SAN RAFAEL—You could easily see the excitement in the player's faces as the Chico State volleyball team took the court Thursday at the Conlan Center in San Rafael. After 18 pandemic-riddled months on the sidelines, the 2021 edition of the Wildcats was bursting with unbridled energy and showed little signs of rust in their season-opening match against Dominican. The 'Cats began the three-day NorCal Kickoff in impressive fashion, notching a 25-20, 25-10, 25-23 sweep of the host Penguins.
Senior middle hitter Makaela Keeve delivered the big blows early and often for the 'Cats, finishing with a match-high 17 kills while adding nine digs and a service ace to the Chico State attack. Lizzie Wilson, playing in her first match as a Wildcat, delivered six kills, while sophomore outside hitter Zoe DiNardo made her Chico State debut by contributing four kills, seven digs, two blocks, and an ace. Senior opposite Kelley Jacome and freshman middle Bree Rodriguez chipped in with five kills apiece, with junior libero Kennedy Greenwood collecting seven digs and four aces. Sophomore setter Brooke Ono doled out 26 assists and delivered eight digs for the victorious 'Cats.
In the first set, three early kills by Keeve highlighted a 5-0 Chico State run to put the Wildcats up 6-2. Dominican pulled to within 9-8, but the 'Cats responded by posting 10 of the next 15 points—Wilson, Rodriguez, and Jacome contributed kills; Greenwood delivered a service ace, and Wilson and Rodriguez teamed for a combo block—to extend their advantage to 19-13. The Penguins rallied back to cut the deficit in half and trail 23-20, but following a Chico State timeout, a Jacome kill and a Dominican error provided the Wildcats with the points needed to close out the 25-20 win.
The Chico State hitters spread the wealth in the second set, with kills by Keeve, Wilson, Rodriguez, Jacome, DiNardo, and Ono helped the Wildcats race out to a 13-8 lead. With the score 15-10, the 'Cats proceeded to take total control of the contest, ripping off 10 unanswered points—Keeve, Wilson, and Rodriguez each posting multiple kills to lead the way—to give Chico State a convincing 25-10 victory.
What proved to be the final set was a more tightly-played affair. Keeve floored two kills and an ace as the Wildcats went up early 8-4, but Dominican reeled off a 10-5 run to jump out in front 14-13. Chico State went back in front on four different occasions, only to see the Penguins erase each deficit. With the set tied at 19-all, the 'Cats took the lead for good by registering six of the final nine points—kills by Jacome and Evelyn Clonts, combined with three Penguins miscues was the difference as Chico State grinded out a 25-22 victory to complete the match sweep.
The Wildcats continue the NorCal Kickoff Friday with a pair of matches in San Rafael. Chico State takes on Academy of Art at 10 a.m., followed by a 3 p.m. matchup against Holy Names.
Fans planning on attending either of Chico State's Friday matches in San Rafael, please note that the host school, Dominican, is capping attendance at 250 individuals per contest. All spectators will be required to wear masks, but proof of vaccination is not required to attend. Tickets are $10 and can only be purchased with cash.
The two matches will be streamed on the Internet, with live stats also available online. Links are posted on the Chico State volleyball schedule page and home page calendar on the Wildcat Athletics website, at
chicowildcats.com. Please note there will be a $10 charge to stream each of the Friday matches.
