The Chico State volleyball team is nearing the end of the 2021 campaign, and with a possible postseason berth still in play, the Wildcats know they have to make their final two home matches of the season count. The 'Cats hold court at Acker Gym this weekend, looking to string together a pair of much-needed "W's" as they take on Humboldt State Friday and Sonoma State on Saturday. Both matches are slated to start at 5 p.m.
 
Fans unable to attend the matches in person can follow the action online via 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.
 
Saturday is also Senior Night, with the Wildcats celebrating the careers of Lizzie Wilson, Ali Collins, Kennedy Greenwood, Makenzie Salva, Kelley Jacome, and Makaela Keeve during special pre-match festivities.
 

This weekend marks the second time the 'Cats will square off against the Lumberjacks and Seawolves this season. Chico State lost in three sets to Sonoma State back on September 24, but rebounded by sweeping Humboldt State September 25 in Arcata.
 
Chico State enters the week 8-14 on the season. The Wildcats split two home matches last weekend, sweeping Cal State East Bay Friday before dropping a four-set decision Saturday to Cal State San Marcos.
 
Despite being tied for eighth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 4-10 conference record, the Wildcats are still in the hunt for one of the six CCAA Tournament berths. The road to the postseason is not a simple one for the 'Cats—Chico State has to win all four of their remaining matches and get some outside help over the next two weeks to vault over Cal State Monterey Bay, Stanislaus State and Sonoma State to secure sixth place in the standings.
 
The Wildcats have shown they have the weapons necessary to run the table, with Keeve (276 kills), Wilson (198 kills), Jacome (194 kills), and Zoe DiNardo (160 kills) providing the majority of the offensive firepower.
 
Keeve remains one of the point producers in the CCAA, leading the conference in points per set (4.46) and ranking second in blocks (75) and blocks per set (0.94), third in service aces (34) and aces per set (0.43), fourth in kills, and fifth in kills per set (3.45).
 
Brooke Ono is second among CCAA setters in assists (772) and fourth in assists per set (9.77). Greenwood ranks fourth in the conference in aces (32) and aces per set (0.41), and is ninth in the conference in digs (227).
 
Humboldt State, the Wildcats' Friday night opponent, is 3-14 on the year and 2-12 in CCAA play. The Lumberjacks, eliminated from postseason play, have lost their last eight matches and 11 of the last 12 decisions—the lone win coming via a Cal State Monterey Bay forfeiture on October 2. Humboldt State's last on-court win was September 18 against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
The Lumberjacks' offense is led by junior middle blocker Lindsey McLaughlin (129 kills/16 aces/42 blocks), senior middle blocker Hannah Cantrell (105 kills/47 blocks), and freshman outside hitter Anna Hospodar (101 kills).
 
Chico State has won the last nine meetings with Humboldt State and leads the all-time series 47-12. The Wildcats have not lost to the Lumberjacks in Acker Gym since 2011.
 
Sonoma State, which comes to Chico Saturday following a Friday matchup against Stanislaus State, is 9-11 overall but in sixth place in the CCAA with a 7-6 conference mark. The Seawolves currently control their own postseason destiny, but are looking to snap a three-match losing streak. Sonoma State lost a pair of road tilts last weekend, bowing to San Francisco State in five sets before being swept by Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
Senior outside hitter Kiana Richardson leads four Sonoma State hitters with triple-digit kills on the season, flooring 225 winners while contributing 33 blocks. Senior outside Emily Eaton (203 kills), junior outside Amy Trephan (135 kills), and junior middle Jessie Hobbs (117 kills) constitute the bulk of the Seawolves' offense, while sophomore middle Leilani Hallman boasts 96 kills and a team-high 60 blocks.
 
Sonoma State has the edge in the all-time series between the two teams, winning 46 of 76 decisions versus Chico State. The Wildcats have only beaten the Seawolves once at home since 2013.