perfect 18-0 in CCAA play.
Makaela Keeve was one again the Wildcats' top producer on offense, collecting 11 kills Saturday while adding a pair of blocks. Bree Rodriguez contributed five kills and four blocks, with Kelley Jacome producing five kills and three blocks.
Brooke Ono dished out 24 assists for the 'Cats, and Kennedy Greenwood racked up a team-high 15 digs. Ali Collins chipped in with a pair of service aces.
Chico State gave San Bernardino all it could handle in the evening's opening set. The Coyotes led most of the way, but they couldn't shake the Wildcats. Down 9-5, the 'Cats used an 8-4 run—Collins flooring a pair of aces and Ono, Keeve, and Zoe DiNardo posting kills during the stretch—to tie things up at 13-apiece. San Bernardino went back up 18-14, only to see the Wildcats catch them at 21-all on the strength of a Jacome ace, two Jacome/Bree Rodriguez combo blocks, and kills by Jacome, Rodriguez, and Zoe DiNardo. Unfortunately for the 'Cats, the Coyotes successfully regrouped, scoring the set's final four points to win 25-21.
Set two saw the Wildcats fall behind early, forcing Chico State to play catch-up the rest of the way. The 'Cats cut San Bernardino's 13-5 lead in half with a 5-1 run, fueled by a Greenwood ace, a kill and a solo block from Rodriguez, and a Keeve/DiNardo combo block. But with the score 14-10, the Coyotes steadily expanded their lead by scoring 10 of the next 16 points to go up 24-16. Chico State survived three set points—Rodriguez and Jacome providing late kills—but San Bernardino was finally able to put the contest away, winning 25-19.
The third set was all Coyotes, who scored the first seven points and quickly built a 15-8 lead. Already down two sets, the Wildcats could've folded up their tent and mailed it in, but credit the 'Cats with continuing to battle. Jacome, Wilson, and Keeve came through with kills, but it wouldn't be enough to keep San Bernardino from rolling to the victory. The Coyotes tallied 10 of the last 14 points to secure the 25-12 victory and the match sweep.
Though Chico State missed out on postseason play, the Wildcats can feel good knowing the 2021 campaign provided plenty of positive takeaways. Brooke Ono, who will return to the 'Cats next season, once again established herself as one of the top setters in the West Region, and the future looks especially bright with Bree Rodriguez, Zoe DiNardo, and Jane Mcnulty also set to return in 2022.
The promise of tomorrow is bittersweet, though, as Lizzie Wilson, Ali Collins, Kennedy Greenwood, Makenzie Salva, Kelley Jacome, and Makaela Keeve all played Saturday for the final time in their Wildcat careers.
In her lone season at Chico State, Wilson crushed 227 kills from her outside hitter position. Greenwood set new career single-season highs in 2021 with 279 digs and 35 service aces. Jacome finished her solid Wildcat career with 663 kills and 170 blocks.
Keeve, who has carved a permanent place for herself in the Chico State record books, will be especially missed. In addition to 999 kills, Keeve wrapped up her Wildcat career ranked third in program history in both blocks (344) and block assists (289), and sixth all-time in solo blocks (55).
