Saturday evening began with a warm, feel-good atmosphere as the Chico State volleyball team honored its six senior players prior to their last-ever match at Acker Gym. What followed, however, couldn't have been more opposite. The Wildcats and Sonoma State locked horns for a grinding, emotionally exhausting five-set spectacular, with the Seawolves putting a damper on the Senior Night excitement by edging the 'Cats 25-19, 19-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-12.
For Chico State, Saturday's setback officially eclipsed its slim chances of earning a postseason bid, as the Wildcats dipped to 9-15 on the year and 5-11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Sonoma State evened its overall record at 11-11 and tightened its grip on a conference tournament berth, improving to 9-6 in CCAA play.
Kelley Jacome hammered home 14 kills to lead the Wildcats' offense, while also adding a service ace and a career-high eight blocks. Makaela Keeve registered nine kills, six blocks, and 14 digs, with Lizzie Wilson contributing eight kills and a solo block. Bree Rodriguez notched career highs with eight kills and seven blocks.
Brooke Ono collected 38 assists, 13 digs, and three blocks for the 'Cats, and Kennedy Greenwood racked up a team-high 21 digs, six assists, two kills, and a pair of aces.
The night's opening set was a nip-and-tuck affair that featured eight tie scores and five lead changes. Sonoma State jumped out to a 6-3 lead, only to see Chico State score seven of the next 10 points—highlighted by a Greenwood ace and kills from Wilson and Rodriguez—to go up 10-9. The Wildcats were still on top 13-12 when the Seawolves took control of the contest by putting together a 10-2 and forging a 22-15 lead. Late kills by Jacome and Rodriguez were not enough to keep Sonoma from taking the set 25-19.
Powered by five Keeve kills, the 'Cats bounced back to win the second set. The two teams were knotted up at 11-apiece when Chico State fashioned an 12-5 run—Ono and Gretta Kirkby floored aces, Keeve and Rodriguez contributed kills, and Ono and Keeve teamed up for a pair of blocks—to race out to a 23-16 lead. Rodriguez ended the set with a thunderous kill, giving the Wildcats the 25-19 victory.
Set three was the Wildcats' for the taking, and thanks to another Greenwood ace, a Keeve/Ono combo block, and kills by Jacome, Rodriguez, DiNardo, Greenwood, Keeve, and Wilson, Chico State staked itself to a 17-15 lead. Sonoma State had other ideas, however, and closed out the set on a 10-2 run to win going away 25-19.
The Wildcats played catch-up for most of the fourth set, but overcame a 14-11 deficit by scoring five unanswered points—Kirkby delivered an ace, while Keeve, Ono, and Wilson registered kills—to put Chico State on top 16-14. The Seawolves rallied to regain the lead at 20-19, but the 'Cats dug deep when they needed to most—a solo block by Rodriguez and four kills by Jacome capped off a 6-2 run down the stretch, giving Chico State a 25-22 victory to force a fifth and deciding set.
Sonoma State broke out to a 5-1 lead in the final set, and despite four more kills from Jacome, the Wildcats were never able to catch up. Chico State whittled the deficit to 10-8 but could not get any closer, as three late kills by Kiana Richardson gave the Seawolves the 15-12 win and the hard-fought match victory.
Saturday's loss did not diminish from the pure joy of the night's opening ceremony honoring Chico State seniors Lizzie Wilson, Ali Collins, Kennedy Greenwood, Makenzie Salva, Kelley Jacome, and Makaela Keeve, who joined with teammates and loved ones prior to the match to reflect on the numerous achievements throughout their Wildcat careers.
Chico State wraps up regular season play on the road next week. Friday the Wildcats will be in Southern California to take on No. 21 Cal Poly Pomona (20-3, 13-3 CCAA), followed by a Saturday matchup with No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino (19-3, 14-0 CCAA). Both matches are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
