After two weeks of tournament play in the Bay Area, the Chico State volleyball team will finally get to compete in the friendly confines of Acker Gym this weekend. The Wildcats officially open California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play facing a pair of major challenges in their home-opening weekend, taking on defending conference and NCAA Division II champion Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, followed by a Saturday showdown with undefeated Cal Poly Pomona. Both matches are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.
Friday's contest against the Coyotes marks the first time Chico State will play in its home gym since November 9, 2019.
Fans can follow the action online via streaming video and Live Stats, with the links available on the Chico State volleyball schedule page and home page calendar on the Wildcat Athletics website, at
chicowildcats.com.
Chico State enters play with a 4-4 record on the season and looking to snap a three-match losing streak. The Wildcats dropped three of four decisions in last weekend's Seawolf/Gator Classic, beating Humboldt State Friday before ending the day with a four-set loss to Sonoma State. Saturday the 'Cats fell in back-to-back matches to San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay.
Wildcat senior middle Makaela Keeve is ranked among the top hitters in the CCAA. She leads the conference in points per set (4.64), is second in kills per set (3.86), and third in total kills (112).
Brooke Ono is second among CCAA setters in assists (302) and third in assist per set (10.41).
Cal State San Bernardino visits Acker Gym Friday sporting a 5-3 record on the season. The 2019 CCAA and national champion Coyotes have played in two high-profile tournaments to begin the year and are currently ranked No. 14 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Top 25 national poll.
San Bernardino split its four matches last weekend at the Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver. The Coyotes fell to No. 22 Rockhurst (Mo.) University and No. 4 Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), but registered five-set victories over Texas A&M University-Commerce and No. 17 Western Washington.
The Coyotes are led by senior outside hitter Alexis Cardoza. The 2019 NCAA Division II and CCAA Player of the Year has gotten off to another hot start in the 2021 campaign, ranking second in the conference with 123 kills, is third in kills per set (3.84), and third in points per set (4.30).
Cal State San Bernardino has dominated the all-time series against Chico State, winning 48 of 51 matches since 1994. The last time the Wildcats topped the Coyotes was a match sweep October 1, 2016 at Acker Gym.
Cal Poly Pomona, which takes on the 'Cats Saturday following a Friday match in Turlock against Stanislaus State, is also nationally ranked, sharing the No. 25 spot on the AVCA Coaches Poll. The Broncos enter the week with an unblemished 7-0 record, dropping just four sets in victories last weekend against Point Loma, Northwest Nazarene, Fresno Pacific, and Westminster College (Utah) during the SoCal Freeway Challenge.
Ponoma holds a 28-19 advantage in the all-time series with Chico State, but the two teams have played pretty evenly in recent years, splitting their last eight matches since the end of the 2013 season.
Health and Safety Protocols
Thank you for supporting our student-athletes! Please be aware of the following health and safety measures for intercollegiate athletic events held on the campus of Chico State:
- Venue capacity is limited to 50% of the listed capacity for each facility.
- Spectators must follow campus health and safety guidelines: symptom check and mask indoors; mask outdoors where physical distancing cannot be achieved.
- Spectators will be limited to seating areas (bleachers and stands).
- At the end of the competition, spectators are asked to leave the venue immediately and wait outside the venue to greet participants.
- No spectators are allowed in team areas, including the playing area, bench, hallways, athletic training room, locker rooms, etc.
